Test report Silver Star

Leaving Vernon it takes about 30 minutes to drive the 26 km-road up to Silver Star Village. Nearby the parking-lots you are directly in the city-center with the colorful houses and the double chair “Summit Chair” which lifts you up to the summit. Downhill from the city-center you can swing over easy runs to the detachable six person chair “Comet Express”. This lift ends also at the summit near the Summit Chair. Parallel, there is a doublechair called “Yellow Chair” which is only switched on at high-traffic-times. The runs are medium to difficult in the upper part and all medium in the lower part. They are very wide and lead through forest-areas. Here is a lot of place for everybody. Up from the city there are two t-bars, called Mid-T-Bar and Town-T-Bar. From here you can glide over a ski-bridge to the “Silver Queen” quad. At this lift there are only easy runs, especially for beginners. Over “Aberdeen Skiway” or “Roller Coaster” you get back to the “Comet Express”.

To have access to one of the best backbowls of the world, you have to take the “Bergerstrasse” at the summit.

If you turn to the “Robson Street” you will get to the “Valhalla Ridge Access” after 30 minutes of walking. This area will be the target of a new lift in the future.

Otherwise you can take the slope “Sunny High” and get access to the double-diamond-runs “Kirkenheimer”, “Where´s Bob” and “Stardust” – that’s really nothing for beginners. Here although “experts” have to fight themselves through rinses downhill (great fun). If you stay on “Bergerstrasse” till the end you will approach the mid-station of the detachable quad “Powder Gulch Express”.

By turning right you reach again 8 double-diamond runs through snowy river-beds, muggels or just very rough terrain. Very recommendable are the runs “Gong Show”, “Head Wall” and “Doognog”, just to name a few.

If you turn to “Sunny Ridge” you should in any case jump into “Gowabunga” (with increasing steepness). But the high point of the difficult runs is the nearby vertical “Free Fall” – really nothing for weak nerves!

After that there are over 20 other difficult runs and some medium, everything starting at the mid-station and downhill to “Powder Gulch Express”. If you want to ride the bowls you always get out at the mid-station. Here is also the “Paradise Camp”, a nice place to stop off and have something to eat. The best way to get back to Silver Star Village is to take the quad up to the hill-station of the “Powder Gulch Express”. There you have a long and winding road back to the Silver Star Village...

SKIING

With its renowned dry, feather light champagne powder snow, Silver Star is a mountain with many attractions. The mountain’s stunning 3,065 acres (1,240 hectares) are blanketed by 23 feet (700 cm) annually with the world’s best powder. Experience 2,500 vertical feet (760 metres) of descent from the top of the mountain. Comfortable daytime temperatures average -5C, (27F), which is cold enough to keep the snow light and fluffy, yet absolutely perfect for skiing.

One of Canada’s best grooming teams operates Silver Star’s fleet of Bombardiers. Each and every night after the chairlifts close our team sets out to deliver velvety swales of corduroy so you can cruise the mountain in comfort all day long. The Vance Creek has immaculately groomed runs with wide-open spaces, uncrowded slopes and great views of the Monashee Mountains.

Serviced by one of the largest six-passenger chairlifts in Canada, the Comet Express enables skiers and riders to quickly access Silver Star’s award winning terrain on the mountain’s front side. Also be sure to check out the Silver Woods quad chair and the brand new Alpine Meadow quad chair.

Silver Star has a back side that will challenge any hardcore enthusiast. With over 60 runs serviced by the high-speed Powder Gulch Quad, Putnam Creek is renowned for black diamond runs and deep powder snow that will test even the most fervent skier or snowboarder. Winch-cat grooming nightly creates steep fall line cruising that will leave you breathless.

NORDIC

Many Nordic enthusiasts flock to our mountain to experience over 60 km of trails groomed every night to perfection for skate and classic techniques. At Silver Star there are ski-to/ski-from Nordic trails right from your door.

Nordic skiers are grinning from ear-to-ear with the signing of a historic agreement between Silver Star Mountain Resort and the Sovereign Lake Nordic Club. Both local and vacationing cross country skiers will now have the opportunity to access over 105 kilometres of some of North America's finest Nordic skiing.

The average temperature is -5 C (23F) which, combined with continuous snowfall, results in amazing Nordic skiing conditions. There is nothing more peaceful than skiing through the snow covered trees lining the silent trails and opening up to beautiful vistas in the valley below.

Silver Star is world renowned for these qualities. Attracting families and world-class athletes, boasting recreational retreats and romantic getaways, there is something for everyone at Silver Star. Our National Altitude Training Centre offers state-of-the-art training equipment, nordic waxing facilities, meeting rooms, and a full service spa.

Silver Star is a world famous hot bed for Nordic skiing and attracts some of the best racers in the world. Many Olympians choose to train at Silver Star because of the variety of terrain and the consistent average temperature of -5 C. Comfortable temperatures make long distance skiing more pleasurable and allow for easy and consistent waxing conditions.