Big White

Week of bliss in Big White!!

In Winter of '08 on Feburary 14th arrived in Canada unbeknownst that I would have the best skiing experience of my life. Blue skies, perfect daily powder friendliest people and beautiful vistas.

Stayed at Chateau Big White and loved watching the sun go down getting lightly snowed on in the hot tub and the expansive and delicious buffet breakfasts to refuel before you simply walked out the front and was on the slopes.

I am only an intermediate skiier but found it both challenging and enjoyable.

Definately a must see for any keen skiiers!!

Big White - and that''s just what it is, BIG

My ski partner (aka husband) and I have just returned from a fantastic ski trip to Big White – and that’s just what it is, BIG, with fantastic powder snow. Big White certainly lived up to the expectation of having heaps of fresh powder snow.  

The ski runs cover a semi-circle of the mountain, so no matter from which direction any bad weather or wind may come from there is always a reasonably sheltered area to ski.  

There are 16 lifts giving access to 118 marked ski runs ranging from green through double blacks, half of which are designated intermediate. The longest run being 7.2km. The total area is 2765 acres, which includes the back bowls.  

The slopes are well groomed and even at weekends it is never really crowded. We happened to be there when they were having the best snow of the season for any of the northern American resorts plus it was President’s Day week and it still was never overcrowded. There were days when we could look up or down a slope and be the only skiers there.  

For those wanting something more and to stretch their abilities there is the TELUS terrain park for all ages. If you haven’t had enough of the slopes during the day there is night skiing and snowboarding on several evenings.  

There are fantastic views from the top of the ski runs over the Okanagan Valley and Monashee Mountains, as well as gazing at the eerie ‘snow ghosts’, the stunted fir trees frozen in ice.  

Big White is a ski-in, ski out resort giving quick and easy access to the slopes. We stayed at Grizzly Lodge which was terrifc. The rooms were spacious and well maintained. A hot tub on the verandah looking over the snow clad mountains and valley was a fantastic end to a hard day''s skiing. There is a lovely communal lounge to relax in or have a game of pool or darts. No carrying skis or snowboards upstairs to the room, there is private locked storage in the undercover garage.  

Don’t be put off by Big White being advertised as a great family ski resort if you do not have children. The slopes are not overrun by grommets, but there was great entertainment for them in the Village Centre many afternoons. There is also the Alpine Park situated in Happy Valley at the base of the resort with adventure activities such as ice skating and ice hockey on the two ice rinks, ice climbing on the 60 foot ice tower, tubing at the Mega Snow Coaster, not limited to use by only kids. Each Saturday evening there is a great fireworks display which lights up the whole village.  

Other attractions offered at Big White include snowmobiling, sleigh rides, dog sledding and snowshoeing.  

Lift tickets for Big White also cover Silver Star, another great resort which one can make a day trip to.  

Definitely one of the best ski resorts in the world.

Big Value

This was our second trip to Big White.

The accommodation at Trappers Crossing is awesome and the location is great.

Big White is a great resort which caters a lot for families. There is not a huge choice of restaurants or nightlife. The mountain is lovely and connects very well.

Visit to Silver Star and Big White

I've been to both these resorts several times before - and keep coming back. Generally I'm travelling alone although I have friends in each place which for me is a big plus.

Silver Star is a great mountain with a beautiful dolls house like atmosphere in the village.

The runs are many and varied and there are some great places for beginners.

Big White is now my preferred mountain as I enjoy the ''tree'' skiing it offers more than Silver Star. There aren't as many ''double black'' runs here but the trees for me make up for that. There are long wide blue runs which are just tremendous for carving long continuous turns. Again its great for beginners, kids and families. When skiing alone I often grab a ski host tour as its a great way to meet people - even though I now know both mountains well enough to unofficially host myself (and have done so!) Both Mountains also offer a wide variety of food outlets & restaurants at reasonable prices.

Already planning my next trip!

Big White with adult kids (19,20,21)

Great mountain, well serviced by lifts, lots of fun in the trees.

True ski in ski out beautiful apartment  at stonebridge.

People and staff polite and helpful, including very attentive first aid services staff.

Dining options fairly ordinary, not what we expected, although 6 degrees has lovely wine selection.

MEMORABLE BIG WHITE JAN 2012

This was our first Canadian snow family holiday and we now hope the first of many!

We had taken an NZ snow holiday in the previous July to find very light snow coverage and gale force winds. What a delight to ski from our door in snow that reached a 183cm base.

We had some of those spectacular postcard days with clear blue skies, 30cm of fresh powder and no queues! The powder was so dry it was hard to compact into a snowball. Our kids (8 and 11) had a blast at ski school.

Maybe the regular hot chocolate breaks for our 8 year old skier and the totally awesome board instructors for our 11 year old, helped with that.

Special thanks to Leah for all arrangements - we just had to turn up!

Big White 1st Timers

Thoroughly enjoyed our 1st time to Big White great accommodation great snow - best ever!!

Will be hard to ski Australia after this great experience.

Copper Kettle accommodation standard was excellant views were to die for and shuttle service made getting to the base area easy as pie.

Thanks Travelplan

Thanks for a great holiday, everything went according to plan, effortless organisation from the office team.

We loved big white; the kids had a ball; great ski school and the after ski activites for the kids are fantastic; the kids enjoyed carnival nights and tubing in the tube park the most.

We have just booked to return in 2012.

Tthanks agian to Miranda and the team at Travelplan.  

Return Visit

Being 3rd visit to Big White and once again found it to be excellent.

Sampled the renowned Okanaga champagne powder again!  

We will definately go back again. 

Big White - Plaza on the Ridge

Excellent apartment with extra living room; great for our teenage/young adult family.

Good location with ski in/ski out. The skiing was good though when the white out comes in (seems to happen often - Big White-Out?) it takes the fun out of it.

Glades were excellent and intermediate skiing well catered for.