Feature Archives - Page 18 of 129

Spectacular Scenery & Incredible Value Skiing When it comes to legendary names in ski destinations, few set the nerves tingling with excitement in quite the way that Jasper does. The almost mythical ski town is located in an area of stunning natural beauty in the famous Canadian ski province of Alberta. If you really want to “get away from it all”, quite literally, and have one of the great ski holiday adventures of your life, it’s among the best choices out there. The good news is that you don’t need to be a hardy adventurer travelling for weeks through the winter wilderness to get there. Modern roads lead you through some of the most spectacular scenery on earth to Jasper. It's no surprise that the town and surrounding national park are both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Jasper National Park - Dark Sky Preserve Once there, there is a wide choice of accommodation including the luxurious Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, and the local ski area of Marmot Basin offers not only some of the world's most reliable snow conditions (its season lasts six months from early-November to early-May), but also plenty of state-of-the-art facilities, including a great new quad chairlift for this coming winter. In still better news, although Jasper has embraced the modern world in almost all respects when it comes to your accommodation, resort facilities and skiing, it's stayed old school on lift ticket pricing, which remains among the best value in North America for a ski area of its size. And right now you can save 50% and receive free extra days when you book your Jasper ski holiday by 30 November, 2023. Marvellous Marmot Basin Marmot Basin Ski Resort Marmot Basin ski area lies a short distance from Jasper, within the magnificent Canadian Rocky Mountains and protected Jasper National Park. With the highest base area of any major Canadian ski area, at just under 1,700m altitude, it’s a big mountain resort with over 1,700 acres of terrain, 914 metres of vertical and more than 90 individual runs. That altitude combined with Jasper's northerly latitude helps deliver abundant, fine light powder, averaging 4.4 metres (nearly 15 feet) each season, which stays fresh for longer given the normally subzero winter temperatures here. There’s terrain for every ability and every taste, with a 30% Novice, 30% Intermediate, 20% Advanced and 20% Expert split. There are groomed runs of all gradients and lengths up to 5.6 km (3.5 miles). For good skiers and boarders there are tree-lined runs, mogul slopes, alpine bowls and exciting chutes to drop into. Freestylers can have a blast in two terrain parks that serve up a range of small to XL features including jumps, rails, boxes and jibs. There’s also a mini terrain park with small and medium features for kids. This winter Marmot Basin is unveiling a new quad chairlift, the “Knob Quad”, which will lift skiers and boarders to an unload elevation of 2,518 metres (8,261 feet), 393 vertical metres (1,289 feet) and 108 vertical metres (353 feet) higher than the old double chairlift it replaces. The new lift means skiers and boarders will have access to more terrain than ever before as the new lift will reach the highest lift-accessible point on the mountain, improving access to "Marmot Cirque", Marmot Basin's newly opened terrain, as well as to Marmot Peak. “The terrain in the Knob area has a long and storied history and is a favourite among avid local skiers and snowboarders and visitors alike”, says Jason Paterson, Marmot’s President and CEO, adding, “it is a real game changer for our guests as the runs are expansive and the views absolutely breathtaking.” Jasper Ice Skating at Lake Mildred © Quinton Gordon Jasper itself is an intimate community that grew from a trading post originally established by the famous Hudson’s Bay Company as well as the North West Company two centuries ago. Before that, of course, the land had long been inhabited by local indigenous people. It was named after one of the post’s early managers, the voyager, Jasper Haws. Jasper then grew as a railway town that just happens to be in the middle of some of the most gorgeous wilderness in the world, which has been protected by the Canadian government since 1907. At 11,228 square kilometres (4,335 square miles) Jasper National Park is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Today the town has an eclectic collection of shops, cafes and restaurants and lots to do, particularly in the great outdoors, besides ski and boarding at Marmot Basin. Explore the natural majesty of the Maligne Canyon Icewalk and hike 4 kilometres taking you into the heart of the canyon. If you're going to try dog-sledding, for example, the Canadian wilderness around Jasper is the place to take a tour. Or you can also go for a snowshoe tour, try ice climbing, go cross-country skiing, or just enjoy a winter hike in the magnificent scenery of the national park. Some of the resort's best shopping, nightlife and dining can be found at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, which also has the best spa facilities in town. The town also has an active arts scene where you can find out more about the indigenous culture and you can sign up for activities like star gazing at night in what is the world’s largest accessible dark sky preserve. There’s a full winter events calendar too with the annual Jasper In January month a particular highlight each ski season. Road Trip! Icefields Parkway © Roman Koenigshofer Jasper lies at the northern end of the stunning Icefields Parkway, one of the greatest drives in the world. It's a modern highway taking you through spectacular, jaw-dropping scenery of forests, mountains and glaciers. At the southern end lies another world-class resort, Lake Louise, itself part of the Banff tri-area ski pass with nearby Sunshine and Norquay ski areas. So why not make your holiday a road trip and ski or board them all? In better news still, you can actually save money doing it. When you book the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge and then book either the world-famous Fairmont Banff Springs or the equally iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotels on the same trip with Ski Independence, you’ll save up to 35% on the combined cost of the stay (terms and conditions apply). Ski Jasper With Ski Independence Tailor-made holiday specialists Ski Independence have been selling ski holidays to Jasper Alberta for more than three decades. They don't sell off-the-shelf packages, instead taking the time and effort to create the perfect Jasper ski holiday for you. The Ski Independence team are all passionate skiers or snowboarders who have personally tried and tested all the resorts, accommodation and all other aspects of your holiday that they recommend. If it's not good, it's not recommended! Ski Independence create bespoke itineraries, taking care of all the essentials, including dining reservations, ski school bookings and ski hire if you wish. Once it's all organised to your satisfaction, they'll deliver comprehensive and easy-to-follow travel documentation. Finally, once more unlike many other ski holiday companies (and worth a double check when shopping around), Ski Independence holidays are both ATOL-protected and ABTA-bonded, offering full financial protection. It’s no surprise therefore that a high proportion of Ski Independence clients return to book with them again, year after year. Speak to a Ski Specialist: 0131 243 8097 | www.ski-i.com If you are looking for the perfect destination for your next trip, our Resort Guide has everything you need to know. You can check out our regular podcast here Apple | Spotify | Podcasts or search The White Out on your chosen podcast directory.

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