SilverStar Winter Sports Trip 2025
January 25 to February 2, 2025
The Club is heading back to SilverStar in 2025 to enjoy one of our very favourite winter destinations. SilverStar and neighbouring Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre, when combined, deliver the largest groomed trail network in Canada. Elite athletes and recreational skiers come from all over the world to train and enjoy over 100 kms of pristine, ‘groomed-daily’ mountain trails. The addition of the Gondola in the fall of 2018, from the SilverStar Village to the summit, makes it that much easier for skiers to access the upper trails at SilverStar and Sovereign Lake. This year shuttles to Sovereign Lake will be provided on two days.
The trip is ideal for intermediate and advanced X-C skiers. If you are a beginner, you may be limited in the trails you can access. However, if you combine beginner level skiing and snowshoeing, you will have ample activity. At SilverStar everyone also has access to ‘Mountain Hosts” who, at no charge, will guide you along the trails and give excellent trail and skiing advice.
Silverstar has a good mix for all levels of snowshoe trails. Frank and Sue Elias will offer guided hikes on most days of the trip, both at Silverstar and Sovereign Lake, plus one night snowshoe and a full day trip to the mountain view cabin at Silverstar.
Silverstar has excellent downhill skiing opportunities and other activities including tubing, fat biking, skating, and more. Back country skiing is not permitted. Feel free to explore on-line: http://www.skisilverstar.com
Ticket purchases will be optional again this year. You can purchase the 7-day X-C ski or snowshoe package with the trip registration or purchase your own tickets for whatever combination of activities you desire. Note that Sovereign Lake tickets are no longer combined with SilverStar so you will need to purchase a ticket to ski there. Also, the X-C ski ticket no longer includes snowshoeing, separate tickets need to be purchased for each event. Some ticket packages are available in the fall for reduced rates.
COVID
While on extended trips with the HOC, wearing a mask is optional and remains at the discretion of the individual participant. However, if a participant is experiencing active COVID-like symptoms, such as a persistent cough, it would be considerate of other trip members to wear a mask while in enclosed situations such as an airplane, a bus, avoid group dinning events, and distance as much as possible until one is symptom free. If any trip member should test positive for COVID while on an HOC trip, all participants will abide by any regulations required by local governments and/or trip service providers.
TRAVEL
On January 25, we will fly with Air Canada directly to Kelowna where a shuttle bus will take us to SilverStar. The bus will make a one-hour stop in Vernon allowing you to purchase grocery and alcohol supplies for your stay. Options are available to order groceries online and have them delivered. On February 2, after seven days of wonderful skiing (travel days are excluded) we will again use a shuttle to transport the group back to the Kelowna airport and fly directly back to Pearson airport.
ACCOMMODATIONS
As in previous years, accommodation will be at the Vance Creek Hotel and the Chilcoot Conference Centre located in the heart of the SilverStar village. There is a limit to the number of rooms we are able to book which is why registration is limited to 36 people initially, including the leaders. It is also the reason we do not allow any single room bookings on this trip. The rooms will typically be one-bedroom suites (with either 2 Queen beds for singles or a King for couples) a kitchen (all rooms have a kitchen). Two group dinners are planned to be at the Bull Dog restaurant and are included in the trip price.
NOTE: If we are unable to match you up with a roommate and there are no alternative rooming arrangements, we will cancel your registration and process a refund.
TRIP COST
Based on double occupancy, the cost of the trip is $2,964.43. The optional cost for the Silverstar 7-day X-C ski pass is $175, and the snowshoe pass is $150. We will use Adventure House Travel for the travel and accommodation services. In order to keep this trip as affordable as possible your trip leaders have planned all other aspects of the trip on behalf of HOC. As a result, two separate payments are necessary. A payment of $2,640.95 (add 3% if you wish to pay by credit card) will be made to Adventure House Travel. The Halton Outdoor Club will be paid $323.48 plus the optional X-C ski or snowshoe passes if you choose. The payment of $323.48 to the Halton Outdoor Club will be required upon registration and $300 to Adventure House Travel.
We have done our best to confirm the prices we can and estimate others based on previous trips to SilverStar. However, these are still extremely unique times and prices may vary somewhat. We will do our best to ensure we deliver the best value to you. If there are any modifications to the trip we will let you know as soon as possible.
INCLUDED in this price:
OPTIONAL
NOT INCLUDED in this price
REGISTRATION
Registration will open on April 28, 2024 (a stroke past midnight on April 27th). There are two parts to your registration. Your spot is not confirmed until both parts are completed. In other words, the first deposit to HOC and Adventure House Travel is due at the time of registration.
1. On-line Registration: Use the Club website / Events Calendar and pay $323.48 per person plus the cost of the optional X-C ski ($175) or snowshoe ($150) tickets if you wish to purchase them through HOC.
2. The second part of registration is a deposit of $300.00 per person to Adventure House Travel. This may be paid by cheque, credit card, or e-transfer.
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Final Payment of $2,340.95 is due November 1, 2024 for the remainder of the trip cost to Adventure House Travel. See payment options above. If paying by cheque, it must be dated for November 1, 2024. We do not expect any change to the final pricing but will notify you if an adjustment is required. These are unique times and prices and services may vary.
CANCELLATION
Deposits are non-refundable. However, in the event that you need to cancel, the club will look for a suitable replacement from the club waiting list. If a replacement can be made without incurring costs to the club or the travel agency, then you may be refunded less the $25.00 club processing fee. If using a replacement incurs some costs, the cancelling party will be responsible and may only receive a partial refund. If the club is not able to replace you from the waitlist, then NO REFUND will be provided.
If you need to cancel, please contact Cheryl, our Club Manager at info@haltonoutdoorclub.ca. Please also contact Ginny Coles at Adventure House Travel at (905) 845-6631 ext 2323.
While in progress, if the trip experiences unexpected circumstances that are beyond our control, that result in changes to the itinerary and unexpected expenses, members are responsible for any extra expenses that may be incurred.
INSURANCE
The Halton Outdoor Club strongly recommends you have adequate trip cancellation and out of province medical insurance. Coverage for your trip may be purchased through Adventure House Travel or your own provider. Call Ginny at (905) 845-6631 ext 2323 for Adventure House Travel.
Feel free to contact either Heather McClintock (adventurelife4212@gmail.com) or Ralph Gardave (gardave@sympatico.ca) if you have further questions.