About Mount Norquay Ski Resort
Mt. Norquay is a mountain and ski resort in Banff National Park, Canada that lies directly northwest of the Town of Banff. The regular ski season starts early December and ends mid-April. Mount Norquay is one of three major ski resorts located in the Banff National Park. HistoryThe mountain was named in 1904 after John Norquay, premier of Manitoba from 1878 to 1887. Norquay climbed the mountain that now bears his name in 1887 or 1888 but, contrary to some reports, did not actually reach the summit. The mountain can be scrambled on the western side but involves a number of difficult steps and some exposure. Ascent is not advised while snow persists on the route. The first ski runs date as far back as 1926, with the opening of the ski lodge in 1929. Rope tows were installed in 1942 and the mountain was the first in Canada to install a chair lift in 1948. Norquay offered three regular big vertical daily awards in the form of a pin for 25, 000 feet for a bronze, 30, 000 for silver and 35, 000 for a gold, that regulars and staffers have collected over the years. In 1978-9 they also had 50 copies of the platinum 50, 000 feet as a celebration of 50 years of the clubhouse at Norquay. Since 1978 Ski Norquay has partnered with Ski Banff, Lake Louise, Sunshine to promote its activities. This created a joined up tri area lift pass system, which includes transport to and from the resort. Since October 2006, the Mount Norquay ski resort has been owned by a group of Alberta-based investors. This ownership group consists of Ken Read, a former Olympic and World Cup Olympic alpine ski racer; Len, Peter, and Robert Sudermann of Fortune Resorts; and Stephen Ross of Devonian Properties in Canmore.
Mount Norquay Ski Resort Description
Mt. Norquay is a mountain and ski resort in Banff National Park, Canada that lies directly northwest of the Town of Banff. The regular ski season starts early December and ends mid-April. Mount Norquay is one of three major ski resorts located in the Banff National Park. HistoryThe mountain was named in 1904 after John Norquay, premier of Manitoba from 1878 to 1887. Norquay climbed the mountain that now bears his name in 1887 or 1888 but, contrary to some reports, did not actually reach the summit. The mountain can be scrambled on the western side but involves a number of difficult steps and some exposure. Ascent is not advised while snow persists on the route. The first ski runs date as far back as 1926, with the opening of the ski lodge in 1929. Rope tows were installed in 1942 and the mountain was the first in Canada to install a chair lift in 1948. Norquay offered three regular big vertical daily awards in the form of a pin for 25, 000 feet for a bronze, 30, 000 for silver and 35, 000 for a gold, that regulars and staffers have collected over the years. In 1978-9 they also had 50 copies of the platinum 50, 000 feet as a celebration of 50 years of the clubhouse at Norquay. Since 1978 Ski Norquay has partnered with Ski Banff, Lake Louise, Sunshine to promote its activities. This created a joined up tri area lift pass system, which includes transport to and from the resort. Since October 2006, the Mount Norquay ski resort has been owned by a group of Alberta-based investors. This ownership group consists of Ken Read, a former Olympic and World Cup Olympic alpine ski racer; Len, Peter, and Robert Sudermann of Fortune Resorts; and Stephen Ross of Devonian Properties in Canmore.