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Castle Mountain Buffs Up: Alberta's *Jewel of the South*Copyright © 2006-2008 Travel Alberta, All Rights ReservedWritten by: Travel Alberta When legendary ski-film maker Warren Miller's crew came to Alberta to include Castle Mountain in his newest movie, it sought an unpolished jewel. That's Castle Mountain: on the one hand, an area remote, undeveloped and largely undiscovered; on the other, a mountain with a roots-friendly vibe, huge snow dumps and incredible skiing. It's a skier's paradise that's attracting huge interest. You can still ski until late May at other Alberta ski resorts such as Sunshine Village and enjoy one of the longest seasons in North America. But Castle Mountain is an area to watch for next year; not just on the big screen when Warren Miller's new film comes to your town. The resort's unique blend of small-mountain atmosphere and big-mountain terrain attracted the Warren Miller film crew. The team spent three days filming Castle this spring to capture the essence of the mountain, the terrain and the snow quality, as well as non ski-related activities, says Willi Vogl, president of Warren Miller Entertainment Canada. "This is a real local family mountain," he says, surrounded by pizza and friendly locals in the cheerful T-Bar Pub. "No glitz, great accommodations and unbelievable food. The best pizza anywhere. It's probably one of the most unique areas I've been since I was a little kid. This mountain is all about skiing." Located in southwestern Alberta, Castle Mountain is two and a half hours southwest of the international gateway city of Calgary. The mountain offers a glimpse of a bygone era. There are no high-speed quads, no million-dollar condos and no attitudes. Yet the mountain, which sits on the Continental Divide, is prone to the same snow-laden weather systems that pummel British Columbia's legendary southern mountain ranges. Take Advantage of the Powder Castle fans quietly step into their skis and head uphill to take advantage of the powder. Last February, almost 1.5 meters (4.5 feet) of snow blanketed the resort in less than a week. There's no rush, no stress and no ego because the mountain is theirs to ski. The parking lot is often empty, especially midweek, and odds are good a skier will never cross another set of tracks all day. Even during peak holiday periods, fresh tracks can easily be found. "On the busiest day we ever had we had about 4,000 people," says Peter Hodgson, an 18-year-old local skier filmed at Castle by the Warren Miller crew. "But even then, it was a 10-minute wait and you were back on the chair." Only one rope tow and two double chairlifts access all that powder, which is a blessing in disguise, says Andrew Rusynyk, director of marketing and snow sports for Castle. "Occasionally there may be lineups, but people still get fresh tracks at 3:30 in the afternoon," he says. The epic powder, laid-back attitude and surprisingly expansive terrain are poorly kept secrets among powder hounds and ski bums. But the rumors are also beginning to attract families. At Castle they're greeted by an unpaved parking lot, cheap lift tickets and a warm smile. "I like the long, continuous, pure ski lines that we have here," says Rusynyk, who's worked at Castle for the past six years. "The steepness is exciting, but the fact you can make turn after turn after turn on a consistent pitch is something you don't find on many mountains." The Chutes, arguably Castle's best-known descents, are home to the world's longest slalom race. At 220 gates and an average race time of 4.5 minutes to the bottom, it's a leg burner and lung buster, says Rusynyk. Mountain Makeover Underway Because of its varied and steep terrain, Castle has traditionally been a magnet for hard-core skiers. But that's changing. The summer of 2006 will be one of significant progress for the mountain. Not only will it become home to Alberta's only ski-in, ski-out, privately-owned residences but a new triple chair will also be installed, opening up easier terrain on neighboring Mount Haig. "The runs we've cut will all be novice and intermediate terrain," says Rusynyk. "That still gives us 1,000 acres (404 hectares) for cat-skiing and for the back-country skiers; it gets them much closer to the steeps." The combination of new accommodation and triple chair, when coupled with $50 tickets – some of the cheapest lift tickets around – makes Castle an increasingly popular family destination. While Rusynyk admits that 2006 seems to be a year of explosive growth for the mountain, he also points out that in comparison to other resorts, the expansion is very modest. "Our goal is to achieve sustainability and to not overcrowd the mountain," he says. Unlike other Alberta ski resorts, Castle Mountain does not operate within a National Park. That means it will continue to have the ability to grow, says Klaus Roth, Travel Alberta Portfolio Manager, Americas . "I think this whole resort, as it develops, is off the beaten track and gives certain tranquility from the big resorts and ski hills," he adds. Like Vogl, Roth sees Castle as a "little jewel of the south." Exciting New Terrain for International Skiers "We are convinced this is the right resort for the international skier who is looking for new and exciting places to ski," says Roth, adding the mountain may eventually include heli-hiking in the summer. "This is also a best-kept investment secret because of the surrounding ski resorts; this is the only hill with growth opportunities." Those growth opportunities include new snowmaking capabilities, aimed at ensuring the mountain can open early in December and remain open into April. "What we're trying to do with this mountain that's customized for skiing and boarding enthusiasts is make it so they can come here more often with the wife and family and the less-experienced buddy," says Rusynyk. About The Author:
*** Digital Reprint Rights *** *** Author Notification *** We ask that you notify the author of publication of his or her work. Travel Alberta can be reached at: travelalberta@raremethod.com *** Print Publication Reprint Rights *** If you desire to publish this article in a PRINT publication, you must contact the author directly for Print Permission at: travelalberta@raremethod.com
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