April 6-8, 2009 Okanogan Trifecta

Free lift tickets and groomed spring conditions. Every fall, Jill and I attend the Warren Miller film.  Jill’s into learning some new moves for the terrain park.  I attend to get the coupon code inside the program guide for the free lift tickets and other lift discounts.  Yeah, I’m the practical one.  After Revelstoke, we spent the next 3 days skiing in the sun with free lift tickets at Sun Peaks, Silverstar and Big White.  It was strictly a groomer event with spring conditions.  All 3 resorts were deserted and it was unusual to be on a trail with another person.  In previous years, we have skied in December when the snow pack was still developing.  It was pleasant to ski the entire mountain as the temperatures warmed the firm surfaces. One thing was obvious; Big White is into serious condo development.  They market themselves as Canada’s largest ski in/out resort and judging by the number of cranes, construction projects and rooftops, I think they “win”.  After skiing 15 out of the past 16 days, these “old bones” are taking a break.

Hey Zap can you give a review of Sun Peaks.........your RMR review was massively enjoyed,your pic is my screen saver and dream.

Hey Zap can you give a review of Sun Peaks.........your RMR review was massively enjoyed,your pic is my screen saver and dream. 

We did not take any photos while at Sun Peaks. We've seen Sun Peaks expand over the past few years and they have a large number of gladed areas. We've skied there during all types of conditions and the one thing that stays consistent is excellent grooming on trails that have a variety of natural features. We always stay in our campervan in the main lots but there is a hostel near the lower lift that offers reasonable rates. Kamloops is about a 45 minute drive from the area. There is touring terrain off the upper t-bar. Seeing it is a 6 hour drive from Seattle, we have always skied all 3 of the areas on a trip north.