After unloading at the top of the Knob Quad – Marmot Basin’s newest lift that takes you near the snow-caked summit of Marmot Peak – I stopped on the lip of the bowl and surveyed the scene. Directly below me, a tempting twist of runs funnelled to the base, a wonderful mix of open alpine cruisers, glades and steep chutes. To the north, in the valley bottom, the storied town of Jasper sat snug along the icy Athabasca River. Far in the distance and across the valley, fire-ravaged forests (more on that later) and dozens of ice-crusted peaks cut into the creamy blue sky. I pulled out my camera, snapped a few pics, fixed my goggles, and then let gravity work its magic. Read More