Fondue farewell in Canada

By BEN READY

Floating down a mountain by moonlight with a belly full of fondue and wine, it's hard to imagine a more idyllic end to a skiing holiday through some of Canada's less well-known resorts.

Sun Peaks' convenient layout, friendly atmosphere and hectares of quality skiing terrain has made it one of the premier small resorts in British Columbia.

Just hours from the skiing mecca of Whistler-Blackcomb, Sun Peaks is a welcome escape from the hustle and bustle of the larger fields which dot Canada's West.

Along with the nearby Big White and Silver Star resorts, Sun Peaks is only beginning to capitalise on its closeness to Vancouver and excellent skiing terrain.

But like many of the resorts in the area, skiing can often be a sideshow to the plethora of other activities on hand, including the fondue night which has become a Sun Peaks tradition and one of Canada's top apres ski events.

The twice-weekly trip to the upper lodge for a night of traditional fondue accompanied by wine, music and dancing is only a prelude to the experience of getting back to the resort.

Separated into teams and assigned a guide, each group ventures out of the warmth of the dining hall and into the chilly night.

Strapping on our skis as our path is illuminated by a string of flares, we set off into the night.

Skiing through the freezing darkness is an experience to remember, even if it is preceded by niggling concerns about plummeting off a cliff.

The fondue night is just one of the many winter activities designed to make a stay at Sun Peaks a diverse experience.

Others include a night-time sleigh ride, a snow-shoe expedition into the local forest, in search of the many forms of flora and fauna, and a once-in-a-lifetime (for most people) chance to go dogsledding.

Sun Peaks, formally known as Tod Mountain, was established in 1961 and underwent a multimillion-dollar re-development in 1992.

The resort is now preparing to invest another $C100 million ($155.7 million) strengthening its appeal as the only four-season destination resort in the interior of British Columbia.

Lift and trail development on a third mountain, Mt Morrisey, will take total skiable terrain to 1380ha.

Mt Morrisey's 420m vertical drop compares favourably with Sundance Mountain across the valley and offers spectacular vistas of Top of the World Mountain at 2080m.

Mostly north facing, the new mountain will offer skiers and snowboarders some of the driest powder in the region during the winter and spring months.

Unique to Mt Morrisey is a new style of glade or tree skiing.

Sun Peaks' calling card of long groomed pitches is maintained, but Morrisey features groomed glades. Skiers and rides will enjoy the thrill of descending through open forests, but on groomed pitches - a treat traditionally reserved for advanced enthusiasts.

Also adding to the facilities will be Delta Sun Peaks Resort which will feature a 230-room hotel and spacious conference centre.

This investment is part of an extensive development that will eventually make Sun Peaks the only resort in BC's interior to combine five skiable mountains.

But with most development occurring over summer, the impact on winter visitors will be minimal.

Other popular events on the Sun Peaks calendar include the annual Icewine Festival in January.

Every event at this year's festival sold out with guests treated to Winemasters dinners, a Dessert and Icewine Competition and a Progressive Tasting showcasing the resort and 17 of the leading wineries from the Okanagan Valley in southern British Columbia.

* The writer was a guest of Sun Peaks and Air Canada.

Sun Peaks Reseort

Canada information

Case notes

* Getting there: Go International is offering a five-night ski package at Sun Peaks from $3099 a person twin-share for February.

This includes ski pass, return airfares from Auckland with Air Canada and return transfers from Kamloops airport to Sun Peaks staying at the Sun Dance Lodge in a studio room.

Children under 16 ski free when accompanied by a paying adult. This package is for travel between February 1 and 14. Ph: (09) 914 4700

* When to go: Ski season is November to April. From May to October the resort is open for hiking, walking and cycling etc.