Whitefish Mountain Resort is just a great place to ski. 13 years on the trot now. Over 1 acre per skier max. So much less crowded than anywhere else I have ever skied. Looks like a small area from lift map but, in fact, Whitefish Mountain Resort is equivalent in acreage to the whole of Blackcomb mountain or Whistler mountain - 3,500acres all to yourself especially during week.

The area can have pretty miserable vis due to cloud that hangs around the summit but makes for generally excellent snow conditons.

My favourite run in the world - top to bottom of Hellroaring basin - chair 11. What a blast over and over..

Whitefish town, with the main street of wall-to-wall bars Montana style - the Remington, Bulldog, Palace and the Great Northern, can get extremely lively. However, I recommend staying on the mountain, alpine village style, at the Kanadahar Lodge hotel - all wood and log fires. Walk up to the Hellroaring saloon for dinner and the Beerstube for draught beer, all 24 different brews and cheapo food.

Getting there from UK is a pain - best method is to fly to Calgary, day or two en route in fernie - halfway to Whitefish - 5 hour drive in total.

I rate Big Mountain (name recently changed to the more original Whitefish Mountain Resort) as right up there - superior skiing to Fernie/Panorama etc.