BANFF SUNSHINE SKI RESORT
I did have to drive a bit further to get to Sunshine from there — my commute was a whopping 15 minutes. Funny thing: It was such a beautiful drive, I almost wished it was longer. That is, until I got up on Sunshine, which has a unique and awesome layout. Everyone heads up a gondola to start their ski day, but when the lifts stop spinning, those overnighting at the resort stay up top while the rest of the world heads back down to reality. That's right — the resort's hotel is tucked way up on the mountain.
There's something magical about that; like you've been left to soak in all the beauty of your own private mountain. Since my arrival is at the end of the day, I settle into my lovely room for a bit (luggage magically appears from the base), and then head to dinner at The Chimney Corner. With huge windows and two crackling fireplaces (and great food), it feels just right.
The next morning, I need to just click into my skis and I'm there, ready to take on the massive mountain with its 3,300 acres, 145 runs and — get this — more than 3,300 vertical feet. Getting your turns in here is effortless. Their gondola moves well, and their heated bubble lift keeps you cozy on any kind of day.
While the majority of trails are intermediate, there's nothing average about them. Sunshine is divided into three sections: Goats Eye, Lookout and Mount Standish. The first offers some challenging skiing, including Delirium, noted as one of the most challenging runs to take in all of Canada. There's mellow, too, including great cruisers and a fun run all the way down to the base that makes you feel like you've skied a million miles — in a good way. The cool factor comes most, though, on Lookout Mountain, where you can ski from Alberta to British Columbia and back. When I stand at the divide, one ski in each province, up at 9,700 vertical, I think, “I really am on top of the world.”