• For more information on how to avoid pop-up ads and still support SkiTalk click HERE.

Pacific NW/AK/BC Necessary BC areas

tch

What do I know; I'm just some guy on the internet.
Skier
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 13, 2015
Posts
1,542
Location
New England
A friend and I are planning a 2+ week trip in BC. We're both advanced/low-expert skiers in our 60's, and are looking for good, but not hair-ball, skiing. For reference, we're good on most all diamonds at Alta and Snowbird, but very few double-diamonds. We're good skiing intermediate slopes, too; in truth, an ideal day might be 50/50 black/blue. So, for example, we're probably not looking at Kicking Horse, since its reputation is pretty gnarly. But.... we could be convinced. Conditions are most important.

We are also fans of the lesser-known, more laid-back places: I often ski Snowbasin, PowMou, and Brighton rather than LCC b/c of crowds and attitude. Currently, we're looking at Red, Panorama, Revelstoke, and Fernie, but again, need confirmation/correction beta. Big White? Silver Star? Whitewater?

Any insight/thoughts/reviews would be helpful.
We will probably ski Whitefish on the way home.

Edit: Oh, by the way...is March too late, or OK? We're either last-two-weeks in Feb+ or first two weeks in March+.
 
Last edited:

Mike Rogers

Out on the slopes
Skier
Joined
Apr 25, 2017
Posts
753
Location
Calgary
I ski Fernie or Kicking Horse most weekends. I can help with particulars there. The Black Diamond chutes at kicking horse are pretty stiff, so you might be right about the terrain. Still, if there is fresh snow, the hill is much more approachable.

I think Big White and Silver Star would really suit skiers looking for a mix between blue and black runs. Big White is a highly developed resort by BC standards. Probably second to Whistler for skier visits and village (although Sun Peaks also has a bunch of condos). So maybe not exactly the resort you are looking for...but the terrain is nice.

Whitewater is small, but a real gem. If you don't like skiing trees, a day would be enough, but it is worth it. Nelson is a fun town too.

I'm not a big fan of Kimberly. It isn't on your list, but I wouldn't be super keen on investigating. Panorama has good long groomers, and some nice terrain in the Taynton Bowl (access is a bit of a hassle though), but it doesn't get a lot of snow. I am not the biggest fan...

Castle Mountian is about an hour and a half east of fernie (and in Alberta). It definitely qualifies as a lessor known/laid back place. Might be worth a look.

How long is your trip? How many ski days? Do you have IKON, EPIC, Mountain Collective, Powder Alliance, or Indy Pass discounts?

If you don't have a discount, look into the RCR card for good discounts to Fernie and Kicking Horse, if you try it out. The Louise Plus card gave discounts to Panorama, Silver Star, and Red last year (also Lake Louise and Schweitzer in Idaho). The Sunshine Super card helps with Revelstoke and Castle (and Sunshine in Banff).
 

Tony

tseeb
Skier
Joined
Jan 17, 2016
Posts
1,284
Location
Northern CA
+1 on Castle even if it’s a few miles into AB.

If you are considering Big White(out) and Silver Star (where a lot of best runs drop to lower elevations), consider Apex out of Penticton. I only have two days there, but both included more untracked than expected. It seemed like locals left early leaving some areas for visitors to skiout

Reports at http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12824 (2019) and http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12063 (2016 with some upside down pictures)
 

noncrazycanuck

Out on the slopes
Skier
Joined
Apr 27, 2017
Posts
1,464
when your going, and where your starting from makes a big difference.
some places change pecking order depending on which month
best way for linking hills depends on where your starting.
here are a lots of good areas fairly close together so no shortage of options .
along with looking into the card info above, also consider how far your willing to drive after a days skiing to the next hill.
my advice is always do the drive to next hill after a day skiing rather than in the morning, better optics and less road issues
 

DanoT

RVer-Skier
Skier
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
4,788
Location
Sun Peaks B.C. in winter, Victoria B.C. in summer
If given the choice, last 2 weeks of Feb would be my choice as it is more likely to be winter weather vs. first 2 weeks of March which could be warmer but still very good skiing. Most BC resorts don't close until mid April and that is due to lack of skiers in late season rather than lack of snow.

Distances between resorts in B.C. can impact the number of resorts that it is reasonable to visit even in a 2 week+ trip.

If flying to Spokane (likely cheapest flight) and then driving 2.5 hours to Rossland gets you skiing Red Mt, with Whitewater (the anti-Whistler) another 1.25 hrs (accommodation is in Nelson). From Nelson it is about 4 hours to Revelstoke.

If flying to Kelowna, Big White and Silver Star are 3/4 hrs from the airport (in different directions), Revelstoke is about 3 hours with Silver Star sort of on the way. On a clear morning from the top of the Stoke chair at Revy, you can see Sun Peaks' Burfield Chair but it is almost 3.5 hours away.

I never recommend Big White due to its well earned nickname: Big Whiteout.

If flying to Calgary, Fernie and Castle would be my choices and as I like to tell people: Castle is the greatest mountain in North America that you have never heard of. With around 100k skier visits annually and 2800' continuous vertical it is another anti-Whistler. Off the top lift at Castle there is a road similar to Snowbird's Road to Provost where you just drop in wherever, except the road goes in both directions off the lift.
 
Last edited:

Bad Bob

I golf worse than I ski.
Skier
Joined
Dec 2, 2015
Posts
5,843
Location
West of CDA South of Canada
If you were following the @DanoT route, which seems like a good one, Consider 49* North on the way to Canada. About 1 hour from the Spokane Airport on the road to Rossland. Bonus points possible if you hit it on a Powder Friday, they are normally closed Wednesday and Thursday so the odds are good. Great low to moderate angle trees, and small crowds.
 
Thread Starter
TS
tch

tch

What do I know; I'm just some guy on the internet.
Skier
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 13, 2015
Posts
1,542
Location
New England
Thanks so far.
We will be driving (I know, I know) from Sacramento, CA. So proximity to airports is not a thing...though logical driving progression is.
 

Jack skis

Ex 207cm VR17 Skier
Skier
Joined
Nov 16, 2015
Posts
886
Location
Fidalgo Island, WA
Some good suggestions here. Apex is certainly worth a visit, as Tony mentioned. Every time I skied Big White the sun was out and visibility was great, it was really a nice day. Red Mountain is a dandy area, and like Apex worth a visit if you've got two weeks, or even a day to spare.
 
Last edited:

David Chaus

Beyond Help
Skier
Team Gathermeister
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
5,529
Location
Stanwood, WA
Red Mt and Whitewater are two that meet the description for low key. Red in particular has a lot of off-piste to explore. Neither of them have a lot of groomed blues, though.
 

jmeb

Enjoys skiing.
Skier
Joined
Nov 13, 2015
Posts
4,490
Location
Colorado
Given you're driving from Sacramento -- I'd seriously consider looking into a season pass at a resort that has Powder Alliance benefits. Ideally a resort you might get out to and use a few more days. You could break up your to/from BC driving with a bunch of free days at laid back areas. Here's a sample skiing only places along the way on the Powder Alliance pass -- including up to 6 days at White Water / Castle combined. Bridger is a bit out of the way, but you could add a day at Lost Trail/Discover/Whitefish (Whitefish has 3 free days on the Loveland pass) between it and Schweitzer/BC.

https://goo.gl/maps/bNCUqso5iTTi1FTB8
 

DanoT

RVer-Skier
Skier
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
4,788
Location
Sun Peaks B.C. in winter, Victoria B.C. in summer
I suggest getting on highway 97 in northern California and it takes you thru inland Oregon, Wash, and B.C.'s south Okanagan to the small city of Penticton about 20 minutes from Apex. From there you can head north continuing along 97 to Silver Star and/or Revelstoke and Sun Peaks.

Alternately, from Apex you can head east to Red Mt, and then north to Whitewater and Revelstoke.

You can also turn the above suggestions into a loop or retrace your original route on the way home, re-stopping at a favourite resort, or not.
 

Sibhusky

Whitefish, MT
Skier
Joined
Oct 26, 2016
Posts
4,806
Location
Whitefish, MT

jmeb

Enjoys skiing.
Skier
Joined
Nov 13, 2015
Posts
4,490
Location
Colorado

jmeb

Enjoys skiing.
Skier
Joined
Nov 13, 2015
Posts
4,490
Location
Colorado
You left out Silver and Fernie. In fact there's probably a slew of places you're passing by.

Yep -- those are just the ones on the Loveland season pass. I'd have 2 weeks if I'm lucky and would want to carve out some time for skiing backcountry if conditions permit along the way.
 

noncrazycanuck

Out on the slopes
Skier
Joined
Apr 27, 2017
Posts
1,464
last 2 weeks of Feb are good most places.
only possible negative is could still not the optimum base at Kicking Horse Lake Louise and Panorama

by first 2 weeks of March, Red, Revelstoke, and Fernie often get spring conditions, we usually don't head to Whitefish later than 1st week of March either
in that same time period all the higher hills will be prime

Driving from Sacramento is 14hr to BC border so consider what's on the way to ski to break up the drive
I5 gives you Crystal Stevens or Baker if you want to start with Apex-BW-Silver Star all are good hills and from Silver Star it's 2hr to Revy
97 is a slower drive, but gives Bachelor and the others mentioned, if your planning on the Red Whitewater area only it's faster than via the coast,
Red and Whitewater are a bit more isolated from other hills in BC so you do a bit more driving to include them in a BC loop

one of my favorite loops is Revy-Kicking Horse, Lake Louise, Sunshine, (4hr) to Castle, Fernie Whitefish (with the exception of Banff to Castle all are under 2hr apart)
or from Golden head south to Panorama -Fernie Red Whitewater and go back via Spokane

I never have much trouble just showing up in a ski town and getting a room, allows for easy snow chasing,
but recommend for sure to book rooms in Fernie and Revelstoke. and on weekends it's a good idea to have a reservation at most places now.
 

surfacehoar

Getting off the lift
Skier
Joined
May 12, 2017
Posts
182
I like the weather in March better. Sure, it could be warmer and spring like, and the lower elevations could be feeling it. But if that's the case, then the off slope activities in valley bottom are pleasant. If the snow isn't in your favour in February then there is less other things to do available.

Golf, Bike, Paddle, visit the towns, rent a boat, fish, rafting, go wine touring, hiking, hang out at the beach. These things are more reasonable on warm spring days.

Driving conditions will likely be better, and you'll have more light. The majority of your driving will be valley bottom. Snow tires are ideal, but for the limited amount of time you'll be driving in adverse conditions, I don't think it warrants the expense.
 

jseeski

Skiing a little BC powder
Skier
Joined
Mar 16, 2018
Posts
191
Location
Salmo, British Columbia, Canada
I Whitewater is small, but a real gem. If you don't like skiing trees, a day would be enough, but it is worth it. Nelson is a fun town too.
Almost all of the best stuff at WH2O is in the trees. Open runs exist, and there are some semi-long scenic groomers on the backside. But really, if you don't like trees, you're missing the good stuff.

On the other hand, if the snow is poor or the weather has been too warm, the trees can be extremely challenging!
 

DanoT

RVer-Skier
Skier
SkiTalk Supporter
Joined
Nov 12, 2015
Posts
4,788
Location
Sun Peaks B.C. in winter, Victoria B.C. in summer
Of all the resorts in Canada that are large enough to have 3 chairlifts, Whitewater (WH20) gets the most snow. Well actually WH20 is tied with Whistler for most snow except WH20 gets dry snow whereas Whistler sells garbage bags with their logo and the arm and neck holes already cut out.:P
 

Bad Bob

I golf worse than I ski.
Skier
Joined
Dec 2, 2015
Posts
5,843
Location
West of CDA South of Canada
WH2O always reminds me of Alta of 30 years ago. A must ski in this part of the world.
 

Sponsor

Staff online

  • Dwight
    Practitioner of skiing, solid and liquid
Top