Most of the developed winter recreation areas are in the southern half of British Columbia [1] and in the Canadian Rockies [2]. Whether you’re a total beginner or an advanced daredevil, you’ll find slopes to suit. The price of lift tickets is generally reasonable, and at the smaller, lesser-known resorts, you don’t have to spend half your day lining up for the lifts. Generally resorts are open December–April. The best known of the British Columbian resorts is Whistler/Blackcomb [3], but others scattered through the southern interior provide world-class skiing and snowboarding on just-as-challenging slopes. The best of these include Big White Ski Resort [4], Silver Star Mountain Resort [5], Red Mountain [6], Whitewater [7], Fernie Alpine Resort [8], and Panorama Resort [9]; and Sun Peaks Resort. Banff National Park [10] is home to Canada’s second largest resort, Lake Louise [11], as well as Sunshine Village [12] and Ski Norquay [12]. Nakiska [13] (vicinity of Calgary [14]) was developed for the 1988 Olympic Winter Games.
Alternatives to resorts are also available. If you’re an intermediate or advanced skier or snowboarder, you can go heli-skiing and heli-boarding in the mind-boggling scenery and deep, untracked powder of the Coast and Chilcotin Ranges, the central Cariboo Mountains, and the Bugaboos. The world’s largest heli-ski operation is CMH Heli-skiing (403/762-7100 or 800/661-0252, www.cmhski.com [15]), which includes almost limitless terrain over five mountain ranges accessed from 11 lodges. Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing (250/673-8381 or 800/661-9170, www.wiegele.com [16]) offers heli-skiing and heli-boarding in the Monashee and Cariboo Mountains from a luxurious lodge at Blue River.
Another, less-expensive alternative is to hook up with one of the many Sno-Cat operations in the province. Sno-Cats are tracked, all-terrain vehicles (similar to snow groomers but capable of carrying passengers) that can transport skiers and snowboarders up through the snow to virgin slopes in high-country wilderness. British Columbia has been a world leader in this type of skiing, and many operators are scattered through the province. Revelstoke Mountain Resort (250/837-2188, www.discoverrevelstoke.com [17]) offers the best of both worlds—this alpine resort in central British Columbia offers lift accessed skiing and boarding, plus cat- and heli-skiing.
Thanks to its location amid some of the continent’s most consistent powder snow, Island Lake Lodge (near Fernie [8], 250/423-3700 or 888/422-8754, www.islandlakelodge.com [18]) has gained a reputation for both its Sno-Cat skiing and boarding and its luxurious lodgings.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/canadian-rockies
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/vancouver-victoria/vancouver/whistler/recreation/winter-recreation
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia/southern-interior/kelowna/recreation
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia/southern-interior/vernon/silver-star-mountain-resort
[6] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia/southern-interior/west-kootenays/rossland
[7] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia/southern-interior/nelson/recreation
[8] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia/southern-interior/nelson-the-rockies/fernie
[9] http://www.moon.com/destinations/british-columbia/southern-interior/nelson-the-rockies/invermere
[10] http://www.moon.com/destinations/canadian-rockies/banff-and-jasper-national-parks
[11] http://www.moon.com/destinations/canadian-rockies/banff-and-jasper-national-parks/lake-louise-and-vicinity/lake-louise
[12] http://www.moon.com/destinations/canadian-rockies/banff-and-jasper-national-parks/town-banff/winter-recreation
[13] http://www.moon.com/destinations/alberta/calgary/kananaskis-country/kananaskis-valley/winter-recreation
[14] http://www.moon.com/destinations/alberta/calgary
[15] http://www.cmhski.com
[16] http://www.wiegele.com
[17] http://www.discoverrevelstoke.com
[18] http://www.islandlakelodge.com