Revelstoke vs. Red Mtn

[DanoT]

Some friends and I are renting an RV the last week of February to escape the dismal Washington winter and go in search of the promised land. Plan on hitting Red, Revy, KH, and potentially Fernie and Lake Louise. I know the last few don't really fit into the "pow hwy" designation, but hoping you guys could share your impressions of them as well. Seems like they're having a decent season. Any other suggestions that should be on list? Rogers pass is a maybe, but definitely on our radar.

Also, what's the RV parking situation like at these places? Pay overnight lots?

So far this season Revy plus the resorts in the Thompson-Okanagan have received the most snow in western Canada. A quick check of the B.C. resorts' websites reveal that today's storm (Sunday) shows Apex getting 5cm, Big White 17cm. Silver Star 8, Sun Peaks7. Revy 10, while Red got 2cm, WW 0, Fernie 1cm. So it goes this season.

As far as rving goes in winter in the B.C. interior, a 4x4 truck camper would be best. Also unless specially winterized, the water system will freeze. The furnace will go thru a lot of propane in short order and it will also wear down the battery very quickly if not plugged in.

Red, WW, Fernie have plug in lots. Revy has a KOA campground open in winter. Lake Louise has a Parks Canada campground open in winter including washrooms and showers in the village of LL about 5 minutes from the skiing.

[Lamothe]

Revy seems to be allowing rvs this season in Parkin lot 1 .

[wolfelot]

Where are some good places to eat and drink in Revelstoke? While you are added where are some cheaper places to stay in town?

[Dr. Crank]

Not many cheaper places to stay in Revelstoke, but the Cube is one of the better options.
As for food and drinking, it's a small town, so probably best to take a wander and ask around to see what floats your boat.

[AlexC]

For food:
Village Idiot for burgers and pizza
Big Eddy Pub for pub food
Paramjit's is great Indian
Kawakubo is great Japanese
Chubby Funsters is like the Idiot, but a little classier, a little pricier and a little better food
Taco Club for a quick meal
Nico's for 2 a.m. pizza
Woolsey or The 112 for a classy night out

Best budget places to stay are The Cube and Poppi's Guest House.

[jamesp]

As for food and drinking, it's a small town, so probably best to take a wander and ask around to see what floats your boat.

the devils advocate (johnc?) might have said that if you can't find somewhere to eat in Revelstoke then you have no hope of finding your way through the tree skiing on the hill...

[wolfelot]

^^^^^^^^^Thanks for the info.

[jed peters]

Dumb family related question--which one has the best terrain and mix for beginners/intermediates and advanced? Most amount of terrain that's varied?

Looking for a family ski trip...and already doing big sky in March.

[skiitsbetter]

Dumb family related question--which one has the best terrain and mix for beginners/intermediates and advanced? Most amount of terrain that's varied?

Looking for a family ski trip...and already doing big sky in March.

Red

[Shredhead]

Red's way easier to get to as well, but conditions are more variable.

[jed peters]

Then, would the Okanagwan valley resorts likely be a better fit? Considering what we don't know right now (what winter conditions over xmas will be).

[garyfromterrace]

Meh, apples vs. oranges.
Both have their good points.
Skiing has no bad points.

[raisingarizona13]

Rosland from what I hear is a killer town Jed and you have Whitewater nearby.

Jed from California? Jackson?

[plugboots]

Well from a "family" point o' view, I think Red is better just because you can all meet up for lunch a lot easier, and end up at the same spot at the end of the day, a lot easier.

[54-46]

I'd take my family to Red. Liked Rossland and Nelson. Whitewater was fun for a day. Also, if you're there on a Friday night, you can go see the Trail Smokeaters play hockey.

[DanoT]

Dumb family related question--which one has the best terrain and mix for beginners/intermediates and advanced? Most amount of terrain that's varied?

Looking for a family ski trip...and already doing big sky in March.

Silver Star and Sun Peaks are probably the best family, varied terrain, resorts in the BC Interior with generally colder weather and thus better snow preservation than Red. All you need to know about Big White is that its nickname is Big Whiteout.

[garyfromterrace]

I would agree Dan, however OP is coming from Portland OR (I think he's driving) and sunbeach would add another 2 days driving (and less skiing). Having said that it's no further than Revi from his home. So perhaps this should be a Revi vs. sunpeaks argument... or not. If it is though, if your group is a bunch of hardcore nuts and the snow is right then Revi is better, but then again if the snow is good then you can't beat Red for the terrain and trees. Whatev, go skiing where the snow is and have fun OP. You book one place and it hasn't snowed for a month, and the other place is going off... well shit. I hope I shed a lot of light on Revi vs. Red debate.

[DanoT]

I would agree Dan, however OP is coming from Portland OR (I think he's driving) and sunbeach would add another 2 days driving (and less skiing). Having said that it's no further than Revi from his home. So perhaps this should be a Revi vs. sunpeaks argument... or not. If it is though, if your group is a bunch of hardcore nuts and the snow is right then Revi is better, but then again if the snow is good then you can't beat Red for the terrain and trees. Whatev, go skiing where the snow is and have fun OP. You book one place and it hasn't snowed for a month, and the other place is going off... well shit. I hope I shed a lot of light on Revi vs. Red debate.

Gary, you are correct concerning the OP. However, I was responding to a subsequent poster who was looking for more family friendly with terrain variety skiing and Sun Peaks is pretty much on the mark for those requirements.

[jed peters]

Rosland from what I hear is a killer town Jed and you have Whitewater nearby.

Jed from California? Jackson?

Jed from California. Near Jackson...CA.

Looking to get away from Tahoe with the family and can't resist the possibility of 30% off the trip and lack of crowds compared to our shitshow. Daughters Ski team is on hold all vacation so thought we'd try to bounce...

Silver stars looking very good at the moment.

[DanoT]

Jed from California. Near Jackson...CA.

Looking to get away from Tahoe with the family and can't resist the possibility of 30% off the trip and lack of crowds compared to our shitshow. Daughters Ski team is on hold all vacation so thought we'd try to bounce...

Silver stars looking very good at the moment.

The big plus with Silver Star is that the town of Vernon (pop 40k) is 20 minutes away and as such offers several cheap motels.

The big negative with Silver Star is that the town of Vernon has the largest population 20 minutes away, of any BC Interior resort, so lots and lots of people are on hand and handy to show up on a powder morning.

[Shredhead]

Jed: would you fly? Flying into CAN is way more than domestic. Plus, you loose the flexibility of Southwest, which is always nice to have.

[garyfromterrace]

Sunpeaks kicks silly stars ass in terms of skiing imho

[Lamothe]

Jed from California. Near Jackson...CA.

Looking to get away from Tahoe with the family and can't resist the possibility of 30% off the trip and lack of crowds compared to our shitshow. Daughters Ski team is on hold all vacation so thought we'd try to bounce...

Silver stars looking very good at the moment.

Nice thing about is the close proximity to big white and revelstoke. Could do a day here a day there . Usually though if one mountain gets snow so do the other two.