December 9, 2024, 3:30 p.m. · Photo: Sean Phillips
Photo gallery · winter light
SilverStar sunsets
The sun going down over a sea of cloud, from the mountain above Vernon.
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Some of the best shows at SilverStar happen after the lifts slow down. On a clear winter afternoon the sun drops toward the far ridges, the cloud sitting in the valley below turns gold, and the snowy spruce around you go dark blue. These are Sean’s own photos from the mountain, with the date and time each was taken.
Above a sea of cloud
On December 9, 2024, at about 3:30 in the afternoon, the valley was full of cloud and the mountain was in the clear. The sun slid down behind a band of high cloud, and for a few minutes the whole layer below lit up orange, with the lake showing through the gaps far below.
Winter days are short up here, so the light comes early. If you want to catch it, plan to be outside by mid-afternoon in December.
The SilverStar sunset and mountain-light gallery
Tap any photo to see it large and swipe through. The morning shots are marked as mornings: a pink dawn sky over the snowy spruce, and a rare sun pillar, a column of light that forms when tiny ice crystals hang in cold, still air.
Photos: Sean Phillips. Tap any photo to see it large and swipe through.
Make an evening of it
Catch the light, then head into the village for dinner: see village life for where to eat, what’s on this season, or walk the Bear Byway around Brewer’s Pond. Want to see it from your own deck? See SilverStar homes for sale.
Down in the valley: Sean’s Okanagan Lake sunsets at Okanagan Landing
Quick answers
Why is SilverStar often sunny when Vernon is grey?
In winter, cold air and low cloud often settle in the Okanagan valley while the mountain sits above them. On those days you can leave a foggy Vernon, drive up the hill and pop out into sunshine, with a sea of cloud below you.
Can I use these sunset photos?
They are Sean Phillips’ own photos. News outlets can use several of them free with credit to Sean Phillips and a link back; see the media photo gallery. For anything else, text Sean at 236-599-5898.
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When you’re ready to own a piece of the mountain
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