Tips to B.C’s ski scene
Destination B.C. offers five tips to help you plan your trip, from the ultimate ski road to high altitude eating
Here are five tips from Destination B.C. to help you plan your next ski trip, from the Power Highway to the highest restaurant in North America.
B.C. HAS A POWDER HIGHWAY. TIME TO HIT THE ROAD.
The ultimate ski road trip is found in B.C.’s southeastern corner. This powder-seekers loop travels through the Kootenays and deep into the heart of the Rocky, Purcell, and Monashee mountains. Eight lift-service alpine resorts, two dozen cat-ski and heli-ski operations, and backcountry lodges punctuate the landscape. Ski them all, or choose just a few — B.C.’s Powder Highway will not disappoint.
NIGHT SKI ABOVE VANCOUVER’S CITY LIGHTS AT THREE RESORTS.
Where else in North America can you ski on three different mountains while gazing down upon a major metropolis? By travelling less than 30 minutes from downtown Vancouver, you can ski at Cypress Mountain, Grouse Mountain, or Mt. Seymour before heading back into the city for an evening on the town. Glide down perfectly groomed night-skiing runs while the city lights twinkle below.
BURN YOUR THIGHS DOWN THE LONGEST LIFT-SERVICED VERTICAL IN NORTH AMERICA.
Canada’s newest ski destination, Revelstoke Mountain Resort, gives skiers and snowboarders access to the continent’s longest lift-serviced vertical at 1,712 metres (5,620 feet). The best part? The village base is only 512 metres (1,680 feet) above sea level, which means you won’t be short of breath plowing through the nine to 13 metres (30 to 42 feet) of powder the resort sees on average each season. Lap the alpine before ending the day with a slow, easy cruise down The Last Spike, a 15.2-kilometre (9.5-mile) green run that winds its way to the village base.
SKI PAST SNOW GHOSTS AND CLIMB AN ICE TOWER.
Snow ghosts and a frozen tower of ice may sound like the winter wonderland of a fantasy film, but it’s the everyday reality at Big White Ski Resort. Skiing through ice and snow-encrusted pine trees is an otherworldly experience; when the sun shines, the sparkle of snow crystals will make you feel a little dreamy. If you still have some gusto at day’s end, head to the Happy Valley Adventure Park and tackle the 60-metre (197-foot) Ice Climbing Tower. Trained staff help determine and guide routes for everyone from beginners to advanced ice pickers. Forget Disneyland — dreams come true at Big White.
SIP ON A COLD BREW AT THE HIGHEST RESTAURANT IN NORTH AMERICA.
Sip a cold one while scoping your lines for the next day at a cosy mountain lodge 7,700 feet (2,346 metres) above sea level. The views from Eagle’s Eye Restaurant at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort are some of the best in B.C. A meal, or just an après, at the highest restaurant in North America while visiting this resort in the Rocky Mountains is a must-do. You don’t even need to come down: You can book a stay in the Eagle’s Eye Suites. That means guaranteed first tracks from your own private mountaintop retreat.