DOC POW
BIG WHITE, BC — While you're having fun doing your turns and taking in the snowy expanse, you can see how this ski resort got its name - Big White.
It’s a snow-hound's playground with 118 runs, 460-odd acres of open free-ride areas, about a dozen off-slope adventures (be sure to hit the snow coaster), 17,000 pillows and a village chock full of excellent dining and après offerings.
Big White has been internationally recognized by Conde Nast Traveller readers’ who voted it Best Snow in North America and the U.K.'s Daily Globe ranked it one of North America’s top family ski destinations.
Local’s fave open to all
On a recent visit, I hooked up for some turns with Big White’s Josh Foster, director of snow Sports. He wanted to take us to Gem Lake.
 Director of snow sports, Josh Foster skis around some trees in Big White Ski Resort's Gem Lake area. DOC POW/SnowSeekers |
“This was an area that was opened in 1998, but many were in here on skins way before that because of all the incredible terrain that is back here,” said Foster.
Originally from Banff, AB., Foster has called these slopes home for five years and is a big fan of Gem Lake. He loves it because it offers, “the longest runs on the mountain and gets some great afternoon sun.”
SnowSeekers’ Brandon Boucher got up to the Gem Lake terrain for New Year's where he and his buds were up carving around in the trees off the black diamond run called BlackJack.
“There were a lot of really cool features to this area; there were a ton of rocks and trees that you have to navigate through. It felt like we were travelling in some pretty rugged terrain with lots of epic snow,” said Boucher.
Snow ghosts
Another sweet feature of this terrain are the big formations of snow and ice encrusted or caked onto the side of pine trees, making them look like ghosts - an other-worldly sight at the top of the Gem Lake Express Quad.
For those who can go without the natural kickers or trees, the area within Gem Lake is also home to some incredibly long blue cruisers. With about 55 per cent of its terrain marked as intermediate blues, Big White is a great destination for those who are into getting in some turns without challenging themselves too much.
Check out the official Big White website for news, events and more!
For more stories and detail on Big White check out our SnowSeekers' destination page.