Okanagan B.C. 2025

[Sbooker]

This question is mildly related to your post given the commentary about driving in snow and having chains.
I’m planning to drive from Seattle to the interior of BC tomorrow. My preference is to drive over the Coquihalla pass but if safer I will go over the Cascades east of Seattle and cross the border at Osoyoos.
How is this driving going to compare to Teton Pass etc that I have recently done in a similar AWD SUV with M and S tyres?

 

[tseeb]

I forgot to put my chains in for this trip. AFAIK CA is the only state that requires you to carry chains if you have AWD/4WD with M+S rated tires. I've heard of chains being required for AWD/4WD with M+S rated tires on Brockway Summit between Northstar and Kings Beach which is very steep approaching the top from Northstar. I've also heard of them being required getting to/from some of the SoCal ski areas.

I have Hankook 3Peak tires with ~15K miles that work well in snow and very well in rain and OK in mud. I leave more room behind car ahead than most people as I've learned, especially going downhill, you may need it.

I've never gone over Coquihalla. I've crossed border at Osoyoos at least twice, but I'm usually coming from Bend. The trade-off is bad freeway traffic through Seattle vs. miles of non-freeway going through Kelowna. I pick route based on where I'm going to ski. Apex outside of Penticton has delivered both times I've been there. (edit to add after looking at BC Mountain Collective areas) I would not be going so far W to get to Sun Peaks or Revelstoke. I'll PM you contact info for mid-70s Sun Peaks skier who would be a great guide there.

Adding screen print of my Garmin watch tracking for 1/3 which includes my ski route to SUV in best free reserved parking place.
All three of my trackers had 24 lifts/runs. Avocet recorded 24,230, Garmin had 24,377 while SkiTracks lagged a little at 23,672.

 

[Sbooker]

Apex outside of Penticton

Thanks for the reply and PM. My intention is to get a day there. There is an Australian fellow on the Aussie ski forum who rates it highly.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Coquihalla is a divided 4 lane road, so not as difficult (or probably as steep) as Teton Pass. What you want to know is the snow forecast. It is supposed to snow overnight in that area and taper off during the day Sunday. Apex and Big White are expecting the most snow from this storm, so your timing looks good there. Choose Big White on your clearest weather forecast day. The nickname "Big Whiteout" was coined for a reason.

You want to get off Interstate 5 around Bellingham and cross the border at Sumas, then get on the TransCanada Hwy at Abbotsford. The I-90 route is 75km and one hour longer. You should make the effort to see all 3 Okanagan areas plus Sun Peaks. Liz and I will probably do the same Jan. 16-19. She has never been to Apex or Big White.

 

[Sbooker]

I understand it may be different for an Australian but the Canadian border crossing usually takes how long?

 

[takeahike46er]

I’m not sure if this info is too late to be useful, but the Coq should be fine with M+S tires, especially today.

The Coquihalla Summit area can be sketchy in bad weather, but not for the same reason as Teton Pass. The combination of semis crawling up the pass and yahoos flooring it in the left lane makes for a treacherous combination.

Border crossings can take anywhere from a minute to 30+ depending on when and where you cross. I use the Sumas crossing most frequently but that’s because it’s convenient for going to Baker.

 

[Sbooker]

I’m out of sorts at the moment as Emily is really sick with what we are sure is food poisoning from some off sushi. She’s stopped vomiting but is really dehydrated. She is just now keeping water and electrolyte drinks down.
For one reason or another I’m at Sun Peaks. Not in the mood to report much really. In fact there isn’t a great lot to report in general. I don’t understand how many many Australians including one I skied with today spend 3 or 4 weeks here on the trot. I would be bored at 2 days. The terrain is very similar no matter where on the mountain and they groom a lot of it. I was really surprised at the amount of what I think is southern exposure. I’m pretty sure I skied on some freeze/thaw on the lower mountain today.

 

[ChrisC]

I would be bored at 2 days. The terrain is very similar no matter where on the mountain and they groom a lot of it. I was really surprised at the amount of what I think is southern exposure. I’m pretty sure I skied on some freeze/thaw on the lower mountain today.

There are a lot of parallel trails at Sun Peaks and a lot face south. You have a pic of the open upper mountain, which is likely the most interesting terrain.

I thought Apex and Big White had more interesting terrain. Silverstar is pretty good, too, but it can have some similar parallel trails.

I’m out of sorts at the moment as Emily is really sick with what we are sure is food poisoning from some off sushi.

That's unfortunate. North America has a high degree of norovirus infections—lots of food poisoning/sickness.

 

[Sbooker]

That's unfortunate. North America has a high degree of norovirus infections—lots of food poisoning/sickness.

Not just North America. Pretty common back home too. My brother had a bout between Christmas and Nee Year.

 

[jimk]

My daughter in NYC reports many cases of norovirus there at this time with symptoms similar to food poisoning.

 

[EMSC]

Silverstar is pretty good, too, but it can have some similar parallel trails.

Yep, pretty good for a day or two at least. I just skied there today on my way to Mustang. Will post a couple pics shortly (I hope).

 

[jamesdeluxe]

I don’t understand how many many Australians including one I skied with today spend 3 or 4 weeks here on the trot. I would be bored at 2 days. The terrain is very similar no matter where on the mountain and they groom a lot of it.

I couldn't recall many reports here about Sun Peaks; however, a search turned up a couple. For the type of demographic that Sbooker is alluding to (groomer-loving families?), @flyover gave a mostly positive assessment last season with the similar disclaimer that two days were enough.

Tony gave a thumbs-up for families 19 years ago:

I have similar impression here as with my visits to Big White and Silver Star in 1999. All of these are outstanding family resorts with uncrowded slopes and nearly all the lodging has ski-in-ski-out convenience. And prices are still much less than the popular (and busier) Colorado areas along I-70 with similar terrain. SunPeaks is definitely the biggest with 3000+ acres, probably as much terrain as Big White and Silver Star combined

I've noted before that this type of generic name, Sun Peaks, makes me bristle -- typical of rebranding exercises at several ski properties in the 90s and 00s such as Mountain Creek in New Jersey, along with hundreds of golf courses across the country. They should've stuck with the more poetic original moniker, Tod Mountain. Tod (pronounced "toad") means "death" in German.

 

[ChrisC]

Sun peaks a bit quit generic. But they have the hs quads. Not bad, not great. Definitely one fun day.

 

[Sbooker]

The Seattle/Canada portion of our trip included more hassles and complications than all our previous trips combined. Emily got sick with a stomach bug and was very unwell for a few days, I got sick with some type of flu and was out of action for a couple of days, someone ran into our rental car in a car park and caused panel damage, I inadvertently left my semi important medication in a hotel room, my bank deactivated my credit card because they suspected fraudulent activity (despite me advising them weeks ago that I would be travelling overseas) and we couldn't escape cloud/fog so skiing was challenging for the most part. We are back in Australia and United tells us our bags that are stuck in San Fran should be back here in a couple of days..........

I'm putting this trip down to experience and am now looking forward to a smoother holiday in Europe in March.

 

[Tony Crocker]

We just arrived in Kelowna. Liz will get her first days at Apex and Big White. Sunday night we go into K3 for 2 days cat skiing.

we couldn't escape cloud/fog

There's a reason I call it "The Great Gray North." That winter climate is I'm sure as new to Aussie experience as it was to me from SoCal starting in 1997. There is no snow right now and almost none expected yet it is 90% overcast.

Tomorrow is a high wind day, so we will be going to Apex. My first time in 1999 it was windy enough to shut its main lift, which I was told is rare. Then the wind will ease off but it will get colder, highs in the 10-15F range, but of course I've seen worse up here.

Where else did sbooker and Emily ski besides Sun Peaks? Big White(out) is the one to avoid in bad weather. Big White is somewhat analogous to Whitefish: decent snowfall, heavily south facing but snow through February tends to preserve well due to the chronic cloud/fog.

 

[Sbooker]

At Sun Peaks the cloud band topped out at about 1700 metres so I mistakingly figured a higher elevation hill would offer more clear skiing. I went to Revelstoke. The cloud was worse there and went to max elevation. This was about as clear as it got.

I was sick so couldn’t really do any of the hill justice but the nicely spaced trees under areas of the Ripper chair would be great fun if feeling well. Oh and I was surprised at the decent cover down to the mid station of the gondola which is under 1000 metres if I recall correctly.

Edit. I have noted the mid winter conditions in Canada. I have three previous trips there but all in the spring. Next time I go that way I'll make it in March and I'll look to return to Sunshine and Lake Louise and have a look at Panorama and Kicking Horse. I don't remember severe cloud and fog on previous trips.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I have noted the mid winter conditions in Canada. I have three previous trips there but all in the spring. Next time I go that way I'll make it in March and I'll look to return to Sunshine and Lake Louise and have a look at Panorama and Kicking Horse.

Those 4 areas would be better in March. The ones where you were this time all have issues with altitude/exposure and are best skied earlier despite cloudiness. As noted, that cloudiness is a positive for snow preservation and not an issue if you have trees nearby for orientation. No Big White or Silver Star?

 

[Sbooker]

Those 4 areas would be better in March. The ones where you were this time all have issues with altitude/exposure and are best skied earlier despite cloudiness. As noted, that cloudiness is a positive for snow preservation and not an issue if you have trees nearby for orientation. No Big White or Silver Star?

No. I was wary of Big White because of the fog reputation and to be honest I was still unwell and partially mentally beat so we did a couple of easy tourist things in Vancouver before flying out of Seattle.
I have heard of proper holiday dramas so my issues were minor really. That said I’m thankful we’re back home fit and healthy and I didn’t incur any huge expenses etc.

 

[EMSC]

Big White(out) is the one to avoid in bad weather.

Ran into multiple retired folks at SilverStar that were not into Big White. Less snow and worse weather/fog issues seemed to be the theme. I've never been. Maybe another year on my way into Mustang if it looks not too foggy (unlikely most years).

 

[Sbooker]

I’ve been thinking a bit more about Sun Peaks in particular. I can’t fathom why it’s so popular with my fellow countrymen. They go there in droves and for extended periods too. Sure it’s family friendly but there’s nothing for even a permanent intermediate from Brisbane to get out of their comfort zone in and the locals tell me it very rarely snows more than 4 inches overnight so there’s very little chance of proper powder turns. I’m wondering what the point is?