Top of the World
Elevation: 2,080m
Posted October 22, 2024
Daydreaming about carving fresh cord or riding deep powder in the Sun Peaks alpine? We have some exciting news! After three years of work, the brand-new West Bowl Express chairlift is set to open for the start of the 2024-25 ski season.
This new lift is a game changer and will completely transform the ski experience at the top of Tod Mountain.
More Terrain = More Fun
Long-time Sun Peaks skiers will remember the old West Bowl T-bar. It had its charms, but has been out of commission since the 2020-21 season. It was time for a major upgrade in this zone.
Enter the West Bowl Express, a high-speed, quad chairlift. Faster, more comfortable, and higher capacity than a T-bar, the West Bowl Express also opens up new skiable terrain. An expanded 169 acres to be precise, more than triple the original 54 acres accessed via the old lift!
The ride itself is a treat. While the new lift line is 800 metres longer than the T-bar was, total ride time is only five and half minutes. Once at the top, stop to take in the view at 2,093m - the highest unload point of any chairlift in Sun Peaks.
A Zone For All
The best part about the West Bowl Express? It is designed with every level of skier or snowboarder in mind. This area of the Resort features mainly intermediate terrain, making it the perfect spot for adventurous beginners and intermediates to get a taste of life in the alpine.
When you’re finished exploring the West Bowl, enjoy easy access back to the rest of the mountain via 5 Mile. Our signature green run has now been extended to start at the top of the new lift.
No Time FOR Rime
A unique feature of the West Bowl Express is the covered carrier parking rail attached to the bottom terminal. The carriers (chairs) will be taken off the line at the end of the day and stored on the parking rail, reducing the potential for overnight rime build up that could delay opening in the mornings.
Rime is a type of frost common at higher mountain elevations. It is the phenomenon behind the iconic snow ghost formations in the Sun Peaks alpine.
When Can I Ride It?!
The West Bowl Express chairlift is set to start spinning on opening weekend of the 2024-25 season, which is less than a month away. As always, this is weather dependent, however the forecasted La Niña winter has been serving up the goods so far. Fingers crossed for plenty more of the same between now and November 16!
New 2024-25 Trail Map
Need more info? We have you covered. The updated 2024-25 Alpine Trail Map is now available online, including a detailed new inset showcasing the West Bowl area.
You will spot three new runs alongside the returning West Bowl classics. The longest, Whyte’s Ride, is named as a tribute to one of the original founders of Tod Mountain Ski Resort: Donald Whyte. Whyte and others rode up to the West Bowl on horseback in 1959 to assess the area’s ski potential.
Behind the Scenes
This $12 million project was led by Erik Meertens, our Senior Director of Mountain Operations, and its successful completion is the result of a huge team effort involving our own in-house crews, local contractors (shoutout to Newport Structures, Northwood Group, Summit Electric, and XenonCyber Dynamics), and the lift construction professionals at Doppelmayr. A big thank you to everyone involved with building this newest addition to Sun Peaks.
With a new lift, new runs, and forecasts calling for a snowy La Niña winter, this is a ski season you won’t want to miss. See you on the slopes!