Village Squire, 1976-11, Page 26Provincial Park. The Star has two chairlifts,
6,000 and 4,000 feet long, three T -bars
placed consecutively to give a second
access route to the top of the mountain, a
Poma lift and a beginners rope tow. From
the rounded dome of Silver Star, 6,300 feet
above sea level, more than 20 miles of runs
lace the open slopes and bowls covering
the entire side of the mountain, giving all
types of terrain. There are seldom any
line-ups at The Star, with its high capacity
of lifts serving the .1,600 vertical feet, and
the runs are always in excellent condition.
The beginner areas are as smooth as a
piece of white velvet.
The lift operators, cafeteria staff and ski
school members are all friendly people,
and new skiers at The Star soon feel right
at home. A triple A -frame daylodge
features huge fireplaces for warming, hot
meals, and a place to eat packed lunches.
With the 14 mile easy access road from the
city, it is as convenient to stay in town as on
the mountain.
The Canadian Gelandesprung Champ-
ionships are an annual event at Silver Star,
and a feature of the annual ten-day Vernon
Winter Carnival in early February. he
Carnival rivals that of Quebec City, with
parades, a snowflake ball, ice palace,
mardi gras and many other events,
highlighted by the crowning of Queen
Silver Star.
At the southernmost end of the
Okanagan Valley, and the closest of these
ski areas to Vancouver (270 miles), is Apex
Alpine where a variety of activities, as well
as skiing is offered, under the direction of
area manager Charlie Wright. Uncrowded,
with a high base elevation, (5,900 feet),
Apex also offers an abundance of powder
snow skiing and groomed runs. The area
has a 3,300 -foot intermediate chairlift, a
3,800 -foot Poma lift with a 1,200 -foot
vertical rise to the Chute and Gun Barrel, a
2,400 -foot T -bar and a 400 -foot rope tow for
those in the early stages of skiing.
Apex has limited accommodation on the
hill, but many hotels and motels are
available in Penticton, just 22 miles away.
The area is small and friendly, offering
inexpensive ski weeks and mid -week
vacations with not only skiing, but also
cross-country trails, a skating rink, and
areas for broomball, tobogganing and
tube -riding. All but the tobogganing
equipment is available from the ski shop,
run by well-known pro Al Menzies. Apres
ski activities include live entertainment on
weekends, and dancing in the Tea House
lounge just outside the daylodge.
At the other end of this string of ski
areas is Tod Mountain, a giant complex on
a huge peak, with runs as long as seven
miles. A chairlift, nearly two miles long
rises 3,100 feet above the main lodge
complex, while a second chair, 7,500 feet
long takes skiers up the other side of the
mountain. There is also a T -bar, 3,000 feet,
and a beginners handle tow.
The daylodge houses a dining room,
lounge. cafeteria, day care centre, ski
shop, gift shop and Laundromat. There are
72 double hotel units plus dormitory
accommodation on the mountain, which is
33 miles from the booming metropolis of
Kamloops. Tod features one of the first
Canadian kite -flying schools for those not
24, Village Squire/November 1976
content to keep their feet on the ground, a
skating rink and cross-country trails.
A little to the east, but still called one of
the Okanagan areas, lies the huge bare
dome of aptly -named Mount Baldy, which
this season will offer condominiums for
rent and seven -day -per -week operation.
Manager Terry Smith keeps the many
runs, served by two T -bars, 4,800 and
1,800 feet long, well-groomed, but with
enough powder to satisfy the deep -snow
lovers. A free rope town serves the
beginner area outside the daylodge. Skiing
through the weirdly -contorted tree trunks
on the 7,580 -foot peak, is like running a
wide-open giant slalom course in the
powder. Baldy is located 37 miles
north-east of Osoyoos, and has an easy
access road from Highway 3.
There are several other ski areas in the
Okanagan region, Last Motintain near
Westbank, Tillicum Valley at Vernon,
Grandview and Lac Le Jeune near
Kamloops. All in all, they provide a wide
variety within a very close proximity of
each other and one or more always make an
ideal holiday destination.
Main gateway to the interior big ones is
either Kelowna or Kamloops via Pacific
Western Airlines "Okanagan Ski Bird"
package. A Silver Star five-day and night
package for example includes round trip
and daily ground transfers, skiing,
accommodation at popular Village Green,
daily breakfasts for $105 plus a specially
reduced airfare via P.W.A. from Vancouv-
er. The alternative package is only $95 to
Tod Mountain plus the same airfare to
Kamloops.
Select
your
Christmas Gifts
Now!
Watches, Diamonds and
' Fine Jewellery
10% will hold your
selection on our
convenient lay -away
plan.
STANFORD
JEWELLERS
Fred and John Stanford, Prop.
187 Main St. W., Listowel
291-4561
HANNA'S
MEN'S & BOY'S WEAR
Have gifts to please every man
and boy
ON YOUR CHRISTMAS LIST:
SHIRTS, SWEATERS, JACKETS, PANTS,
SOCKS AND TIES
In all the latest styles and colours
in a wide range of sizes including oversize.
OPEN MONDAYS TILL CHRISTMAS
FRIDAYS TILL 9 p.m. YEAR ROUND.
Wingham 375-1865