Winter has finally arrived in British Columbia. During a winter storm, the mountains are shrouded in heavy snow clouds while the lower elevations are getting rain or lighter snow. When the storm has passed, the skies become azure blue again and the peaks are covered in white. I like to compare it to white frosting on a row of cupcakes.
There are 33 ski resorts in British Columbia, but this is not counting the numerous cross-country trails located in Provincial and National Parks. Not everyone is a skier (I'm not) but that shouldn't stop you from visiting the resorts. There are plenty of surprises in store. I've tried snowshoeing and it is great fun! The equipment is inexpensive to rent and you can traverse the cross-country ski trails while sliding on the surface of the snow. Up in the mountains, the snow is can be over 20 feet deep so you do need the shoes. There are tobogganing runs available that test your skill at keeping on the sled and not being left partway up the hill. Another fun snow sport is inner tubing where you race downhill and then get whisked uphill again on a special lift. Some resorts have ice skating rinks and a few have a special ice trail where you can skate through the woods on a frozen path. Another special feature of some resorts is sleigh rides or dog sledding. As you can see, you don't have to be a skier to enjoy the resorts. Oh, of course, all resorts have lodges with restaurants and snack bars to relax after being out in the cold.
For this article, I have chosen to highlight the resorts in the Thompson Okanagan area. This land is a beautiful valley in British Columbia's interior. The Okanagan is dominated by Okanagan Lake where orchards form rows along its shores. The Thompson is known for rivers carving canyons into rock faces and wide-open plains. The major cities are Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon, and Kamloops. This area is arid and in the south end near Osoyoos,it is the site of the only desert in Canada. Unlike the coastal areas of British Columbia, the Thompson Okanagan is hot and sunny in the summer but cold and dry in the winter. It is a recreational paradise for skiers, golfers, fishermen and wine tasters.
For your reference, here is a map of the area.
Here is a rundown of the ski resorts in the Thompson Okanagan:
