3. Hidden Treasures
With its diversity, skiing in British Columbia instills a sense of discovery and exploration into the quotidian rhythms of people’s lives. Space may be the final frontier, but British Columbians are adventurers by design, and it’s a frontier they’re happy to share. Visitors can thank resource extraction for the many ski hills built as necessary distractions for those populating mining, logging and railroad towns. Many still retain that community vibe — whether far-flung northern outposts like Powder King near Prince George, Smither’s Hudson Bay Mountain or Shames Mountain in Terrace. The same goes for Vancouver’s unheralded North Shore troika of Cypress Bowl, Grouse Mountain and Mount Seymour, and the famous “Powder Highway,” which loops through the province’s southeast corner, including Fernie and Nelson. The last of the three is a serious undertaking as you follow a 620-mile asphalt belt linking countless funky, big-personality ski towns, each with its unique look, feel, customs and cuisine, topped off by world-class powder skiing both inside and outside resorts — a draw for ski bums who call this place home and an array of options for visitors.