Touring in BC

Hello all,

In anticipation of an epic snow year I am trying to plan a new years ski tour trip through Canada. I am planning on driving up from Seattle toward Meritt on 5 and then possibly skiing at Apex and Red mountain and finishing by dropping back in the states to Spokane.

I was hoping for some help finding some sweet touring locations along the way. It looks like there is a lot near Coquihalla summit rec. area. I have never been in the area and don't even know where to look.

I think Coquihalla touring access might be limited at the summit because of avy control work above the highway.   
There's a sled-accessed TR at:  www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...ex.php?topic=14648.0

I'd skip the small hills & condo-congestion of the Canadian Okanogan. 
Nelson/Whitewater has a more old-time mountain town feel. 
Red is best on a powder day if you like trees. 

Widespread & persistent early season avy hazard is the norm:  www.avalanche.ca/cac/bulletins/regions  
There is safer terrain near Kootenay summit; You might find leads at:  www.backcountryskiingcanada.com/

A little further north is the real thing; great photo link at:
www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...ex.php?topic=16267.0

Thanks for all the links...this will give me a good place to start. That wapto traverse looks sweet but we will be traveling with some dogs and I don't think they are allowed in the huts

I'd look a little closer at the coquihalla options. I've had friends who toured there often, sorry don't have any real beta for you though. I would say if you're going near Merritt, it means you're going by Kamloops and therefore you're really close to Sunpeaks. It's a pretty darn good hill. There's a bit of touring off the top (tough for your dogs to get to), but it's a great place to spend a day, and you'll be so close, you may as well check it out. Ski the Burfield chair almost exclusively.

I've got a copy of Chic Scott's guidebook you could borrow.

check out

www.backcountryskiingcanada.com/

pretty good resource...