JASPER NATIONAL PARK - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 360

bowl, and to the summit of Eagle Ridge, which accesses open bowls and lightly treed
glades of two other mountain faces. Local Joe Weiss saw the potential for skiing in the
basin in the 1920s and began bringing skiers up from the valley. A road was constructed
from the highway in the early 1950s, and the first paying skiers were transported up to
the slopes in a snowcat. The first lift, a 700-meter (2,300-foot) rope tow, was installed on
the Paradise face in 1961, and the area has continued to expand ever since. Marmot Bas-
in has nine lifts servicing 680 hectares (1,675 acres) of terrain with a vertical rise of 900
meters (2,940 feet). The longest run is 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles). Marmot doesn't get the
crowds of the three alpine resorts in Banff National Park, so lift lines are uncommon. The
season runs early December-late April. Lift tickets are adult $78, senior and child $64.
(Throughout Jasper in January celebrations, adult tickets are just $52.) Rentals are avail-
able at the resort or in town at Totem Ski Shop (408 Connaught Dr., 780/852-3078).
Cross-Country Skiing
For many people, traveling Jasper's hiking trails on skis is just as exhilarating as on foot.
An extensive network of 300 kilometers (185 miles) of summer hiking trails is designated
for skiers, with around 100 kilometers (62 miles) groomed. The four main areas of trails
are along Pyramid Lake Road, around Maligne Lake, in the Athabasca Falls area, and at
Whistlers Campground. A booklet available at the park information center details each
trail and its difficulty. Weather forecasts and avalanche-hazard reports are also posted here.
Rental packages are available from Source for Sports (406 Patricia St., 780/
852-3654), the rental shop at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge (780/852-3433), and
Totem Ski Shop (408 Connaught Dr., 780/852-3078), offering rentals, repairs, and sales.
Maligne Canyon
By late December, the torrent that is the Maligne River has frozen solid. Where it cascades
down through Maligne Canyon, the river is temporarily stalled for the winter, creating re-
markable formations through the deep limestone canyon. Jasper Adventure Centre (306
Connaught Dr., 780/852-5595) offers exciting three-hour guided tours into the depths of
the canyon throughout winter, at 10am, 2pm, and 7pm daily; adult $60, child $30.
ENTERTAINMENT AND EVENTS
Cinema
The Chaba Theatre (604 Connaught Dr., 780/852-4749) shows first-run movies in its two
theaters.