50th Anniversary
Mighty
Marmot Basin Canada’s beloved ski hill celebrates 50 years.
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By Nerissa McNaughton
t was the late 1920s when Joe Weiss enjoyed an adventurous ski trip along the eastern slope of Marmot Mountain. During this trip he discovered and named Marmot Basin and the rest, as they say, is history. Weiss used Marmot Basin to lead tours of cross-country skiers and to train World War II British soldiers in alpine skills. Marmot Basin’s first major milestone came in the 1950s with the development of an access road. Early skiers did not enjoy today’s easy access to Marmot Basin. In the 50s and 60s, busses and trucks equipped with tracks and runner sleds were used to transport skiers up the road. Skiers, however, are a hardy, practical lot – as proved by Toby Rayner who installed Marmot’s first tow rope using parts from a discarded army truck’s engine. In 1964, Marmot received a licence of occupation from
Parks Canada, which allowed Marmot Basin Ski Lifts Ltd. to start developing the area. Since the 60s, Marmot has been in a constant state of progression with each development allowing for comfort and convenience while never compromising safety and environmental responsibility. “The biggest changes I have seen are in respect to the infrastructure of the mountain,” says Brian Rode, vice president/marketing and sales at Marmot Basin. Two of our newest additions include the Paradise and the Canadian Rockies Express high speed quad chairs. The Canadian Rockies Express is the longest high-speed quad chair in the Rockies and transports skiers to the top of the hill in under eight minutes. “Now, lift lines are almost non-existent,” smiles Rode. “Without having to wait in lines, guests get in lots of skiing.”
Marmot Basin • 50 Years • 1