A great week’s skiing: reward for 4,500-mile journey

Some 70 boys travelled to the Rockies for the QE skiing trip – the School’s first to the western side of Canada.

Their epic journey took in a coach ride to Gatwick, a flight to Reykjavik in Iceland, a further flight to Edmonton, provincial capital of Alberta, and a second, long coach ride to the ski resorts at Jasper.

PE teacher Richard Scally, who led the trip, said: “We arrived to near-perfect conditions and temperatures, which made for a great week’s skiing: we were definitely rewarded for the extra travel.

“As well as almost having the mountain to ourselves, the boys got to experience Ice-skating on a frozen lake, a night walk up an ice canyon and the sight of the least light-polluted night sky in the northern hemisphere at a planetarium. Many great memories were made and litres of maple syrup consumed!”

Mr Scally was supported by a seven-strong staff team, each of whom led a team of boys, who were drawn from Years 8–13.

Their hotel – the recently renovated Lobstick Lodge – lies deep in the Rockies in the Jasper National Park, which is Canada’s largest Rocky Mountains park and part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Jasper itself is a picturesque town often referred to as The Gem of the Rockies.

As well as daily morning and afternoon ski school and opportunities simply to relax together, the boys enjoyed a full programme of other activities. In addition to the ice-skating, canyon walk and planetarium visit, there was a quiz night and swimming. On the final night in Canada, QE staff led an awards evening.

The next day, the group rose early for the coach journey back to Edmonton. Before boarding their flight to Iceland and, ultimately, back to London, they were able to visit Edmonton Mall – home not only to North America’s largest indoor shopping mall, but also to a theme park and aqua park.