Lake Louise Ski Resort

Lake Louise Ski Resort

Skiing at Lake Louise
Location Lake Louise, Alberta,
 Canada
Nearest city Banff, Alberta
Calgary, Alberta
Coordinates 51°26′31″N 116°09′38″W / 51.44194°N 116.16056°W / 51.44194; -116.16056 (Lake Louise Ski Resort)
Vertical    991 m (3,250 ft)
Top elevation 2,637 m (8,650 ft)[1]
Base elevation 1,646 m (5,400 ft)
Skiable area 17 km2 (6.6 sq mi)[2]
Runs 139 [2]
Longest run 8 km (5 mi)[2]
Lift system 9 lifts:
- 3 surface lifts
- 1 triple
- 1 fixed-grip quad
- 2 high-speed quads
- 1 high-speed six-passenger
- 1 six-passenger gondola[1]
Lift capacity 14,000+ skiers/hr
Terrain parks 3
Snowfall 454 cm (180 in) per year
Website skilouise.com
Lake
Louise
location of Lake Louise in Alberta
Skiing at Lake Louise
Lake Louise Ski Area on Mt. Whitehorn, seen from Lake Louise

The Lake Louise Ski Resort, previously known as the Lake Louise Ski Area, is a ski resort in western Canada, located in Banff National Park near the village of Lake Louise, Alberta. It is located 57 km (35 mi) west of Banff. Lake Louise is one of three major ski resorts located in Banff National Park.[3]

The resort is situated on the southern slopes of the Merlin Ridge of the Slate Range, between the heights of Mount Richardson, Ptarmigan Peak, Pika Peak and Redoubt Mountain, all around 3,000 m (10,000 ft) above sea level. The base of the slopes is defined by Pipestone River, a tributary of the Bow River, immediately north of the intersections between Highway 1A (Bow Valley Trail), Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway), and Highway 93 (Icefield Parkway).

History

Until autumn 2008, the ski resort was owned and operated by the Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR) company. Recently Charlie Locke, a former owner of the ski area, exercised a buy-back option to reacquire Lake Louise from RCR to return as the ski resort's owner, president and operator.[4]

Events

The Lake Louise Ski Resort is the first stop on the FIS Ski World Cup circuit, and the only place in Canada where this event is held.[5] The event, also known as the Lake Louise Winterstart World Cup, is described by Alpine Canada as "Canada's highest-profile alpine ski race",[6] and attracts high-profile downhill skiers from around the globe - such as four-time World Cup champion, Lindsey Vonn.[7]

The Lake Louise Ski Resort will host its first FIS Snowboardcross World Cup in 2013/14. [8]

The resort also hosts Ruckus in the Rockies: a freestyle snowboard and live music event held at the end of the snow season.[9]

Facilities

The 139 marked ski runs and back bowls on four mountain faces are 25% beginner, 45% intermediate and 30% advanced.[2] The 'Terrain Park' is also designed for riders of all levels. Four full service day lodges are operational during winter. Snowboarders have access to all trails and the terrain park.

The Lake Louise sightseeing gondola is open year round, offering panoramas of glaciers, natural springs, wildflowers and possibly wildlife (such as grizzly bears). Other activities in the resort area include dog sledding, ice skating, and cross-country skiing.

Trails

Easier Intermediate Experienced Difficult
(Double Black)
17 25 54 43

Lifts

Lift Name Length Vertical Type Ride Time Make Build Year
Grizzly Express Gondola 2918 m 736 m 6-person gondola 12 min. Leitner Poma 2003
Top of the World 6-Pack Express 1344 m 411 m High-speed 6-pack 5 min. Leitner Poma 2003
Glacier Express Quad 1822 m 442 m High-speed quad 7 min. Leitner 2000
Larch Express Chair 1463 m 375 m High-speed quad 6 min. Leitner 1998
Ptarmigan Quad Chair 1021 m 412 m Fixed-grip quad 9 min. Leitner Poma 2008
Paradise Triple Chair 1100 m 394 m Fixed-grip triple 9 min. Lift Engineering 1982
Summit Platter 1119 m 410 m 1-person platter lift 8 min. Mueller 1976
Sunny T-Bar 361 m 44 m 2-person T-bar lift 3 min. Doppelmayr
Magic Carpet 79 m 18 m Magic carpet 2 min. 2006

References

External links

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