Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, roughly an hour north of Kimberley, is at the center of one of the largest collections of natural hot springs in the world -- and most don't have that musty sulfur smell. And visitors to Cranbrook can stay at the historic St. Eugene, a one-time mission where children of the Ktunaxa people attended school, and get a firsthand look at Canada's love of hockey by taking in a Kootenay Ice game.

''This is very grass roots, classic Canadian,'' says Ken Wilder, business manager for Panorama Mountain Village. ``It's not a sort of Gucci kind of experience. It's very real.''

FLUFFY SNOW

The snow's not bad, either.

Unlike the wet, heavy stuff of western B.C., the snow along the Powder Highway is dry and fluffy, creating pristine champagne powder. There's a lot of it -- most places average around 30 feet a year -- so skiers can often find fresh powder three or four days after a big dump.

There's a wide variety of terrain, too, from the family-oriented groomers of Fairmont to the shoots, open pitches and tree skiing at Fernie. At Panorama, skiers can hit the backcountry from the resort's onsite heli-plex, then catch a couple black-diamond tree runs on the main mountain's Taynton Bowl in the afternoon.

And with so many options in close proximity, skiers and boarders can bounce from one resort to another and come back for 10 straight years with a different itinerary each time.

''We're encouraging people to try another ski opportunity,'' says Laurie Reed of Kootenay Rockies Tourism. ``It's another option, an opportunity to see where some of these great backcountry adventures were born.''

Here's a look at the eight alpine resorts along the Powder Highway. Listed price is for adult lift ticket.

• Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, www.fairmonthotsprings.com, about 90 minutes north of Cranbrook, off 95-93 near Invermere, adult lift ticket $32 U.S. or $40 Canadian.

Designed mostly for beginners and intermediate skiers, making it a favorite among young families, seniors and newbie snowboarders. Packages with Fairmont Hot Springs Resort allow visitors to ski all day, then soak in the toasty -- and non-smelling -- onsite mineral pools.

• Fernie Alpine Resort, www.skifernie.com, about an hour east of Cranbrook, lift $58 or CA$75.

A wide variety of terrain with a backcountry feel. Great views of the Lizard Range hovering above and plenty of shoots, open pitches and steep treed runs for the expert skiers. Check out local favorite Griz Bar at the end of the day and look for the Ghostrider on clear days.

• Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, www.kickinghorseresort.com, about three hours north of Cranbrook in Golden, lift $54 or CA$67.

The newest resort on the Powder Highway, Kicking Horse has over 4,100 vertical feet from top to bottom, second-highest in Canada. Kicking Horse has an impressive amount of steep skiing with 60 percent of its runs designed for advanced and expert skiers.

• Kimberley Alpine Resort, www.skikimberley.com, about 20 minutes north of Cranbrook on Highway 95A, lift $48 or CA$59.

Located in the Purcell Range, Kimberley offers a family atmosphere with plenty of options for all levels of skiers, including some great glade runs on the face. Ski-in, ski-out condos near the lift. Check out the aptly-named Vortex black diamond run for a challenge.

• Panorama Mountain Village, www.skipanorama.com, about two hours north of Cranbrook off 93-95 near Invermere, lift $45 or CA$56.

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