During Christmas people go home to spend it with their families and loved ones. Hundreds of thousands travel so that they can be on time for Christmas Eve. They travel by air, by bus, by train, by car, depending on how far they have to go.
For big majority this is is the best time of year - simply because they can finally relax and be safe with their families. For couple of days they can escape daily routine and all mundane tasks they have to do in order to make living. For couple of days they live as money were no object, they do what they want to do.
And big majority doesn't need much. Decorate Christmas tree, buy couple of gifts, go to church, prepare good food, and spend time with family and friends. Indeed very simple life.
We are not different. Only difference is that we don't go home to spend Christmas - we actually stay at home to spend Christmas. It would be too far to travel to our homes. Also, it would be expensive to travel to our homes during this busy season. But then, we choose not to travel during Christmas as we don't want to experience stress that comes with travelling during this busy period.
We don't want to be stuck in traffic, on airports, in buses, in trains, with thousands of others. We also don't want to be ripped-off by service providers that sky rocket their prices based on super high demand. Of course, some of them are smarter than others, so they offer good deals as their vision is to build long lasting relationships with their customers.
We take it easy. We do it on our own way. We do Christmas shopping on 26th or 27th, but not in any of gargantuan shopping malls, but in small shops that offer good deals and are not too crowded. We don't plan what we'll be buying - we do it impromptu, finding exactly what we want during our little Christmas shopping game.
We always ski on Christmas Day. We start early, and then for couple of hours we have a private ski hill with all amenities, but most with amazing Christmas silence. Of course, we get that at back country locations, but we are not that hard core to go off limits during Christmas. We are still spoiled.
We go to Kicking Horse on Christmas day only if we know that weather will be in a domain of a blue bird day. It requires us to leave Banff the latest at 7:15 AM, so that we can do the first tracks at 9 AM. And it is not easy to get up that early on a Christmas Day. That's a real "pusher". Replacing a warm bed and idea of sleeping in, with cold, dark morning can be (and it was) challenging. Only around 8:20 AM it becomes lighter - the winter solstice just happened 4 days ago.
Usually for Christmas (or perhaps when we ski there for Christmas :), there is a temparature inversion at Kicking Horse. It could be -10, -11 C at the base (and colder in Golden, way below), but in alpine zone, and especially at Eagle's Eye restaurant is balmy + 1, + 2 C!!
That's where I love to get my pint of Traditional, sit on the patio and enjoy every drop of my favourite beer, and in fascinating scenery that never gets stale.
Only tough part of Kicking Horse Christmas skiing is drive back to Banff. We ski until they close the chair lifts and that's at 3:30 PM, as days are very short, so that means that we depart from ski area by 4 PM. That also means that it gets dark in next 30-40 minutes, so driving could be a bit tiring. Especially after we pass Field and start climbing towards Lake Louise.
If weather is unfavourable, then we can sleep in! And still own a ski hill and do first tracks. If weather is unfavourable we ski on Christmas Day at Mt Norquay. And, Mt.Norquay is my most favorite ski hill.
On Christmas Day we can get up at 8:15 AM and still start skiing at 9 AM, not that we are rushing anywhere.
When we park on Norquay parking lot, we are either first or second row, closest to the Pine Lodge. At the end of the day, or around 1 PM, when we go home for lunch, only probably a third of parking lot is full.
No need to drive to Lake Louise additional 60 km, or to drive to Sunshine and then board a gondola to get to the runs. You only need a 10 min drive up on Norquay road, and that's all.
Of course, many will say,"it is small", "it is icy"...and who knows what other excuses will be used, but at the end it works for us. We love when everyone goes to Lake or Sunshine, we let them go to get their "bigger" experience. We live Christmas Day on our way.
They certainly won't experience Lone Pine. And for all who's skied there you know what I am talking about.
(I must emphasize here that other ski hills are great too, and we spend many days there skiing, but, we really love Norquay, and other people love their favourite ski hills).
Bottom line is that we live Christmas Day on our way.
Merry Christmas!
For big majority this is is the best time of year - simply because they can finally relax and be safe with their families. For couple of days they can escape daily routine and all mundane tasks they have to do in order to make living. For couple of days they live as money were no object, they do what they want to do.
And big majority doesn't need much. Decorate Christmas tree, buy couple of gifts, go to church, prepare good food, and spend time with family and friends. Indeed very simple life.
We are not different. Only difference is that we don't go home to spend Christmas - we actually stay at home to spend Christmas. It would be too far to travel to our homes. Also, it would be expensive to travel to our homes during this busy season. But then, we choose not to travel during Christmas as we don't want to experience stress that comes with travelling during this busy period.
We don't want to be stuck in traffic, on airports, in buses, in trains, with thousands of others. We also don't want to be ripped-off by service providers that sky rocket their prices based on super high demand. Of course, some of them are smarter than others, so they offer good deals as their vision is to build long lasting relationships with their customers.
We take it easy. We do it on our own way. We do Christmas shopping on 26th or 27th, but not in any of gargantuan shopping malls, but in small shops that offer good deals and are not too crowded. We don't plan what we'll be buying - we do it impromptu, finding exactly what we want during our little Christmas shopping game.
We always ski on Christmas Day. We start early, and then for couple of hours we have a private ski hill with all amenities, but most with amazing Christmas silence. Of course, we get that at back country locations, but we are not that hard core to go off limits during Christmas. We are still spoiled.
We go to Kicking Horse on Christmas day only if we know that weather will be in a domain of a blue bird day. It requires us to leave Banff the latest at 7:15 AM, so that we can do the first tracks at 9 AM. And it is not easy to get up that early on a Christmas Day. That's a real "pusher". Replacing a warm bed and idea of sleeping in, with cold, dark morning can be (and it was) challenging. Only around 8:20 AM it becomes lighter - the winter solstice just happened 4 days ago.
Usually for Christmas (or perhaps when we ski there for Christmas :), there is a temparature inversion at Kicking Horse. It could be -10, -11 C at the base (and colder in Golden, way below), but in alpine zone, and especially at Eagle's Eye restaurant is balmy + 1, + 2 C!!
That's where I love to get my pint of Traditional, sit on the patio and enjoy every drop of my favourite beer, and in fascinating scenery that never gets stale.
Only tough part of Kicking Horse Christmas skiing is drive back to Banff. We ski until they close the chair lifts and that's at 3:30 PM, as days are very short, so that means that we depart from ski area by 4 PM. That also means that it gets dark in next 30-40 minutes, so driving could be a bit tiring. Especially after we pass Field and start climbing towards Lake Louise.
If weather is unfavourable, then we can sleep in! And still own a ski hill and do first tracks. If weather is unfavourable we ski on Christmas Day at Mt Norquay. And, Mt.Norquay is my most favorite ski hill.
On Christmas Day we can get up at 8:15 AM and still start skiing at 9 AM, not that we are rushing anywhere.
When we park on Norquay parking lot, we are either first or second row, closest to the Pine Lodge. At the end of the day, or around 1 PM, when we go home for lunch, only probably a third of parking lot is full.
No need to drive to Lake Louise additional 60 km, or to drive to Sunshine and then board a gondola to get to the runs. You only need a 10 min drive up on Norquay road, and that's all.
Of course, many will say,"it is small", "it is icy"...and who knows what other excuses will be used, but at the end it works for us. We love when everyone goes to Lake or Sunshine, we let them go to get their "bigger" experience. We live Christmas Day on our way.
They certainly won't experience Lone Pine. And for all who's skied there you know what I am talking about.
(I must emphasize here that other ski hills are great too, and we spend many days there skiing, but, we really love Norquay, and other people love their favourite ski hills).
Bottom line is that we live Christmas Day on our way.
Merry Christmas!
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