Mountain guide

Cold air, high ground, happy guests

Everything practical about being at 1,500 metres in January — so the only thing you have to think about is celebrating.

1,500 m

Village elevation

−8 °C

Typical January day

56 km

From Kelowna airport

911

Emergency, anywhere in Canada

A little about Canada

Before you land in British Columbia

Small things that catch visitors out, none of them difficult once you know.

Money

Everything is in Canadian dollars. Cards are taken almost everywhere on the mountain; a little cash helps for tips.

Tipping

15–20% at restaurants and bars, a dollar or two per bag for lodge staff. Tax is added at the till, not shown on the menu.

Metric

Temperatures are Celsius and distances are kilometres. −18 °C is around 0 °F; the snow depth signs are in centimetres.

Plugs & power

Same plugs as the US at 120 V. Bring an adapter if you are travelling from the UK, Europe or Australia.

Time

Pacific Time, the same as Vancouver and Los Angeles. Big White is a resort on provincial land, not a town of its own.

Phones & wifi

Coverage on the highway and in the village is reasonable, patchy on the slopes. The lodge has wifi and a landline.

Late December at 1,500 metres is properly cold. The lodge is warm, the walk between the lodge and the village is not.

Real boots with grip — the paths are packed snow and ice, heels on ice are a bad bet
A warm layer under your outfit: thermal base, then your dress or suit, then a coat
Wool socks, gloves and a hat for anything outdoors, including the ceremony
Sunglasses — a bright day on snow is genuinely blinding
Swimwear if you plan to use a hot tub, and slippers for indoors

Big White sits around 1,500 metres at the village, higher at the summit. Most people feel nothing; some feel it on day one.

Drink more water than you think you need, and go easy on alcohol for the first evening
Take the first day slowly — a short walk beats a full day on the slopes straight off the plane
A mild headache or breathlessness on stairs is common and usually settles within a day
Altitude can disturb sleep. A humidifier or a glass of water by the bed helps
If a headache will not shift, or you feel dizzy, sick or breathless at rest, stop, rest, hydrate, and call for help

That is a normal night here, not a warning. A few habits make it painless.

Layers beat one thick coat — you will be going in and out all evening
Cover ears and hands before you step outside; those are the first to hurt
Keep your phone inside your coat — cold drains the battery fast
Give yourself ten minutes to warm the car, and never leave it running in an enclosed space
Check the road and lift status before heading out; the resort updates it every morning

The mountain is remote, so a little preparation goes a long way.

The mobile IV clinic is at White Spirit Lodge on the morning of the wedding — hydration, altitude support and recovery drips
The nearest hospital is Kelowna General, about an hour down the mountain in good conditions
Cell coverage is patchy. The lodge has a landline and wifi — use those if a call will not connect
Tell someone where you are going if you head out on the trails alone
In an emergency, call 911 and then let the lodge know so they can guide the responders in

The mountain is wonderful for both, with a bit of planning.

Dress children in one more layer than you would wear yourself, and check them often — they rarely say they are cold
Tubing and the outdoor skating rink are the easiest wins for small children
Tots' rental gear is available at the Village Centre Mall, so you don't need to fly with skis
For anyone less steady on their feet, the resort shuttle saves the walk between the village and Happy Valley
Altitude affects older guests more slowly but for longer — a gentle first day is the best gift you can give them

Still wondering something?