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Family Jewels - West
Silver Star Resort
When I go to a ski area I go for the skiing, obviously. But when I think of Silver Star it’s tough not to think of the village first. My first reaction when pulling up to Silver Star is, “Did Crayola sponsor this place?” I’m as colour-blind as Jon Olsson appears to be, so the fact I even notice indicates just how over the top it is. The buildings, randomly painted primary colours, are like an awkward teenager desperately trying to convince you, “No, really, I’m fun. I’m fun!” The resort’s website later explained that its colour scheme was “inspired by a typical 19th century British Columbian mining town with Victorian architecture.” Well, we came to ski anyway, so who cares, right? Maybe. Silver Star has some good skiing and gets its fair share of snow, but this is a destination with the whole resort experience in mind.
Silver Star Resort has so much going on that the only reason to leave the village is to go up the mountain, which is arguably the way it should be. It’s one of Canada’s only bona fide cross-country ski destinations, with miles of track-set trails and national team members practising their “kick and glide.” For less-fit individuals, there’s a liquor store and two tow ropes dedicated to tubing. But we came for the skiing, right?
The first lift we came across was the Summit Chair, a double that takes you to the 1,915-metre peak. From the summit there are a lot of options, but the adventurous will want to head out to the Attridge Face. What used to be a hike will this year be accessed by the new Alpine Meadows Chair. This is a great area to get your day started in the glades and on intermediate to expert runs. At some point you’ll want to either start lapping the groomies off the Comet Six Pack Express or head over to the Powder Gulch Express.
Your decision will depend on snow. If there is no new fluff, then chill out in the village and have a coffee and pastry at Bugaboos. Then remember the reason you’re there—skiing. Head up the Comet Six Pack with five of your good buddies (remember to bring 50 per cent more of whatever you are passing around to accommodate the two extra lift riders). Here you’ll be ripping perfect corduroy or heading to the Telus Terrain Park. Expect the park to be going off because there is something in the water here that breeds good jibbers. The Vernon Freestyle Club boasts talented alumni like T.J. Schiller, Josh Bibby, Riley Leboe and Chad Sayers. (Who’s coaching these guys?) When you tire of the park, head back to the village for lunch or ski to Paradise Camp for a meal away from the crowds.
If it’s a powder day and you like the steeper stuff, then head to the backside and the Powder Gulch Express. In the Putnam Creek area you’ll find runs steep enough to blast the powder rooster tails you love. Freefall is one of the steeper lines, and Three Wise Men is full of features and little airs that will let you show how creative you are. Once the rest of the mountain is skied out, take the hike out to Alder Point for a bit of adventure and powder that lasts long after the rest of the mountain is skied out.
The only way to end a good powder day is with a beer at the Saloon or Long John’s Pub. The great thing is, once you’re wasted in Crayola Land you can walk to your lodging of choice. There is the SameSun hostel for dirtbags, all types of hotels for the bourgeois, and a full-on rented mansion for high-rolling ski writers. They are all practically ski-in, ski-out. Silver Star has everything the average skier needs, and by the end of my trip I didn’t even mind all the colours. Of course, the only one I’m looking for is white. —Kevin Hjertaas
DNA
Elevation: 1,915 m
Vertical: 760 m
Terrain: 112 runs; 20% beginner, 50%
intermediate, 20% expert
Snowfall: 700 cm
Lifts: One six-pack, two high-speed quads, two fixed quads, one double, two magic carpets, two T-bars
Adult ticket: $65
Season: Late November to mid-April
Contact: skisilverstar.com; (250) 542-0224
Caption: Unidentified Skiing Object gets the goods in Silver Star.
Weixl photo
