Q: My bf and I are hoping to fly to Vancouver in Feb / Mar 2009 (from Melbourne). I know it will be cold but he wants to ski. Does the Rocky Mountaineer travel in these months? All timetables I can find has it beginning in April, but then the snow is gone (the allure of snow is the only reason my bf will fly this far so it has to be when it is cold!!) I was thinking of training it frmo Vancouver to Calgary one way (and stopping a few places along the way to ski) and then hiring a car and driving back the same way. Is this plausible? We have a 3 week timeframe. If anyone could help me that would be awesome!! Would also love a suggested itinerary from someone who had perhaps done this aswell?? I don't really know where to start. Are the roads safe to drive at this time? Can you use the Rocky M as a hop on hop off train travel or do you have to buy set 'trips'. Ps. I have friends in Calgary and I lived in Lethbridge for 1 year when i was 16 (Exchange Student) so I am going to visit them hence not a complete skiing holiday. Thank you to the 2 people who have responded so far!! It has helped me immensley, all I needed was a little guidence so thanks heaps!!
A: The Rocky Mountaineer operates only in summer. When operating it is a set trip, not hop on hop off. Via Rail goes to Jasper in winter, about 20 hours by train from Vancouver, and it allows intermediate stops. It is probably possible to rent a car in Jasper in midwinter, but it would be mountain driving in snow for much of the drive. Calgary requires at least 10 hours of driving from Jasper, much more if the weather is bad. Lethbridge is a couple of hours beyond Calgary, out on the Prairie and quite a distance from skiing. The return drive to Vancouver from either Calgary or Jasper in winter is at least 2 1/2 days, perhaps more if the weather is really bad. You really do not need to go all the way to Jasper, Calgary, or Banff to ski. There are lots of places in BC with excellent skiing, including Whistler one of the world's premier resorts closer to Vancouver. In 3 weeks to travel all the way to Calgary and back and to ski at various places would be an ordeal not a holiday, and you would spend lots of time in transit. I would recommend renting a car and combining skiing at Whistler, the new Sun Mountain Resort near Kamloops, and perhaps Fernie as three places rather closer to Vancouver, though Fernie is quite a long drive. The skiing isn't the world's greatest, but there are also several ski slopes on the mountains overlooking Vancouver (Grouse Mt. is probably the best one). Do that late afternoon or evening to get stunning views of the city below! The roads in BC are generally good, but winter driving can be a problem, especially if a major storm hits while you are in transit. Many of the roads cross fairly high mountain passes where the roads are winding and blowing snow is not rare. The road from Vancouver to Whistler is good and well patrolled during snow as is the road between Vancouver and Kamloops. Elsewhere the distances between places are long, and the roads in a winter storm can be deserted. For travel information http://www.hellobc.com Request information about winter driving and skiing.