Would you love to experience wonderful weather outdoors in the mountain parks this weekend? You can do the next best thing by perusing our stunning Experience the Mountain Parks Photo Contest entries and voting for your favourite! Your vote will help to determine the winner of the Voting Category award, who will receive a Dream Getaway to Revelstoke (courtesy of Revelstoke Mountain Resort).

“Folding-Mountain” – contest entry by Lloyd Dykstra

If this blog post reminds you of a great picture or two you took in the Mountain Parks, be sure to submit it by 11:59 pm on Tuesday, March 31! We’d love to see it. Even if your photo doesn’t receive many votes because it was submitted near the end of the contest, you still have the chance of winning First and Second place in the Judges category. The First Place winner will receive an HD Camera Outfit (courtesy of The Camera Store) and a guided Glacier Icewalk for up to five people (courtesy Athabasca Glacier Icewalks). The Second Place winner will receive 4 Ultimate Rockies Explorer Passes (courtesy of Brewster Travel Canada).

“Serene Malligne” – contest entry by James Anderson

There are only two weeks left for you to enter our annual photo contest by submitting your favourite photos that you’ve taken in the Canadian Rocky Mountain parks. The pictures have steadily been pouring in for our 2014-2015 Experience the Mountain Parks photo contest, and we’d love to see yours, too. Submit your entry by 11:59 pm, March 31, 2015 to be included. Please vote for your favourite entry, too!

“The Creek” – entry by Samantha Ringuette

We’re offering prizes in two categories. The picture that receives the most votes from our readers will receive the Voting Category award. The two pictures that our judges like best will receive first and second place in the Judges category.

“First Light over Lake Louise” – entry by Claude Robidoux

We’re very excited about the prizes that we’re offering, thanks to our generous sponsors. Here is a complete list of our prize packages:

VOTING CATEGORY WINNER

Dream Getaway to Revelstoke

2 night stay in a Luxury 2 Bedroom Suite for 4 at the Sutton Place Hotel at Revelstoke Mountain Resort (approx value $700)

Adventure Tower Combo for 2 youths and 2 adults courtesy of SkyTrek Adventure Park ($175 value)

Family Pass Gift Certificate for 2 adults & 2 children courtesy of Enchanted Forest ($38 value)

2 Full Day Paddle Board Rentals courtesy Free Spirit Sports ($100 value)

4 Complimentary Day Passes to The Revelstoke Railway Museum (value $40)

$30 Gift Certificate courtesy Crescendo Oil & Vinegar

Daily Group Pass for Mt. Revelstoke & Glacier National Parks courtesy Parks Canada

JUDGES AWARD – FIRST PLACE

HD Camera Outfit

Courtesy The Camera Store in Calgary ($1,500)

Glacier Icewalk

Gift Certificate for a Guided Interpretive Icewalk at the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park – valid for up to 5 people courtesy of Athabasca Glacier Icewalks ($425)

JUDGES AWARD – SECOND PLACE

4 Ultimate Rockies Explorer Passes

Gift Certificate for an Ultimate Rockies Explorer Package courtesy of Brewster Travel Canada – provides admission for four (4) people to the Banff Gondola, Banff Lake Cruise, Glacier Adventure and Glacier Skywalk ($440)

“Photographer’s Paradise” – entry by Lloyd Dykstra

Click here to enter your photos in the contest. Note that if you upload a high res copy (300 DPI) of your photo, we will consider using it in our next issue. Perhaps it will be our next cover shot! (The maximum file size you can upload on the site is 2 Mb. If your image file is larger than that, please email hannah@cmipublishing.ca)

The ad sales for our 2015 edition of Experience the Mountain Parks end this Friday. 

With the price of gasoline down, we’re expecting a spike in rubber tire traffic in the region this year. And with the low Canadian Dollar, we’re anticipating more American and European travellers, too! Don’t miss this opportunity to advertise to promote your business to many tourists and locals alike.

The 2015 edition will include updated maps of the mountain parks (including our extremely popular map of the Icefields Parkway). We’ll also provide detailed information about the attractions within each park. As always, we’ll publish a variety of engaging stories about activities in the Mountain Parks area and fascinating historical figures and events. Here is a preview of some of the stories we are working on for our 2015 issue:

• Mountain Weddings
• Hot Springs Tour
• Stand Up Paddleboarding
• A Girls Getaway
• WWI Internment Camps in the Mountain Parks
• Mountain Biking
• Biography of Mary Vaux Walcott
• Marble Canyon Fossils
• Abbott Pass Hut
• Kootenay Wildlife Crossing Project
• Campground Directory

Your ad will be featured in our print and our digital edition. Click here to view the Experience the Mountain Parks media kit. And be sure to check out the mobile-friendly 2014 issue.

Castle Mountain Resort has had to close early this season due to an unusually low snowfall and warm temperatures. However, 2014/2015 season pass holders can still enjoy the slopes with some great reciprocal programs! Show your 2014/15 Season Pass at any of the below resorts to participate in a reciprocal offer. Please have a second piece of ID available on request.

Castle Mountain Resort staff 2014/2015

You can ski/ride FREE with a CMR Season Pass at Hidden Valley Ski, Schweitzer Mountain Resort (before March 6) & WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park.

Check out this list of reciprocal programs offering discounts to CMR 2014/2015 season pass holders:

Marmot Basin
20% off regular lift ticket 

Norquay
25% off regular lift ticket

Panorama 
50% off regular lift ticket

Pass Powderkeg 
25% off regular lift ticket

Rabbit Hill
25% off regular lift ticket

Revelstoke 
25% off regular lift ticket

Sunshine Village
50% off the lift ticket window price.
2014/15 Season pass and government photo ID must be presented to validate this offer to the Sunshine Village ticket office window ticket to obtain this discount.
This offer is valid to your season pass holders until your re-open this 14-15 season or until the end of Sunshine Village Ski Resort , May 18, 2015 and this offer cannot be combined with other discounts.

 Sunshine Mountain Lodge 
15% discount on  Best Available Rate (BAR)  on Sunday to Thursday night stay ( Excluding Easter week) and honor the 50% discount on ski tickets window rate as well. Subject to availability. Some restrictions may apply. To book this offer, you must call 1-877-542-2633 and mention your Castle pass name, pass number to the call agent.

Sun Peaks
50% off regular full day lift ticket 

Lake Louise Ski Resort 
50% off full-day lift tickets by showing your 2014/15 Castle Mountain Resort Season Pass.  Effective immediately until our May 10^th closing day.

Apex Resort
25% off regular 1 day lift ticket
50% off regular 2-5 day consecutive tickets
20% off at Apex Mountain Inn (min 2 night stay)
25% off Apex Accommdoations (min 2 night stay)

Big White
25% off regular lift ticket

Fairmont Hot Springs Resort 
25% off regular lift ticket

Ferine Alpine Resort 
From now until April 6th – $15 off regular lift ticket price
From April 6-12 – $30 off regular lift ticket price
Children (age 6-12) – $5 off regular lift ticket

Kimberley Alpine Resort
From now through to April 5th – $15 off regular lift ticket price
Children (12& U) -$5 off regular rate
$99 Midweek Ski & Stay Package (Sunday- Thursday) based on double occupancy.  Quote Castle Mountain Pass holder when booking.

Visit Castle Mountain Resort’s website for more details.

Canada’s World Class Cycling Race – the Tour of Alberta – will take place September 2-7, 2015. It’s Canada’s largest professional cycling event, and the race boasts 120 and 45 million international views. For the first time, Jasper is one of the host communities, and the race is a great opportunity to soak in all that the city has to offer.

Spectators can not only watch the racers begin and end stages of the race in various communities, but can also enjoy free festivals in each of the host communities throughout the province. This six day event is sure to be filled with a lot of excitement and a lot of fun. The Tour of Alberta website states “The festivals occur in every start and finish community and provide educational, community outreach, and healthy living programs in a festive environment with entertainment, family fun and kids’ activities.

Stage 5 of the 2013 Tour of Alberta

If you’re an amateur cyclist interested in getting into some of the action, then you might want to check into the Mountain Madness tours VIP Experience. The local tour operator Mountain Madness Tours is partnering with the Tour of Alberta to bring some exclusive opportunities to amateur cyclists. They include:

• Meeting riders and team officials at an exclusive Tour of Alberta Opening Celebration Gala
• Riding the Team Time Trial course a few hours before the pros ride it
• Watching the race from the best VIP hospitality areas
• Taking part in world-class road riding in Jasper, Banff National Parks, and the 2015 host communities

As always, the race continues to evolve with some special new features. This year is the first time that the race begins with a Team time Trial and also the first year that the course includes high mountains (the Jasper Mountains). The race also welcomes four new host communities: Grande Cache, Jasper, Edson, and Spruce Grove. Whether you’re interested in cycling, the stunning landscapes in Canada, or everything that local festivals have to offer, there’s sure to be something in this year’s race that will appeal to you!

Click here to read more about the 2015 Tour of Alberta.

We’re busy preparing for the launch of the 2015 edition of Experience the Mountain Parks. Since we have several great options for the cover image, we could use YOUR help in determining which image to use for the cover. Send an email stating which image you think we should use to hannah@cmipublishing.ca

Thanks for your help!

Image 1

Image 2

Image 3

Image 4

Beat the winter doldrums with Parks Canada Celebrates Banff National Park’s 4th Annual SnowDays. You and your whole family can have fun outdoors with a variety of winter programs now through February 8. You can also explore one of the 44 trails by snowshoe, ski, or foot when you visit the park for one of the fun programs.

Here’s a brief summary of some of the fun you can have. Go exploring Banff by the light of the moon under the guidance of a tour guide. Strap on your skates and a helmet (or rent them) and learn basic skating skills from a local Banff expert. Take the kids to a fun Wildlife Detective program at the Cozy Corner Kids Activity Centre. Finally, have a blast outside taking a snowshoeing class or going geocaching! All listed activities are free with park admission, except for the snowshoe class.

Read on for days and times. Visit the Parks Canada website for locations, more details, registration information.

Banff…by the light of the moon – A FREE guided evening walk for ALL
Saturdays, January 24 and 31, 7 to 8:30 p.m.

Learn-to Ice Skate
Saturday, January 24 and February 1st, 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Wildlife Detectives
Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25, 12 noon to 3 p.m.

Learn-to Snowshoe
Saturdays and Sundays, January 31, February 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 10 to 12 noon and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Adults (17-64): $18 Seniors (65+): $15 Children (6-16): $9

Geocaching, a great way to explore the park
Daily until March 31

Come celebrate World Snow Day on January 17 at Castle Mountain Resort. Kids can hit the slopes and participate in a fun Ski and Snowboard Race, hosted by The Southern Alberta Ski Patrol Zone. The free race is open to children 5 to 10 years of age and is open to all ski levels.

Here is the race schedule:
10:00-11:30 Race Sign up on the Stage in the Lodge
11:00-1:00 – Race on Green Chair
12:00-1:00- Lunch – Base of the Green Chair, FREE hot dogs and prizes for the first 200 participants!

Castle Mountain Resort is also using World Snow Day to promote avalanche safety awareness. With some preparation, you can stay safe and still enjoy all the fun of snowy backcountry. This is a great opportunity to educate yourself on safe practices for snow sports.

Castle Mountain’s Snow Day aligns with the purpose of World Snow Day. It encourages more people to participate in snow sports and winter recreational activity and promotes health through physical activity during the winter. It helps educate participants on how to behave safely in the snow, and also encourages participants to conserve the environment. So bundle up, get ready to learn, and get ready to play at World Snow Day this Saturday!

We’d like to apologize for the typo in our latest newsletter. The Experience the Mountain Parks Photo Contest ends on March 31st. Our latest newsletter incorrectly stated that it ends today. You still have several months to enter the contest, so keep those entries coming!

However, our Cowboy Trail Photo Contest and our December Brand ID contest both end today. Be sure to check those contests out today!

“Escape to the mountains” – contest entry by James Anderson

As a reminder, here are the prizes we’re offering to the Experience the Mountain Parks Photo Contest winners.

2 night stay in a Luxury 2 Bedroom Suite for 4 at the Sutton Place Hotel at Revelstoke Mountain Resort (approx value $700)

Adventure Tower Combo for 2 youths and 2 adults courtesy of SkyTrek Adventure Park ($175 value)

Family Pass Gift Certificate for 2 adults & 2 children courtesy of Enchanted Forest ($38 value)

2 Full Day Paddle Board Rentals courtesy Free Spirit Sports ($100 value)

4 Complimentary Day Passes to The Revelstoke Railway Museum (value $40)

$30 Gift Certificate courtesy Crescendo Oil & Vinegar

Daily Group Pass for Mt. Revelstoke & Glacier National Parks courtesy Parks Canada

JUDGES AWARD – FIRST PLACE

HD Camera Outfit

Courtesy The Camera Store in Calgary ($1,500)

Glacier Icewalk

Gift Certificate for a Guided Interpretive Icewalk at the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park – valid for up to 5 people courtesy of Athabasca Glacier Icewalks ($425)

JUDGES AWARD – SECOND PLACE

4 Ultimate Rockies Explorer Passes

Gift Certificate for an Ultimate Rockies Explorer Package courtesy of Brewster Travel Canada – provides admission for four (4) people to the Banff Gondola, Banff Lake Cruise, Glacier Adventure and Glacier Skywalk ($440)

“Palliser Range” – contest entry by Bruce Turnbull

Click here to enter! And be sure to vote for your favorite photo.

“Foggy Sunrise at Maligne Lake” – contest entry by Lloyd Dykstra

‘Tis the season for outdoor adventures – and avalanches. Banff National Park has prepared a visitor information bulletin to inform outdoor enthusiasts about avoiding avalanches. The weather is unpredictable during the winter, but knowledge and preparation can help you stay safe as you enjoy the parks.

“Climbing Until Sunset” – photo credit of Trevor Ward

The visitor information bulletin explains that Parks Canada will be sharing an increased amount of avalanche information this year. Parks Canada will also be installing new signs along the Lake Louise lakeshore in Banff National Park, Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park, and some key backcountry locations where novices may not know that avalanche terrain is nearby.

You can prepare for your next winter visit to the Canadian mountain parks by following these safety tips from the Visitor Information Bulletin:

• Check Parks Canada’s Winter Trails Guide for a list of safe destinations
• Let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to come back
• Check the weather and avalanche bulletin, change plans if weather deteriorates
• If you plan to travel into avalanche terrain
• Take an avalanche safety course
• Carry avalanche gear (shovel, probe, beacon) and know how to use them

There are also a number of resources that you can consult for up-to-date conditions.

• Winter trails in the Banff area: www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/skidefondxcski/banff.aspx
• Winter trails in the Lake Louise area:
• www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/skidefond-xcski/lakelouise.aspx
• Avalanche Forecast (Banff, Yoho and Kootenay national parks): www.avalanche.pc.gc.ca
• Weather conditions: www.weather.gc.ca
• Road reports: Alberta: www.511.alberta.ca or BC: www.DriveBC.ca

Note that you don’t need to go far to be in avalanche terrain and not all sign-posted trails are safe for winter travel. Check the websites above for the Winter trail listings in the Banff area and the Lake Louise area.

With some preparation, you can help yourself stay safe as you visit the parks during the winter.