Snowshoe at Nakiska this Winter
While cruising down a run on skis or a snowboard is a great activity with a major fun factor, there’s also something to be said for the tranquility of snowshoeing through the silent winter trees with only the sound of the snow crunching beneath your feet. Snowshoeing was first used, more or less as a necessity of survival by our ancestors to be able to navigate the snowy terrain during the winter months (in fact it’s widely suspected our first Aboriginals in Canada used snowshoes to travel to the new land across the top of the globe from Asia), it has taken on a more recreational aspect for most these days. A terrific activity for almost all ages snowshoeing is the perfect way to get everyone outdoors and exploring the surrounding trails of Nakiska – whether it’s a family outing you’re embarking on or a romantic winter walk through the woods with your boo you can now experience it at Nakiska, enjoying all the amenities being at a ski resort offers (think a warm, delicious meal/drink after your walk or making a weekend of it by staying at the nearby Delta Lodge at Kananaskis just a few minutes away).
Starting on December 15th, we’ll be offering guided tours daily, tours will include a 2 hour snowshoe trek, rentals (including snow boots, snowshoes & poles) followed by a hot drink and cookie for each participant. Looking to venture out on your own? Bring your own snowshoes or rent them from our resort rental shop and head out on our local surrounding trails (note to snowshoe on resort boundaries you must be part of a guided tour).
For more information including pricing visit the snowshoeing section of our website.
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Nakiska will be first in Canada to open for skiing/riding
Yes, you’ve read that correctly! Nakiska will be the first in Canada to open this ski season for a preview weekend this Saturday & Sunday, November 4th/5th. Here’s the scoop;
Hours
Saturday, November 4th – 10:00am – 4:00pm
Sunday, November 5th – 9:00am – 4:00pm
Reduced Ticket Prices
Full Day tickets available only (all prices quoted do not include GST)
Adult – $49.95
Senior – $39.95
Youth – $37.95
Child – $19.95
*Please note RCR Rockies card discounts do not apply when reduced rates in effect.
Terrain
Skiing off Gold Chair
Upload/Download off Olympic Chair
Last Chair will load at 3:30
Runs Open: Upper Mapmaker, Mid Mapmaker, Amptheatre, Mid Mountain Area, Olympic Easy Way, Morley Flats, served by GCX. Upper and Mid Glades with early season conditions, skiout on Gold Road.
*Note – there is no beginner terrain available
Services
Daylodge open at 8:00am – 4:30pm with extended offering of food & drinks
Slopeside Cafe 8:30am – 5:00pm
Mid Mountain Lodge open at 10:00am with modified food and beverage services 10:30am – 3:30pm
Guest services open at 08:30am – 4:00pm – stop in to get your season pass printed!
Ticketing Office open 9:30am – 2:00pm & Sunday at 8:30am -2:00pm (note – tickets will not be sold after 2:00pm)
Retail Boutique open 8:30am – 3:00pm
Rentals open Saturday 9:00am & Sunday at 8:30am
Please note – no daycare services or winter sports school lessons will be available
November Opening Schedule
November 4th/5th
November 11th/12th
November 17th – 19th
November 25th/26th
Official 7-day opening on December 1st
Make sure to check out Snow Report, Mountain Cams or RCR App for the latest updates before heading out!
Need some tips on preparing for skiing? Check out 5 Tips to Prepare for Ski Season on Powder Matt’s Blog.
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NEW Plaid Goat Mountain Bike Festival
In the Rocky Mountains West, a new mountain bike fest emerges, The Plaid Goat Mountain Bike Fest!
This isn’t a competitive event but an all inclusive community mountain bike festival to bring the riding community together to celebrate camaraderie, share beers and do some riding together, all in the spirit of lifting the sport to a higher place.
The Plaid Goat Mountain Bike Fest, is raising funds to support mountain bike trail projects not just in Canmore but in the entire mountain region from Golden to Kimberley and over to Fernie, British Columbia.
This push for more and better trails came from a grassroots movement led by Wanda Bogdane, founder of the Plaid Goat Mountain Bike Fest, who sees her event as the catalyst to support the greater movement of building trails that current mountain bikers want to ride.
Don’t miss out on the fun! Check the Festival Seekers post for more background and details on the event. In addition here are some highlights from the official Plaid Goat website;
Here’s what to expect June 23 – 25;
- Demo-licious Days
Sample the tastiest bikes of the season from the best mountain bike brands in the industry (add on required – $35/Fri. & Sat.), limited tickets available. - Local Craft Beer Hub
Sample handpicked high quality beverages from seven hand-picked regional brewers and two distilleries, also a free photo booth and more activities. - Bike Rodeo
Hosted by the Flannel Crew, this event features fun spectator events like huck-to-flat comps, adult tricycle races, costume crits and other ridiculous behaviour! - Family Friendly Non-Race Activities
check out group rides, shuttles and coaching clinics. - Kids Only Hub
Face painting, digger pits, a skills & drills area, colouring and more! - Secure Bike Valet
Leave your car at home – your bikes will be safe while you test bikes and participate in activities. - Soapbox Central
Check out tech talks on mountain bike specific topics like bikepacking, gear and trail building!
Don’t forget about the wildlife safety and trail building sessions demonstrating the festival’s commitment to responsible riding as well as partner run fun and friendly events like the TransRockies Race Series’ Rundle’s Revenge (June 24/25).
Post written with contributions by Powder Matt.
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Spring Operation Schedule
Our scheduled closing day for the 2016/2017 ski season is on Sunday, April 16th. We’ll be open for skiing/riding for two following Bonus Weekends – April 22nd & 23rd and April 29th & 30th. Don’t miss out on our annual Spring Fiesta events including DJ’s, Balloon artist and face painting- each weekend in April until official closing day (April 16th).
Check our Snow Report page or RCR App for updates!
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The staff and management at Nakiska Ski Area would like to thank you, our gusts and visitors, for a great ski season – we can’t wait to see you again in the fall!
Photo by Liam Glass
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Treat yourself to a day at Nakiska Ski Area! Our Ladies Days include transportation to Nakiska and back from Calgary, your lift pass and guided instruction and a gourmet lunch at the Finish Line Lounge! The whole package is just $139.99 (or $104.99 with a season pass). Next event is coming up on Wednesday, other dates available are March 2nd & 10th – sign up is available online!
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Partnering with Sport Chek and Alpine Canada – we’re once again proud to participate in the National Ski Day presented by CIBC. The annual event was started as an incentive to introduce people and promote to sport of skiing/riding to people who many not have yet had the opportunity to try it. Through a $15 lift ticket, people who may not otherwise have the chance get to ski at a great rate – for the whole day, this season, on January 9th, 2016.
To sign up for a $15 lift ticket or for more information visit the Alpine Canada website.
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Nakiska is now operating 7 days a week with Top to Bottom skiing.
Nakiska Opening Schedule:
Regular 7 day a week operations begin today Friday, December 4
For more information see our schedule page.
Photos from November 18th.
For the latest snow conditions visit our Snow Report.
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Skiing and Snowboarding season kicked off yesterday and was an amazing day on the slopes! Check out some of social media posts from our guests enjoying their first Nakiska turns of the season;
Big news for this upcoming Saturday we’re going to have the largest family friendly learning area open, Kids’ World, at Nakiska – we’ll have a perfectly groomed snow surface ready for first timers or kids and adults just wanting to hone their skills before they head up on the mountain. We know this is important early in the season and the Mountain Operations team at Nakiska has been working hard to get our Magic Carpet and Kids’ World ready earlier than ever! As one of the first family learning area in the Canadian Rockies to open, we’re proud to support getting everyone a chance to try skiing and snowboarding!
See when we’re open in November.
Feature photo by @SJSob14 from Twitter.
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Some liken it to the night before Christmas. There’s that sense of anticipation in the air – will it be better than last year? What are you wishing for? What surprises are in store? Who will you share it with?
But it’s not really Christmas, it’s the weeks before the onset of ski season, when there’s snow in the mountains, but it hasn’t quite reached the city, and where we start planning the upcoming winter trips and adventures in our Rocky Mountain backyard.
Thursday, October 29 marked the first Canadian “Mappy Hour”, at the Village Brewery in Calgary and hosted by “Powder” Matt Mosteller and SnowSeekers.
Mappy Hour started in New York, and it’s a monthly urban gathering for outdoor enthusiasts. And there’s no shortage of those in Calgary – close to 100 people showed up for the inaugural event, which featured a talk and presentation by local athlete and backcountry skier Ian Holmes.
Holmes got the crowd excited for winter with a slideshow of his favourite backcountry spots in the Alberta and BC Rockies – many of which are located within a couple of hours of Calgary. Naming off known and obscure places, the crowd joined in with plenty of questions about backcountry safety, getting ready for the season, and where to go.
The room was filled with a huge variety of enthusiasts, from out-of-town visitors, to backcountry novices, through to expert skiers, the common thread was the passion for our mountains and the experiences we can share together this winter.
When the snowflakes started to fall in the city a few days later, while many were cursing the frosted windshields and cold winds, I have no doubt the Mappy Hour folks smiled, knowing the countdown to snow season was in full force.
Many thanks to Village Brewery for hosting the first-ever Canadian Mappy Hour.
After a packed reception to Canada’s first ever MappyHour, Powder Matt, Paula Worthington, the folks from OutdoorFest, SnowSeekers and others welcome new friends and neighbours back to the Village Brewery on Monday November 16 at 7pm. Set some tire to rubber this season and get planning for your winter adventures over $4 craft beers.
Author/Writer Tom Babin speaks about what he’s discovered in his quest to love winter biking. Winter biking has become Babin’s happy place and from his book, “Frostbike”, he describes the sport as “the unique kind of bliss that can only come by pedalling through softly falling snow on a quiet winter night”.
Babin’s take on winter biking kind of sounds really similar to the zen we score when we move through fresh snow on the slopes. Mappy Hour YCC November 16 will be anouther great night to fuel our soul full of adventure inspiration.
For more details check out the Mappy Hour website and to book your spot, RSVP for FREE here.
Interested in checking out Mappy Hour? Share this page with your crew and bring them along!
Words: Paula Worthington
Photos: Cali Sammel
October Mappy Hour on October 29th at Village Brewery
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