Go To The Snow In B.C.’S Okanagan Region There’s Mountains Of It Beckoning Skiers To An Affordable Getaway

The Okanagan region in southcentral British Columbia is home to three spectacular ski resorts.

And this trio - Apex Resort, Silver Star Mountain and Big White - has been collecting lots of snow this winter, unlike the warmer, dryer weather of the Inland Northwest.

When planning a ski vacation to this region, I would recommend a stay of at least five days in order to ski each mountain. These resorts concentrate on affordable family skiing and offer an attractive array of lift and lodging packages. The favorable exchange rate makes a Canadian ski trip even more inviting.

Each resort has a wide variety of terrain features to satisfy all skiing abilities and desires. The respective mountains have a good selection of well-groomed beginner and intermediate runs for cruising and challenging mogul fields, open bowls and tree skiing for advanced skiing.

All the resorts have runs rated as “extreme” (65 degrees or steeper) for the expert skier who wants the ultimate in challenging terrain.

These resorts provide a full line of on-mountain accommodations. Apex Resort and Silver Star also have electrical hook-up sites for RV parking.

Prices quoted in this article - in approximate U.S. dollars and including the Canadian GST tax for lift passes are for a full-day pass for any day of the week, including holidays. There is no price reduction for weekday skiing, but discounted rates for a half-day lift pass are available. Unless otherwise noted, children under 6 ski free.

Each resort offers night skiing and cross-country ski trails. Snowboarders are welcomed at all the mountains.

Child care facilities and ski lessons are offered. Parents whom I interviewed at these resorts gave high praise for the ski school programs and child care facilities.

Skiers traveling to Canadian locations are reminded to carry their birth certificate, passport or a voter registration card. A state driver’s license is NOT proof of U.S. citizenship. Some custom stations are open 24-hours a day; others may be open from 8 a.m. to midnight. Ask a Canadian customs agent for a copy of the pamphlet “Goods and Services Tax, Rebate for Visitors” to learn how to get a GST rebate on some of your Canadian expenses.

Apex Resort

Apex, 21 miles west of Penticton, is noted for its light, dry powder snow. The resort has completed the first year of a five-year, $20 million expansion and renovation project, which includes a new high-speed quad and village hotel for this season.

Apex is located in a sunshine belt in the lower part of the Okanagan Valley, so skiers can expect lots of blue-sky ski days. I especially like the “sunny” atmosphere at the Billy Goat Warming Hut. The fresh, hot cookies that are baked 3 or 4 at a time in a small oven at the hut can be savored while you sit outside at the tables soaking up the sun’s warmth and licking the last bit of chocolate off your fingers. The hut also serves chili, soups and hot beverages.

Beginners will enjoy the wellgroomed, three-mile-long Grandfather Trail. Intermediate skiers will like the good selection of fast cruising runs on the mountain. Powder chutes, such as Make My Day, and steep bowls provide advanced terrain for expert skiers.

The full-day lift rate is $27 for adults (19-64), $17 for seniors (65+), $21 for teens (13-18) and $15 for juniors (8- 12). Children 7 and under ski free.

Night skiing is available on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings. Passes are $10 for adults and teens and $7 for Juniors and seniors.

Apex’s mountain statistics:

Acreage: 505 skiable acres

Vertical drop: 2,000 feet

Average annual snowfall: 228 inches

Summit elevation: 7,250 feet

Base elevation: 5,250 feet

Terrain features: open bowls, glade, mogul fields, powder basins Longest run: 3 miles (Grandfather)

Lift capacity: 6,850 skiers per hour

Snow Cat skiing: no

Night skiing: yes

Silver Star Mountain

Silver Star, 14 miles northeast of Vernon, is the second-largest ski complex in British Columbia.

The resort has the architectural style of the old Canadian West and is built around the traditions of the 1890s gaslight era. The frontier ambience offers a special charm.

The resort emphasizes its diverse apres-ski entertainment, lodging choices, restaurants and lounges and its indoor pool complex.

The Putnam Creek area on the north side of the mountain is predominately intermediate and advanced terrain. The Back Bowl is popular for extreme (double black diamond) skiing. The Vance Creek area on the south slope offers beginner and intermediate terrain. The combination of Bergerstrasse and Aunt Gladys makes an great fivemile-long beginners run. Intermediate skiers are advised that the runs in Putnam Creek are generally steeper and more challenging than the intermediaterated runs in Vance Creek.

The village complex is surrounded by ski runs. Skiers can circumnavigate the colorful western village by using two ski bridges over the roads leading into and out of the resort.

The full-day lift rate is $30 for adults (18-64), $21 for seniors (65-69), $26 for youths (13-17), and $17 for children (6-12).

Night skiing is available Tuesday through Saturday. Night tickets are $14 for adults, seniors and youths, and $8 for children.

Silver Star’s mountain statistics

Acreage: 1,200 skiable acres

Vertical drop: 2,491 feet

Average annual snowfall: 100 inches

Summit elevation: 5,280 feet Base elevation: 3,780 feet

Terrain features: open bowls, glade, mogul fields, powder basins

Longest run: 5 miles (Bergerstrasse & Aunt Gladys)

Lift capacity: 11,800 skiers per hour

Snow Cat skiing: no

Night skiing: yes

Big White

Big White is located 33 miles east of Kelowna, and is the highest ski resort in British Columbia, so it has a long ski season.

The snow-laden trees on the mountainside, called “snow ghosts,” create a surreal landscape, and skiing among them is like being in an enchanted forest.

As its name implies, Big White is “big” on skiing terrain choices, convenient parking locations and onmountain lodges and restaurants. Skiers can easily and quickly access lifts from several parking lots.

Over-night guests have the convenience of skiing in and out of a large selection of lodges. Underground parking facilities are a bonus for on-mountain guests.

Big White’s wide, well-groomed beginner runs will appeal to novice skiers. These areas are patrolled and posted for “no fast skiing” to help ease the anxiety of beginners. The Whitefoot Bowl has 75 acres of powder chutes, glades and open bowl area for the advanced skier. Parachute Bowl offers extreme terrain for expert skiers.

The full-day lift rate is $30 for adults (18-64), $21 for seniors (65-69), $25 for youths (13-17), and $17 for juniors (6-12).

Night skiing is offered Tuesday through Saturday. Night asses are $11 for adults and youths, and $9 for seniors and juniors.

Big White has a Children’s Adventure Park, a children’s fun area with signs that teach about the Okanagan heritage and wildlife while the children are learning to ski.

Big White’s mountain statistics

Acreage: 1,200 skiable acres

Vertical drop: 2,050 feet

Average annual snowfall: 223 inches

Summit elevation: 7,606 feet

Base elevation: 5,450 feet

Terrain features: open bowls, glade, mogul fields, powder basins

Longest run: 3.1 miles (Serwa’s)

Lift capacity: 15,000 skiers per hour

Snow Cat skiing: no

Night skiing: yes

MEMO: This is a sidebar which appeared with story: IF YOU GO: Getting there: The Okanagan Valley is located in south-central British Columbia. Penticton, at the southern end of Okanagan Lake, is about a 225-mile drive from Spokane. The Osoyoos border crossing on Highway 97 is open 24 hours a day. There is a B.C. Travel InfoCentre at the junction of highways 97 and 3 at the north edge of Osoyoos. Mountain sheep are frequently seen along Highway 97 between Oliver and Penticton, so drive carefully and keep your camera handy.

For more information: Apex snow line, (604) 492-2929. Apex mountain office, (604) 292-8111 or 492-2880. Apex central reservations, (800) 387-2739. Penticton Tourism, (604) 493-4055. Silver Star snow line, (604) 542-1745. Silver Star mountain office, (604) 542-0224. Silver Star central reservations, (800) 663-4431. Vernon Tourism, (604) 542-1415. Big White snow line, (604) 765-7669. Big White mountain office, (604) 765-3101. Big White central reservations, (800) 663-2772. Kelowna Visitor & Convention Bureau, (604) 862-5060. Okanagan-Similkameen Tourism Association, (604) 860-5999. B.C. Tourism, (800) 663-6000.