When your traveling through Canada you’ll hear one thing a lot: “Fernie always gets a lot of snow.” We came to find out it’s true, and that Fernie precedes its reputation by far. We arrived in the dark and woke up to big snow flakes falling from the sky, covering everything in a thick white layer. Now that’s the Fernie we expected to see.
Friends on powder days. Fernie January 2013.
What you’ll find at Fernie:
- Powder: Ok, that’s something we can’t necessarily guarantee. But, as I mentioned above, the infamous Fernie powder days are certainly not rare!
Small hike to get some first lines.
- 6 Alpine Bowls: Fernie is huge and the ski area’s impressive six alpine bowls are all worth checking out: Siberia Bowl, Cedar Bowl, Timber Bowl, Currie Bowl, Lizard bowl and Polar Peak.
Runs in Fernie have awesome names, don’t you agree?
- Rail Park: The park in Fernie is not the main attraction, but it’s well shaped and there’s even music! Be aware that you need to get a park passat Guest Services before you go.
Fernie park fun.
Steak with a salad with raspberry-poppyseed dressing.
Hard Facts
- Average annual snow fall: 11 meter / 37 feet – now, that’s what I’m talking about!
- Skiing terrain: 2,504 acres
- Trails: 142 runs ranging (30% Beginner, 40% Intermediate, 30% Advanced / Expert)
- Base Elevation: 1068m / 3500 ft
- Top Elevation: 2149m / 7050 ft
- Vertical: 1082m / 3550 ft
- Longest Run: 5km / 3 miles, Falling Star
- Nordic Skiing: 14 km of groomed and track-set trails
- Total Number of Lifts: 10 (2 high-speed quads, 2 quad chairs, 3 triple chairs, 2 surface lifts)
- Season: Early December to Mid-April
- Our favorite run: We really enjoyed the runs down Currie Bowl.
Skiing Fernie on a great day.
Accommodation
We stayed at Lizard Creek Lodge: hot outdoor pool, only meters from the Elk quad chairlift, fully equipped studio unit with fireplace, balcony etc., beautiful lobby with a huge open fireplace and a great restaurant for apres-ski food and breakfast. Awesome Nachos that you can take back to your room and have in front of our open fire. There are many hotel and apartment options up in Fernie Alpine Resort (walking distance to chairlifts, shuttle bus into town) and of course in Fernie town itself.
Getting there
