Outside Magazine has named two British Columbia ski hills on a list of North America's top ski destinations: Whistler Blackcomb ranks second, and Fernie ranks sixth.

The list was complied by Skiing magazine editor Marc Peruzzi. (Who claims to have incorporated the first-ever "powder-clause" into his prenuptial agreement.)

Peruzzi's endorsement of Whistler-Blackcomb pretty much summed up how many B.C. skiiers feel about the place: Love the mountain, loathe Intrawest:

OK, the base village was designed by committee and the lower mountain can get milk-bottle foggy. But since you probably can't afford Europe this year, Whistler Blackcomb is the next best thing. Why? Big vertical... Whistler Blackcomb's 5,280-foot vertical descent, like those in the Alps, drops directly from top to bottom.

The complete Outside list of The 15 Best Ski Resorts in North America. Period.:

1. Alta/Snowbird, Utah

2. Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia

3. Vail, Colorado

4. Jackson Hole, Wyoming

5. Snowbasin, Utah

6. Fernie Alpine Resort, British Columbia

7. Silverton Mountain, Colorado

8. Aspen Highlands and Snowmass, Colorado

9. Squaw Valley, California

10. Steamboat, Colorado

11. Mammoth, California

12. Telluride, Colorado

13. Solitude, Utah

14. Alyeska Resort, Alaska

15. Taos, New Mexico

Having skiied quite a few of these hills, I'm inclined to complete agree on Alta and Silverton. Having grown up skiing at Alyeska, I can only assume that Peruzzi must have misplaced his judgment amidst the perpetual Turnagain Arm fog. Comments?

Monte Paulsen is waiting for the snow to return.