How cold - skiing in Canada in Feb?

[Panicmode1]

Last time we went skiing it was the Alps at Easter and it was relatively warm. We've just booked for Feb half term in Canada and I'm thinking I'll probably need better base layers!

Any expert advice/tips?

Canada is a big place. Could you be more specific?

Flying to Kelowna, so B.C.

Shouldn’t be too bad, if it’s Whistler or nearby. Because of the ocean you’re unlikely to get anything below -10 and closer to 0 is typical. We went in January, when we were living in Chicago and it was pleasantly warm in comparison! The rocky mountains however can be a whole different class of freezing! That said, decent base layers are always a good investment and on a big ski trip like that I wouldn’t skimp on the kit if it’ll keep you out on the mountain for longer.

Brilliant, thank you. Bit further inland than Whistler but same-ish ballpark. I've lived in Russia so not afraid of very low temps, but wasn't sure how low. Minus 5 sounds perfectly doable!

Sorry, minus 10... multi-tasking and not reading properly.

Ha ha ha, -10 in BC, you’re having a laugh!! I’ve been for 7 weeks in total to Whistler (various trips) and at -32 they shut the upper lifts. -26 had frostbite warnings out. It was fucking Baltic - pun intended. That was on 3 separate trips. The only time we didn’t have at least a few days of VERY cold weather was Easter. We still had 1m of snow! … it was pissing down in the village.

I would plan for some cold conditions. I wear a Patagonia down jacket as a mid layer, over merino jumper and a double merino base. Topped off with balaclava and good quality ski jacket. Hand warmers in my silk liners, lined gloves.

My kids had 8 layers on.

@Panicmode1 I’d plan for both, or you’ll be buying on the hill which is pricey.

Thanks so much @wistfullyfocused - my father said it was closer to -20/-25 when he went, but that was over 20 years ago, so I was wondering whether global warming would have affected the low temps!! Looks as though I will need to dig out my Russian kit (lived in -35/-40 for 3 or so months). I definitely need to look at my gloves - I get very cold hands very quickly.

This year I had hand warmers and that was Easter. Def dig out the Russian kit!

Are you going to Big White?

Make sure you are all talking F or C. Americans saying -10 will be talking in F. -10F is -23C

Don't forget the head tubes and the snoods.
They will get wet with snow, so you might want to change them if you stoop for a break or lunch
and socks, have more socks than you think you need because if they are not 100% dry (if you step in melted snow in the ski room ) you are at risk of frostbite.

😂Good point! I’m def in Celsius

Bc isn't that cold, at least whistler isn't - wasn't cold enough in fact, bit slushy

Should say I lived in pnw so went a lot, never had it below minus 5 or so.

Totally depends on where the year, but yes we’ve had -30C regularly in Louise, -46C with windchill. -30C in Kicking Horse. Equally, we’ve had -10C and it has been lovely - you don’t really feel it when the sun is out, until you are significantly below -20.

Get some liner gloves and mittens. Get some thick long johns or windproof fleece-lined cycling leggings. Warm layer (fleece or down) under your coat and over your base layer. Mask or buff to cover your nose and ears (wear a helmet). I’ve always had amazing trips over in the Rockies, you just can’t expect to ski in a tshirt in Jan/Feb (you actually can if you go end of March/early April).

Fortunately, -30F is about the same as -30C