Apex, B.C., Jan. 16, 2025

Tony Crocker

Administrator
Staff member
As on my first time in the Okanagan in 1999, day one had 60mph winds forecast at Big White, which would surely mean several lift closures. So like then I chose Apex. In 1999 even Apex had its main lift closed, limiting skiing to 1,000 vertical and about 1/4 of the acreage. This time the Quick Draw lift of 1,900 vertical did operate, and the wind was only strong along the top ridge. Unfortunately Apex' snowfall is modest and there has been very little in the past month. The snow report was candid.
IMG_4754a.JPG

The Canada Post reference is to the recent postal strike from Nov. 15 - Dec. 17.

The weather was typical midwinter overcast with occasional snow flurries. Temps were in the 20's but chair rides had some wind chill.

The unloading area was windswept and hardpacked, an early sign that the conditions were not what my previous 4 visits had been. There are 3 blue groomers from the top; we started with Juniper, snow not as firm as the unloading area and just a couple of thin spots to be avoided. Juniper led to the top of the T-bar which mainly serves local racers.
IMG_4749.JPG

Liz is on the public groomer at left, there are slalom poles in the middle and a prepared mogul course at right.

Skier's right from Quick Draw, the south facing Wildside area was roped off, and the blue Ridge Run had a warning sign. This pitch was the reason why.
IMG_4750.JPG

I asked Liz if ski was getting Northeast nostalgia and after a few more runs she said the whole day reminded her of Vermont.

Halfway down we reached to top of the Stocks chair, a 1,000 vertical slow triple which was all I could ski in 1999. Below treeline and the stronger winds, Stocks' groomers were mostly packed powder with fun rolling fall lines. However the chair rides were cold and Liz requested a break after 3 runs there.

Tseeb and flyover will recall the tasty and excellent value Edge cafe at Apex. We had a hearty breakfast at the B&B and so just shared a soup.
IMG_4758.JPG

At the end of the day we picked up a couple of homemade blueberry and caramel bars for the 1+ hour drive back to West Kelowna.

Like many old school ski areas, wall decor was entertaining.
IMG_4756.JPG


IMG_4759.JPG


IMG_4757.JPG

We have all seen lots of antique skis in ski lodges but I've never seen a kiddie version before.

We returned to Quick Draw. Chute is the steepest groomer and it had the best conditions with some blown in snow.
IMG_4762.JPG


We next skied the mellow Grandfather's Trail so Liz could get an idea of that side of the mountain. I was very suspicious of those mogul runs with current snow cover. From the bottom Dirty Harry looked manageable, but when we returned the top entry looked inadvisable. We had seen a skier exit Buckshot so we tried that. I was pleasantly surprised that the moguls were nearly all packed powder.
IMG_4764.JPG

There were bits and pieces of shrubbery to avoid but not many rocks.

I took one more lap on Chute and called it a day with 17,300 vertical.

I inquired at the office since I saw zero snowmaking equipment. They only have it around the base area and it has been too warm in recent days before the upcoming cold spell. One of the reasons I asked is that there was zero slick subsurface which I would expect in this situation. This, like the decent snow in bumps, is a function of Apex' very low skier density, which is why it's still on my list of best uncrowded ski areas in North America. Liz could see why the 2016 powder day I scored with tseeb, flyover and John in 2016 was so good.

Sign on Apex' access road:
IMG_4768.JPG
 
That report isn't very promising, however the prolonged west coast ridging may finally break down in about a week.

I'll be up there in about 3 weeks utilizing my Indy Pass (49 North, Big White and Apex).
 
I think the areas near the US border (Fernie, Red, Whitewater, maybe Castle) are doing better. I'm sure snowave is driving so should have some flexibility. Note from other threads that day tickets in most of these interior Canada areas are quite reasonable, especially if purchased online the night before.
 
The conditions look a little disappointing. I thought even the inland ski resorts were doing well - or better than the pics indicate.
 
On Jan. 10 I wrote of Interior western Canada resorts:
Only Revelstoke had as much as a foot of snow in early January.
and there has been little since then. I would expect that backcountry ski operators in the Selkirks and Monashees have had at least as much as Revelstoke.
 
I think the areas near the US border (Fernie, Red, Whitewater, maybe Castle) are doing better. I'm sure snowave is driving so should have some flexibility. Note from other threads that day tickets in most of these interior Canada areas are quite reasonable, especially if purchased online the night before.

We are locked in for lodging, so no flexibility there. The Indy Pass is walk up, so if it really sucks, we can opt out of riding that day.

Each day, models seem to be showing a better chance for that pattern change. Sorry you didn't get better conditions while you're there, though.
 
Silverstar certainly had much better snow than seen in the Apex pics, but I doubt it's on the Indy pass.
 
We are locked in for lodging, so no flexibility there.
Primary rule of ski planning: don't lock in lodging until you have to. I'm not sure it's necessary much in advance anywhere in interior B.C. and I'm been up here nearly every season since 1997.
 
If I were traveling by myself or with a buddy, that might often be the choice, but w/the wife (very fair-weather skier), she likes to have a plan and comfortable lodging. Plus, we're not staying in Kelowna for either place, we're doing ski in/out.

Also, I got 35% off at ski in/out @ Big White by booking early. Just did a search and there is no availability for the 3 nights we're there (for hotel or suite).
 
w/the wife (very fair-weather skier), she likes to have a plan and comfortable lodging.
Liz thinks I'm not spontaneous enough! She wants comfortable lodging and amenities and prefers to limit the one night stands, but otherwise she is firmly in favor of flexibility. Out experiences in the Alps since 2017 have reinforced this philosophy of travel.

There is no question that the vast majority of out-of-town visitors to Big White stay on site. Most of the lodging we saw was true ski-in ski out. But for us, it would not occur to visit a region like the Okanagan without skiing multiple areas. I realize that many people do not like 1 hour each way car commutes every day. We did that from Sierre in the Upper Rhone Valley a year ago, and it was bit tiring at the start of the trip after a 9 hour time change.
 
I traveled to the Okanagan with friends from Seattle - probably 20 years ago. It's about 5 hours vs. the 4 hours to Whistler. We stayed in Kelowna and moved one day to Kamloops. Skied the four major areas: Apex, Big White, Silver Star, and Sun Peaks. It was mostly cloudy, with some light snow most days.

They were all decent ski areas, but I would not want to stay more than 2 days at any of them. Conditions were quite good. However, the bottom 300 ft of the Powder Gulch lift at Silver Star was below the rain/snow line.

I enjoyed Apex and Silver Star the most, as well as some upper sections at Big White. There was a sameness of many runs at Sun Peaks and the interesting areas served by the Burfield Lift (one of the longest, slowest chairs on record). But all the areas were modern and had relatively economical slopeside accommodations.

They would actively market these resorts to the Seattle area - especially Sun Peaks - as better alternatives than Whistler for intermediates. Probably so - the resorts are more manageable (Sun Peaks and Big White) and one does not need to deal with ski-out or potential rain at Whistler.


At Whistler, for my birthday in Late April, I often rented out a 3-bedroom penthouse with a deck/hot tub for $200-250 USD/night in the late 90s outside the new village. We would ski in the AM till it became too sloppy and then do whatever/pool in the late afternoon. I think the price dropped as of May 1st, but maybe only the top 2/3 of the Whistler side would be open. I will have to look the place up.

Otherwise, the Executive Inn ($150) during the prime season was an excellent value in the old Whistler Village with underground parking and a 5-minute walk to gondolas. You had to reserve that place almost a month in advance to get a room. And Sushi Village is one of my favorite sushi spots in North America! (However, people get pissed off since they do not take reservations - you just eat later).

If I had to pick my top 5 favorite mountains in NS, they would be Whistler, Crystal, Squaw/Alpine, Telluride, and perhaps Jackson or Crested Butte. I like the denser snow of the Pacific/West Coast because it sticks to rocks well, and I can go a season without a core shot for a season. Colorado/Interior Rockies - not so much.
 
Last edited:
The informative thread drift regarding Northwest skiers is moved here.

They were all decent ski areas, but I would not want to stay more than 2 days at any of them.
Yes, this is a big reason we stayed in Kelowna. Sure, commuting takes time, but relocating the lodging base every day or two is also tedious.

We likely had better value with restaurants and the place we stayed. Lake and the City B&B in West Kelowna had cretaive breakfasts and our room had a private hot tub.
 
Back
Top