Louise Apr 25/15

Lake Louise from top Paradise

A few of us went off to Lake Louise again - despite the weather forecast, which was supposed to be "wet flurries" and a high of +5C (in the valley bottom). After skiing Tuesday (Apr 21) in bluebird skies and ~+15C, pretty bulletproof conditions were not unexpected. As a result, we skied mainly groomed runs. But knowing that Ptarmigan faces into the morning sun (such as it was), we were happy to find the black run had been groomed skiers-left. After a few rips of that, we checked out Old Ptarmigan, and also found it to be groomed, with no skiers on it. That turned out to be the run of the day! If you were by yourself, the slow quad would have driven you crazy, but when you can chat on the way up, it dulls that pain.

Mid afternoon, we ventured over to the front side again, and by then it was softening on the right aspects. Upshoots and Grizzly Bowl off the Top of the World chair was quite chewable, assuming you could get around the odd patch of juniper/rock/grass bits facing into the sun. Last run on Outer Limits on the Summit Platter was quite acceptable as well.

Don't hurry up there! When it's not that warm, conditions are best in the afternoon. Besides, the RCMP are really patrolling the TransCanada highway in the park now, which they should be doing.