Six mountains, ten days out West, and not nearly enough powder.
There’s something ironic about planning a ski trip along Canada’s famous Powder Highway, only to arrive and discover that the one thing missing is powder.
After a record snowfall in the region, we arrived during a weeks-long dry spell. The glades were icy, the snow was hardpacked, and the deep powder we’d imagined was nowhere to be found.
So much for the Powder Highway. More like the Dry Highway.
But between the bluebird skies, incredible scenery, empty groomers, and skiing above the clouds, it turned out to be one of my most memorable ski seasons yet.
Mont Tremblant: My Home Mountain
Tremblant is my home mountain, just two hours from where I live. It’s where I practice, push my limits, and work on becoming a better skier in a familiar environment.
I love the glades, terrain parks, fast groomers, and of course, the village. Even with a ten-day trip out West, I still made it to Tremblant almost every weekend.
There’s something special about having a mountain you know inside and out.
Kicking Horse: Steep and Extreme
Kicking Horse doesn’t mess around. The terrain is steep, intimidating, and seemingly endless, with very few easy ways down.
We explored Crystal Bowl, and I was blown away by the scale of the mountain. But the biggest surprise was the weather. We had an incredibly sunny day, making the experience even more memorable.
Definitely a mountain I’d love to revisit with fresh powder.
Banff Sunshine: Speed and Park Progression
Sunshine absolutely lived up to its name. Blue skies, incredible visibility, and wide-open groomers made for some seriously fast skiing.
The terrain park was my highlight. I finally dialled in my 180s, landing them cleanly several times over multiple laps. Next season, the goal is a 360. Eventually, a backflip.
Despite plenty of people on the mountain, the lift lines were short and the atmosphere was fantastic.
Lake Louise: Scenery and Variety
Lake Louise delivered some of the best scenery of the trip, along with great groomers, diverse terrain, and practically no lift lines.
The brand-new terrain park was phenomenal, although the bigger jumps weren’t finished yet.
I only had one day to explore, but I left impressed. Sunshine narrowly wins for me because of the park, though that might have changed if Lake Louise’s larger features had been ready.
Panorama: My Favourite of the Trip
Panorama was easily my favourite resort.
Our room was a 30-second walk from the chairlift. I could wake up 15 minutes before opening, throw on my gear, and start skiing. Even better, lunchtime naps meant heading back to an actual bed instead of sitting in a sweaty chalet. If you know, you know.
The skiing was just as good. Endless glades, consistent fall lines, and long groomers without unnecessary traverses. We even found pockets of untouched powder deep in the slackcountry.
Best of all, the mountain was practically empty. No lift lines, endless terrain, and a complete ski-in/ski-out experience.
Revelstoke: Raw and Real
I came to Revelstoke for one thing: glades.
Unfortunately, they were full of ice pellets. We tried them and immediately regretted it. And considering we’re advanced East Coast skiers who are used to icy glades, that’s saying something.
But the groomers, vertical drop, and sheer scale of the mountain were incredible.
Skiing from blue skies down into the clouds felt like travelling through different weather systems. At times, Revelstoke barely felt like a resort. It felt raw, remote, and real.
Final Thoughts: No Powder, No Problem
We came for powder and got hardpack, but the trip delivered something just as memorable.
Skiing above the clouds, fast groomers, incredible mountain scenery, and some real progress in the terrain park.
Panorama was my favourite, Sunshine was the park highlight, and Revelstoke delivered the most raw mountain experience.
And through it all, Tremblant remained my home base.
Would I have preferred a metre of fresh powder? Absolutely.
Would I do it all again? Without hesitation.
Here’s to next season. More mountains, more glades, a clean 360, and hopefully a little more powder.