Village Squire, 1975-12, Page 39The skiing is great and the scenery is fantastic in the Rockies. [Canadian Government Office of Tourism
Photo.]
Travel
White - gold -
Winter in
British
Columbia
38, VILLAGE SQUIRE/DECEMBER 19'S
BY DIANE ALDER
During the 1800s in British Columbia,
dauntless men pushed themselves to their
limits in the quest for furs, timber and
gold. Their endurance was tested by range
after range of mountains and passes with
elevations of 4,000 to 6,000 feet.
The mountains they cursed have now
become a source of another kind of gold,
the 'white gold' of skiing. With perfect
powder, groomed slopes, good food and
friendly people, interior British Columbia
is a skier's dream.
As a resident -of the province, I have had '
the opportunity to try many different ski
areas. Unlike the -early explorers, 1 can be
out of coastal Vancouver and on the interior
slopes in a matter of hours. Most interior
cities are within an hour of Vancouver by
air.
Although Whistler Mountain will likely
remain B.C.'s most widely acclaimed ski
resort for some time, and a major
destination for ski packages out 01 eastern
Canada and the United States, B.(..'s
interior areas are also proving popular.
Whistler has its size, variety of skiing, and
proximity to Vancouver to offer, but the
interior areas have their special attractions
as well.
Pacific Western Airlines has this year
expanded its. Ski Bird packages, to include
nine destinations, one for cross country
skiing. And once into the interior, areas are
grouped -so that a day's trip can include one
of several choice ski hills.
I like 'the interior for the small cities.
Each has its own character and atmosphere
and the ski areas offer -lots of variety with
line-ups almost non-existent. Weather
conditions are usually more stable than on
the coast, with drier snow, cooler
temperatures and more sunshine.
Last season I flew to Kimberley with
Pacific Western. The early February snow,
was fresh and dry on the mile -long,
well-groomed; T -bar hill. Over on the