Marmot Basin

Skipasses: We bought a Jasper Family Ski Card and got a 20% discount on the lift tickets:-).

Hours of operation: 9:00 to 4:00.

Lifts: Marmot Basin has several chair lifts, unfortunately only two with footrests. Another three chairs go uphill without and keep your legs hanging for a long time in thin air. So this was definitely a draw back.

Trails: The trails had a good ratio between green (30%), blue (30%), black-advanced (20%) and double black-expert (20%). In three days we nearly skied all of them except the ones you had to climb up for. My favorite trails were Kiefer's Dream and Porteous Way.

The dangers if tree & backcountry skiing

Some of the obstacles are quite obvious - you could hit a tree. Some are more hidden - like cliffs you can't see from above, stones and rocks covered by a small layer of snow and roots and fallen trees.

There are also tree wells - that's the space around the log which is free of snow because it's covered by branches. If you fall in head first, the snow from the branches cover you and you are trapped.

And of course, there can be avalanches.

How to survive

Pressure turns - when you are advancing fast a tree, you come under pressure, so you better turn.

Pay attention to your surroundings - already check your line on the way up if possible.

Never ride alone - always take a buddy with you who can dig you out.

Stay within the ski area boundaries, check for avalanche hazard zones and take avalanche rescue equipment (transponder and shovel) with you.

Snow: well groomed trails, but no new snow fall during our stay. There could have been more powder on the double black diamonds.

Specials: On our last day, we took a tour with Mountain Host Heinz (originally from Germany, 83 years) who has been skiing the mountain since the 1960s.

The two lodges for lunch did not convince us much as they only cater the burger crowds. Luckily for us there was a vast indoor picnic area where you could eat your own lunch. There was even a microwave.