Fortress Mountain Resort: Difference between revisions
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Film: "Inception" →History |
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As of July 2009, the bridge is completely blocked off but apparently still passable by car. As a result, hikers and fly fishermen must hike the entire road from fortress junction at highway 40. From highway 40, it is approximately 2 hours to walk up to the ski lodge. |
As of July 2009, the bridge is completely blocked off but apparently still passable by car. As a result, hikers and fly fishermen must hike the entire road from fortress junction at highway 40. From highway 40, it is approximately 2 hours to walk up to the ski lodge. |
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As of September 2009 |
As of September 2009 the film [[Inception_(film)|Inception]] is being made at Fortress with construction clearly visible on the ridge (above 2nd chute of Canadian). The bridge is in use by the filming crew, but access to its use is being denied as it is privately owned/maintained (confirmed with Alberta Government). |
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== Current Status == |
== Current Status == |
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Revision as of 19:24, 9 November 2009
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (January 2008) |
| Fortress Mountain | |
|---|---|
| File:Fortress-logo.png | |
| Location | Kananaskis, Canada |
| Nearest major city | Calgary |
| Top elevation | 2,369 m |
| Base elevation | 2,040 m |
| Skiable area | 3.8 km² |
| Trails | 47 |
| Longest run | 2 km |
| Lift system | 3 chairlifts, 2 T-bars |
| Snowfall | 630 cm/year |
| Website | Ski Fortress |
Fortress Mountain is a ski resort in Kananaskis Country, Alberta, Canada.
Located on the face of The Fortress, the resort spans over 3.8 km² from a top elevation of 2,369 m to the base at 2,040 m, and is serviced by 3 chairlifts (one triple, two doubles) and 2 T-bars. The longest run, at 2 km, has a vertical rise of 329 m.
The resort is located on Kananaskis Trail (115 km west of Calgary). It is owned and operated by the Banff Rail Co.
History
Before the purchase of Fortress by Banff Rail Co., the area had previously been owned by Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR).
The resort did not operate during the 2006-07 season. Initially the opening was delayed by an order by the provincial Director of Fair Trading requiring a halt to the sale of season passes and the closure of the resort's access road to the public.[1] Additional delays resulted from failure to receive the required permits and certifications on its road, lodge and chair lifts. Management of the resort announced its limited opening in February 2007 via its website but the ski hill remained closed. On April 21, via the resort's website, the resort announced it was "closed awaiting approvals."
In the fall of 2007, Alberta Sustainable Resources canceled the five leases that make up the ski area, effectively making an opening of the resort impossible. The leases were canceled because the Banff Rail Company did not meet obligations that were written into the lease documents.
In the summer of 2007 Banff Rail Company did make some effort to meet the obligations of the lease. The road received maintenance work, and the infamous "Corner 7" turn was, according to BRC, "completely rebuilt". The company also hired engineering work done on the bridge over the Kananaskis river, however, the extent of the work actually done on the bridge is unclear. Stantec Inc. was the engineering consultant.
As of July 2009, the bridge is completely blocked off but apparently still passable by car. As a result, hikers and fly fishermen must hike the entire road from fortress junction at highway 40. From highway 40, it is approximately 2 hours to walk up to the ski lodge.
As of September 2009 the film Inception is being made at Fortress with construction clearly visible on the ridge (above 2nd chute of Canadian). The bridge is in use by the filming crew, but access to its use is being denied as it is privately owned/maintained (confirmed with Alberta Government).
Current Status
For the 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 ski seasons, Fortress again failed to re-open due to the failure of taxes and lease bills being payed which lead to the Alberta Government canceling the lease for the crown lands which the area lies upon. The Aberta Government also alleged that not enough had been done to improve the safety of the road leading to the area.
Sustainable Resource Development Alberta, as of September 2009, has confirmed that potential new owners are negotiating with Banff Rail (Zrinko Amerl) to take over the resort. The new ownership group is thought to be headed by Joey O'Brien. Mr. O'Brien's ski industry experience includes formerly owning Ski Martock in Nova Scotia, and performing as COO for Alpine Canada.
Unique T-Bar lift
The Curve T-Bar lift installed at Fortress mountain is of novel design. It operates in a big loop, draped over a ridge, so that it can pull skiers up both sides of the ridge with a single motor and loop of cable. There is not a similar lift in the Canadian Rockies.
The lift has not operated under the Banff Rail Company's ownership and was last run during the Resorts of the Canadian Rockies ownership period.
References
- ^ Alberta Government Services (2006). "Consumer Alert". Retrieved 2007-02-06.
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http://www.cbc.ca/canada/calgary/story/2007/10/26/fortress-closed.html
External links
- Ski Fortress official website