Scarcely a cloud in the sky, fresh powder snow and pristine backcountry trails to ourselves – sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Those were the conditions that greeted us on a two-hour sledding adventure with Sun Peaks Snowmobile Tours.
Experiencing untracked fluffy bliss is every bit as magical as stories make it out to be, and sitting atop a powerful machine dashing through alpine heaven brings a whole new level of excitement to a winter adventure.
Our snowmobiling guide, Tyhran, picked us up at the resort’s Adventure Centre for a short drive to the base camp where we were outfitted with balaclavas, boots, helmets and all the necessary gear required for a 20-kilometre tour into the backwoods of Mt. Morrissey on McGillivray Lake logging roads (at an elevation of 1,219 metres).
We arrived in mid-December for what was to be three days of non-stop winter fun – exactly what we were looking for.
Cross-country skiing and snowboarding:
While we strapped on our skis for a cross-country traverse through pristine, snow-capped trails, the rest of our group headed out snowboarding where there was never a lineup worth mentioning.
Sun Host Mountain Tour pairs first-timers to the mountain with a guide for a three-hour introduction to the runs.
Après Ski: Head to the spectacular Sun Peaks Grand Hotel & Conference Centre, the resort’s luxury hotel. A visit to the lower lobby’s Mantles restaurant for its hearty morning breakfast buffet is worth every penny. And while you are at it, wander through the magnificent sprawling estate. Although built in 2002, it has the airs of a grand old dame with its rich wood panelling, grand foyer and stellar service.
Après Ski: Bottoms Bar & Grill is a favourite local watering and dining hole and for good reason. In fact, it’s where we met up with Nancy Greene, a true ambassador for Sun Peaks. Greene was Canada’s top ski racer through the 1960’s, winning gold and silver medals at the 1968 Grenoble Olympics and overall World Cup titles in 1967 and 1968. Today, she is the director of skiing at Sun Peaks and is passionate about the resort.
We were told by several locals that Bottoms consistently rates high on offering the best service, and food of the pubs on this hill (with generous portions) and hands down had the best atmosphere. Well, they were right – in fact, we ate there twice and both times I ordered the soup of the day and the fish tacos, which were some of the best I’ve eaten. P.S. A word of caution: Don’t ring the bell over the bar unless you feel like buying a round.
Bark at the Moon Dogsled Tour:
Dog sledding was the highlight of the trip. Chris and Taryn Schwanke, founders of Mountain Man Adventures, have a team of about 50 Alaskan huskies who are as good-natured as pets, relishing the challenge to lead visitors into the snow-covered wonderland. After a short safety and instruction briefing and after being encouraged to show them some love and affection, the anticipation was building. It’s not just a job for these dogs; its their way of life and they love it. You can hear it in their yelps of excitement as they tugged on their tethers awaiting their adventure and yours.
The rush of being led on a blanket of the white stuff, hugging the edges of tree-lined trails, up and down some hilly terrain was one of those bucket list moments.
After burning a portion of their 6,000-12,000 calorie daily intake – the equivalent of 12-24 Big Macs – the dogs were rewarded with a big tasty chunk of beef fat. As we petted these beautiful dogs, we were told their diet consists of Trout Farm fish, Aldergrove chicken and dry mix produced in Saskatchewan and Alberta. Off season, the huskies live on the couple’s 40-acre property.
Après Ski: Kevin Tessier, an affable fellow French-Canadian opened up his popular Classic Canadiana eatery, The Voyageur Bistro, in 2012 and hasn’t looked back.
Heavily influenced by his French roots, the cuisine is focused on traditional ingredients such as bison, bannock, pea meal bacon, maple syrup and root vegetables. Brent raved on and on about the elk wellington., saying it is a “prized meat, more flavourful than beef.” The décor alone will have you feeling sentimental about our country – the walls are adorned with a collection of Canadian artifacts including a 1930s Peterborough canvas cedar strip canoe and a richly woven tapestry depicting a Hudson Bay fur trapper.
Après Ski: Power Hounds Restaurant in the Fireside Lodge features a German-influenced carte du jour. There’s a cosy rustic pub atmosphere and the menu is small but well curated, featuring a delicious Schnitzel, alongside some West Coast seafood dishes, pastas and more. I highly recommend the grilled B.C. wild salmon and drunken prawns.
Declared the No. 2 ski destination in Canada by Canadian Living Magazine’s Readers’ Poll, Sun Peaks is truly a postcard perfect kind of place where the vibe is laid back and the people friendly and helpful. For more information, visit sunpeakstourism.com.
If you go:
Mountain stats
– Three mountains with 4,270 acres of skiable terrain.
– 12 lifts and 135 trails with 16 gladed areas.
– Over 37 kilometres groomed and track set Nordic trail.
– Over 2,000 hours of sunshine annually.
Where to Stay:
Hearthstone Lodge, part of Bear Country
#47 - 6005 Valley Dr. Sun Peaks, B.C. V0E 5N0. Toll Free: 1-800-811-45 88.
