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A PARADE of super-keen skiers glides past our breakfast table in the early-morning sun.
These enthusiasts make the most of the mild winter climate enjoyed by Sun Peaks, Canada’s second largest ski resort after Whistler.
Located in British Columbia, it basks in 2000 hours of annual sunshine. Its 4,270 acres of terrain and excellent snow record make it a magnet for beginners, pros and everyone in between.
The Sun Peaks Lodge, our base for the trip, is a cuckoo-clockstyle hotel with wooden shutters and open fires.
There’s a Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna, plus an on-site steakhouse serving bison rib-eye and giant-sized steak sandwiches.
From the cosy rooms there are views over the mountains or the traffic-free, ski-in, ski-out village with its pastel-painted shops and restaurants. Ski hire shops are located next door and across the road. If you want a discount on lift passes, book in advance on the Sun Peaks resort website.
When you’ve filled up on hearty mountain fare, take your pick from Sun Peak’s array of skiing.
There are the sweeping groomed cruiser slopes of Sundance, the gladed terrain and open bowls of Mount Tod and the beautiful blue runs of Mount Morrissey.
Alpine
Sun Peaks also offers free skiguiding. Experienced local skiers are happy to take you off for the day, or half day, on slopes. Just meet them at the sign at the base of the lifts.
If you fancy a break from skiing, Sun Peaks resort is home to a variety of alpine activities.
Terrific for all the family is tubing, which is riding a large, rubber ring down a wide toboggan-style run at the side of the base-level slope. Being strapped together to form a line was quite hilarious to do and to watch and it only costs £8 per adult for a two-hour session.
Segways are also available for hire – and what a thrill they are on the snow. There is also dogsledding and fat-tyred mountain bikes for rent from the ski shops.
For the more adventurous there are snowmobile tours, a perfect way to observe the area and its natural beauty. Ice fishing can also be arranged with local guide, Campbell. A uniquely Canadian experience, you can try your hand at catching wild rainbow trout.
A more sedate activity is relaxing on a horse-drawn sleigh ride.
Our first apres-ski dinner was at Morrisseys Pub, where my enormous bowl of chilli went down well with the local beer. We then settled in for the night to watch the open mic session, where merry tourists got up to entertain the punters with their karaoke. Another bar, Bottoms is a favourite watering hole when the lifts finish for the day.
Upmarket
I experienced Black Lager for the first time here, above, which is rather like fizzy stout.
They also serve typical no-nonsense Canadian food and we tried the plate of ribs, with apple slaw and a warm red potato salad.
On sunny afternoons it was fun to amble around Sun Peaks’ upmarket gift shops selling Navajo clothing, copper jewellery, stained glass artwork and sculptures of bears paddling their cubs in