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Meanwhile, the ski resorts in Banff National Park are in incredible shape. Below are a couple of webcam snapshots from today. Fresh powder and cooler temperatures are creating some of the best spring skiing seen for years!

Lake Louise [Banff National Park] snapshot from today:

Sunshine Village [Banff National Park] snapshot from today:

We are off to a fantastic start here in the Canadian Rockies. The snowfall so far has just been incredible.  So much powder, in fact, the Kicking Horse Powder Express from Banff has been cancelled the last couple of days due to it not being able to get through!

This is the snow POWDER report from today:

• Lake Louise [Banff National Park] – 19cm received in past 24 hours (40cm in the past 2 days)
• Sunshine Village [Banff National Park] – 21cm received in the past 24 hours (42cm in the past 2 days)
• Banff Norquay [Banff National Park] – 35+cm in the past 24 hours. Their NORTH AMERICAN chair (BIG CHAIR) opened today!
• Nearby Nakiska – 28cm in the past 24 hours, 38cm in the past 48 hours, 63cm in the past 7 days.
• Nearby Kicking Horse Mountain Resort – 32 cm in the past 24 hours, 61cm in the past 48 hours (84cm in the past week). Incredible.

Have any of you managed to get up recently? If you have, we would love to hear about it!

Drive safe and enjoy this magnificent powder!

With weather and temperatures like this, the 3 hour Bow Valley Loop ride should open before the end of the month. Cookouts and day rides are scheduled to open May 15th and the Spray River Corrals located by the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel should be open for the 1 hour Spray River Ride on May 1st 2010.

This 2 hour Sundance Loop trail ride travels through the woodland, along the Bow River, climbs the backside of Sulphur Mountain over Windy Knoll and loops around the marsh.  This ride will depart at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm daily.

The cost for the 2 hour Sundance Loop trail ride is $72 per rider and payment can be made using your credit card.  Jeans and a close-toed shoe, like a sneaker or light-hiking boot, are best to wear while riding.

This 1-hour trail ride travels through the woodland, along the Bow River and loops around the marsh.  This ride will depart hourly daily starting at 10am with the last one departing at 5pm.

Reservations are recommended for this ride and you can call +1-403-609-0286 (1-888-747-6259 North America / 0800-567-7542 U.K.) to speak with a local reservations agent.  The cost is $40 per rider and payment can be made by Visa, MasterCard or American Express.

Please check in at Warner Stables 10 minutes before your ride’s scheduled departure time.  The stables are located at the end of Sundance Road just off Cave Avenue. No shuttle service provided.  Gloves and hats are highly recommended for this time of year!

For more Banff Horseback Riding Tours, contact us at Banff Holidays.

The Obstetrics Program at the hospital was shut down for several months because of a severe nursing shortage and with overwhelming support from the locals, was re-opened again. If this hospital had not re-opened, then expectant mothers in Banff would have had to go to Canmore (20-30 minutes drive) or even Calgary (1.5 hours drive). About 120 babies are born at the Mineral Springs Hospital in Banff each year.

Talking from personal experience, our first child was born in the Mineral Springs Hospital in 2007 and our second is due this November and our doctor, Jane Fowke and the nurses at the hospital made it a truly memorable experience. The Banff Mineral Springs is the nicest hospital we have ever come across and feel fortunate to have it close by. May the Obstetrics Program remain open for many years to come!

It’s early-season conditions. The Strawberry lift and two quads – WaWa and Standish are now in operation. More runs are expected open Saturday, as crews finish preparing runs.

It’s also a great time to stay on the mountain, at Banff’s only ski-in, ski-out hotel. The Sunshine Mountain Lodge, formally known as the Sunshine Inn, is offering discounted rates, with packages starting at $139 per person including next day skiing. Contact rocky-peak Ski Holidays for details on this and other ski specials!

To check on the current snow conditions for Sunshine Village, call the 24-hour snow phone at 403-760-SNOW (403-760-7669).

Happy skiing and riding!

All the ski hills are in great shape in the Canadian Rockies. To book your ski holiday in Canada, contact rocky-peak Ski Holidays.

The 100 and 200 blocks of Banff Avenue have been closed to vehicles since mid-April, to accommodate the Banff Refreshing project.

On Dec. 3, Mayor John Stutz will celebrate the re-opening with a ceremonial drive down the “refreshed” Banff Avenue between 12 and 1p.m.

Leading up to opening day, Banff Avenue will, and has been the scene of several great outdoor events as the annual WinterStart Festival returns, including Christmas in the Rockies (last weekend), the Santa Claus Parade of Lights (last weekend), and the CP Rail Jam and Street Party (Nov. 30, Dec. 1).