Jasper's new Paradise Chair opens

Another foot of snow covers the slopes

– Nov. 26/11

The Magic Carpet lift in action at another resort. Photo courtesy of Magic Carpet Lifts Inc.

JASPER, AB – The new (and highly touted) Paradise high speed quad chair, Marmot’s latest $6 million development, opened to the delight of skiers and snowboarders on Saturday, November 26.

And then, as if perfectly on cue, 31 cm of snow fell on the slopes of Marmot the next day, only days after Marmot received 64 cm of snow over a four day period. Marmot has now received 99 cm of snow since Tuesday, November 22, making for ideal conditions and allowing for opening of more lifts and runs.

Only one more lift to go...

In addition to the opening of the Paradise Chair, the Canadian Rockies Express quad chair also opened first thing Saturday morning and, by late afternoon, the Eagle Ridge quad chair opened after a lot of hard work by ski area staff.

Massive early season snowfalls have everyone smiling ear to ear at Marmot Basin.>br />Photo courtesy of Marmot Basin

All four of Marmot’s quad chairs are now open along with the new School House Chair and the Magic Carpet beginner lift. The Knob Chair is the only lift yet to open for the season and it is not for a lack of snow.

“We’ve had 99 cm of snow since last Tuesday and it’s still snowing hard; the alpine bowls are loaded with snow. Once our avalanche control team completes their work in the area, the Knob will open,” said Marmot’s VP of Marketing, Brian Rode. With six of seven lifts now open, and the Knob Chair to open soon, Marmot Basin is expecting to have all lifts and most runs open in early December.

Knee-deep powder all day long

Skiers and snowboarders who hit the slopes on Saturday were thrilled with conditions and the town was buzzing Saturday night with satiated and exhausted powder hounds.

Avid skier and Edmontonian, Glenn Maffrett, got all he bargained for and then some when he got a close up look, and taste, of the new snow. “On my first run I went in a little hot and cart-wheeled through three feet of new snow and came up looking like the abominable snowman. I skied knee-deep powder all day long. It was an absolutely epic day,” said Maffrett.