Snow in August!

August 20, 2009 - Banff National Park is enjoying its first glimpse of winter, with a summer snowfall blanketing the mountains!

This past week saw snow covering Mt. Norquay, Lake Louise Ski Area and Sunshine Village. The announcment of tentative 2009 opening dates is adding to the excitement.

Mt. Norquay is planning to kick off the season with a Halloween party on October 31. This opening will be for weekends only, with midweek opening scheduled for December 5.

Lake Louise Ski Area is scheduled to open on November 6, with preparations well underway to again host the first, and Canada's only, stop on the World Cup circuit. The Men's races will take place on November 28 to 29, and the Women's races on December 4 to 6.

Sunshine Village plans to open on November 11, with the newly-renovated Sunshine Mountain Lodge opening 30 new eco-luxurious rooms shortly after. The multimillion dollar wing replacement has not only added luxury to the Lodge, but also lowered the resort's carbon footprint. "We're very excited for the upcoming season," said Dan Markham, of Ski Banff-Lake Louise-Sunshine. "We're hoping to yet again be the first resorts to open in Canada, with a great start to this Olympic season. We'll be joining the world to enjoy the spirit and energy of the Games, cheering on our local athletes and celebrating our sport."

And the summer snowfall has certainly boosted the spirit and energy of Canada's Protected Playground, Banff National Park.

Ski Banff-Lake Louise-Sunshine is Canada's largest ski destination, a joint venture of three of the world's finest ski resorts; Mt. Norquay, Lake Louise Ski Area and Sunshine Village. Available on one tri-area lift ticket, our three resorts offer almost 8,000 acres of skiable terrain and one of the longest ski seasons in North America, from mid November to late May, all in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site - Canada's Protected Playground, Banff National Park.