Dr Morris loves to ski and loves to share favorite ski places. Whistler is great but there is so much choice for Western Canada skiing in the Rocky Mountains! Here is his hidden list of great skiing in Alberta and BC. (Eastern Canada coming soon!)
Sunshine Village - 2017
Western Canada Skiing
Whistler Blackcomb - https://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/
Largest in Canada – Peak to peak gondola
Favorite Runs – Blackcomb Glacier - anything around Kaleidoscope
Amazing Village, Après Ski and nightlife
Skied here dozens of time – snow unpredictable
Fly to Vancouver BC – easy access depending on traffic, ~2+hrs from Vancouver
Sun Peaks - https://www.sunpeaksresort.com/winter/
Second Largest in Canada – Patrolled back country skiing/riding @ Mt Tod
Favorite Runs – Hat Trick & The Sticks
Good Village but limited night life
Skied here once (Dec/Jan) – upper elevations great snow, lower village poor coverage
Fly to Kamloops BC
Known for great snow – ice climbing and many activities
Favorite Runs – Paradise & Paradise Glades
Good Village but limited night life
Skied here twice (Dec/Feb) – Great snow
Fly to Kelowna BC
Silver Star - https://winter.skisilverstar.com/
Known for great snow – tubing and many activities one price
Favorite Runs – Bon Diablo
Limited Village – would not stay here – 2 sides to mountain with long T bar traverse (the one’s boarders hate)
Skied here twice (Dec/Feb) – Great snow
Supposed to have a new Gondola soon to help lift lines
Fly to Kelowna BC, near Vernon BC
Fernie - https://www.skifernie.com/
Not much Village – town of Fernie is cute – (hot tub time machine filmed here)
Favorite Runs – Anything into Currie bowl
Limited Village – huge range of terrain
Skied here twice (Jan/March) – Too warm in mid-March
Fly to Calgary – long drive
Kimberly - https://skikimberley.com/
One of few resorts with night skiing
Favorite Runs – Black forest Area
Skied here twice (Jan/March) – Too warm in mid-March
Fly to Calgary – long drive
Lake Louise - https://www.skilouise.com/
Lots of great glades
Favorite Runs – Summit Platter down through Charlies choice & glades
Skied here many times – Part of https://www.skibig3.com/ (highly recommend)
Fly to Calgary – Drive – Stay in Banff or Lake Louise
Sunshine Village- https://www.sunshine-village.com/
Wide open bowls – You park then take a gondola into village – you can ski in Alberta and BC as straddles border
Favorite Runs – Anything to the left of Mt Standish lift or Schoolmarm or the glades behind the lodge
Because of high elevation - you can ski here generally later in the season than anywhere else (PICTURE above is May 2017)
Skied here many times – Part of https://www.skibig3.com/ (highly recommend)
Fly to Calgary – Drive – Stay in Banff or Lake Louise
Norquay- https://winter.banffnorquay.com/
Have tried a few times but poor snow or ice makes me want to drive a bit further for more consistent snow at Sunshine or Lake Louise.
Part of https://www.skibig3.com/ multi mountain pass - Great deal!
Fly to Calgary – Drive – Stay in Banff or Lake Louise
Panorama- https://www.panoramaresort.com/
Great terrain – Great Steeps, great kid's program
Favorite Runs – Millennium , View of 1000 Peaks (smaller pic below)
Limited Village - Sleepy
Fly to Calgary – Drive – stay if you want to relax!
Check out Arrowhead micro brewery on the way in
Kicking Horse https://kickinghorseresort.com/winter-main/
Known for Powder – massive bowls
Great terrain – Great Steeps – Advanced mountain (lower beginner’s area not good)
Favorite Runs – Sluiceway, Sliver Lining > Cloud Nine
Limited Village but town of Golden BC nice
Fly to Calgary – Drive – beautiful drive through the mountains – some very nice condos at base
Revelstoke https://www.revelstokemountainresort.com/
I have not been – someday!
Red Mountain https://www.redresort.com/
OMG
I love this place - You NEED to get yourself here
Favorite Runs – Beer Belly, Cory's Run
Fly to Spokane Washington – ~ 250km drive North Across Border or about 3 1/2 hours from Kelowna
Marmot Basin https://www.skimarmot.com/
I have not been – wish list
~400km from either Edmonton or Calgary – Jasper AB
Power Mountain Cat Skiing (Just South of Whistler)
https://powdermountaincatskiing.com/
Great guides and feels very safe backcountry - Many short runs at high elevation
Rent FAT powder skis min 100mm underfoot
Have fun!!!
Jason Morris