Congratulations to Fernie resident – Barrie Elliott on your Chopped Canada win! The head chef at Livery Restaurant in Fernie, Barrie plans to use her $10,000 grand prize to buy into the business she’s worked so hard to create!
Fernie Alpine Resort Trail Crew Update #2
50 Shades of Dirt
June 1, 2015
Summer is a cruel temptress and we are but her feeble slaves. The Bike Crew is now swinging well into a singletrack spring fling with Mother Nature; toiling amidst her layers of shapely bedrock and velvety loam. Shower drain dirt stains, bruises, and blisters all serve as testaments to an unwavering passion for a life behind mountain-bike-bars. To receive such daily punishment yet still crave more is truly a labor of love and commitment to provide the ultimate guest experience. Twenty-six days and counting down until we submit these trails to you Loam Rangers for another #legendarysummer at Fernie Alpine Resort.
Mother Nature has administered us a few lashings of scor
ching sun and driving rain this spring yet we remain committed to deliver our 42 trails back from winter’s choke hold. As promised, we are taking the disciplined approach, proving sustainability is not just a buzzword through thoughtful trail design, grade, and drainage. And it is working. Instead of repairing run off damage down steep, old, fall-line trails this year our time is better served ensuring the resort has the perfect buffed-out ride for you on opening day no matter what trail predilection you may have.
Novice Riders– Mountain biking is not just for the hardcore. If keeping things slow and smooth is your thing make sure to check out last years new trail Duff Dynasty. We have completed the remaining section of machine work ensuring a top to bottom wide flowy ride. Both Eville and Honey Bee also deserved a bit of clean up and re-flow-erizing. Nervous? Try doing it with a group this year – check out the new FAR summer website for details on our and bike camps.
Intermediate Riders – For those who have mastered the basics – loosen your inhibitions and don’t be a slave to gravity! Get some airtime on Top Gun or Bin Logdin. One of our first tasks this summer was to amp up a few select berms, jumps, and rollers. Don’t worry – there’s more of that to come! Ready to show off your new tricks (and costumes)? Our Thursday Night Race series continues this year with the first event on July 2nd.
Advanced Riders– Enjoy dabbling a little deeper the dark side? – Make sure you check out Alternate
Flight Pattern; the lower section earned a bit of a facelift this week. Keep tapping into FAR’s Facebook or Instagram pages in the coming weeks for sneak-peaks as we start tackling our new Timberside Trail called ‘Neverland’.
With much work to do, we are reminded that every bike ride begins with a single pedal stroke. The same is true, for our Trail Crew to-do list. And while we cannot control Mother Nature, we can negotiate the terms to truly decide who is in charge around here. See you in a few short weeks…we can’t wait to share our dirty world with you.
~ Sincerely, Your Fernie Alpine Resort Bike Crew
- Published in Fernie
There is no denying it, Fernie is a town that likes to party. And party hard! Perhaps the only thing that outweighs fun in this town is the shared love of outdoor adventure. The last weekend in June is a prime example of the most fantastic collection of Fernie festivals, including the grand opening on Fernie Alpine Resort’s Legendary Summer, the Roll & Sole Trail fest and the Fernie 3! Keep the party going until Monday and top it all off with local jam night at the Kodiak Lounge.
Fernie Alpine Resort Opening Day
June 27th kicks off two months of summer fun at Fernie Alpine Resort. The bike park is one of the best in the country, while some of the newer summer activity features draw guests from all around including the Aerial Park and Zipline. With this season seeing a new trail connecting the resort to the town’s nearby provincial park (Old Growth Cedar Trail) the experience of riding the lift and hiking or walking down to the park below can’t be beat! More info.
Roll & Sole Trail Fest
June 27th – 29th 
The Roll & Sole fest was introduced last summer by the Fernie Trail Alliance. A celebration of hiking, biking and running outdoors in Fernie! Participate with the whole family in events like the Bike Toss Challenge, Kids Scavenger Hunts or Obstacle course races. If competing isn’t your thing, stop by for the lunch social, beverage garden and live entertainment! More info.
Fernie 3
June 26th – 29th
Known as Fernie’s biggest cross country mountain bike race, the Fernie 3 is a 3 day event of single track riding. A race catering to kids, new riders or veterans, every participant receives a collectible finishers tshirt! More info.
Kodiak Lounge
June 29th 
A visit to Fernie really isn’t complete until you’ve experienced the local culture, one of the best places to do so is in the Kodiak Lounge located in the Raging Elk Hostel. Finish off your weekend on Monday night instead of Sunday and check out the local jam night starting at 8:30pm. If you don’t want to leave after your time here, sorry, it’s not our fault it’s so awesome in Fernie.
Coming to town for the weekend? Book a spot at the sensible Fernie Slopeside Lodge and don’t spend a bundle on accomm (spend it on fun)!
Over the past few summers with significant improvements made to our bike park and through hosting some major mountain biking competition events, Fernie is becoming more and more known as a top summer biking destination. We couldn’t agree more as Fernie is named in one of the #bestincanada on WestJet’s blog.
“Besides the feeling of freedom that comes with cranking the pedals on a sunny afternoon, mountain biking is not too shabby and should get your priorities straight. So grab the handle bars as we check out the top 10 places for mountain bike vacations in Canada. The key is finding the right place to ride, but don’t worry- in Canada we are fortunate to have some of the best mountain bike destinations in North America. From single track to downhill crazies to rails to trails, there’s something for everyone in each one of these mountain bike destinations.”
Read more on the WestJet Blog
Each summer at Fernie Alpine Resort we make updates and changes to be always improving the experience for all our guests, this year some exciting items include;
New Resort to Park Connections for Hiking & Biking
Working in partnership with the Fernie Trail Alliance, we’re bringing the resort and the Mount Fernie Provincial Park closer than ever before! This summer, take the Timber Chair from the base of Fernie Alpine Resort, enjoy alpine hiking or biking on the new Mammoth Loop or Lost Boys Trail, and proceed to hike or bike your way back to the Provincial Park via the Megasaurus & Boom trails, to our new Old Growth trail.
Trail Updates
Our hardworking trail crew will be busy this spring finishing up construction on a new Timber side trail called “Neverland” – a sweet singletrack that spurs off of lower Rumplestumpskin and promises to be an adrenaline pumping option for advanced riders. Also new this summer will be the Mammoth Loop, a new alpine cross country biking loop at the top of the Timber Express Chair!
That’s not all! View the full list.
Now I lay me down to bed, I pray the lord for epic trails to shred. And if they’re not there when I wake then epic lines I vow to make…
Machines are fuelled and lubed, tools are sharpened, and muscles are eager to dig. Spring has nestled quite comfortably into the Elk Valley and the trail crew is heading back to work this week! Here it is… your first Fernie Alpine Resort trail crew update of 2015!
Thanks to low spring snow levels we have already been able to survey a few trails and the news is good. Our commitment to resolving drainage problems and focus on steering our older fall line trails towards newer environmentally sustainable construction practices has finally paid off. Those rides we have seen, in fact, have very little spring run-off damage. This means that other than the usual inspections and buffing, we can focus our time on a few brand new projects for the 2015 season.
So what is new this season? A quick review of my notebook work list looks something like this:
- buff out and blowdown removal on all 30+ trails plus signage installation
- finish construction of the new Timber side singletrack trail ‘Neverland’
- construction of the new Timber side alpine cross country bike trail ‘Mammoth’
- revert dual slalom back to singletrack with new skills park features
- complete a new singletrack multi-use trail from Elk Load to Boom Bottom
- construction of new multi-use singletrack trail from Haul Back Bottom through old growth forest to Old Goat in Mount Fernie Provincial Park
- new multi-use paths connecting resort accommodations to Fernie Alpine Resort base area and the new Fernie Nordic Society trails
- major tune on Rumplestumpskin from Timber Chair unload to Surprise Corner (mid elevation), upper Mr Berms and upper Big Rig berm tune-up.
It is a heavy work list for our crew this year but we look forward to the challenge. Detailed and daily updates start this week so keep checking back with Trail Crew progress on facebook, instagram, and the FAR website for glimpses of all the action.
See you on opening day June 27th Loam Rangers,
Sincerely,
Your Fernie Alpine Resort Trail Crew
Fernie, B.C
One of the largest Bike Parks in the region with a recent focus on progression makes Fernie Alpine Resort’s bike park a favourite among the biking community, being voted in the Top 5 Bike Parks in Canada for the last 2 years. Offering cross country, downhill, single track and dual slalom trails accessible from the base area or chair lift as well as a number of green trails and lessons for any ability level to learn the sport or brush up on skills.
Photo: Tourism Fernie
Fernie Alpine Resort isn’t the only place to ride in Fernie, along with a number of trails accessed from town, maintained by the Fernie Mountain Bike Club and the Fernie Trails Alliance there have been significant improvements made to a number of trails over the last few summer’s allowing even more people to enjoy scenery around this gorgeous mountain town! A favourite among the youngest generation of riders, Fernie also has a FREE dirt jump park with large & small jumps, bridges and obstacles to check out, located in town near the aquatic centre.
For more information on Mountain Biking in Fernie, B.C visit the Fernie Tourism website.
Photo: Tourism Kimberley
Kimberley, B.C
There are ‘trails for everyone’ in Kimberley, 3 different trail networks offer everything from beginner riding with gentle, scenic cruises to some adrenaline pumped more difficult trails. With the newest improvements of the trails, the North Star Rails to Trails network is a 25 km long multi use track perfect connecting Kimberley & Cranbrook, perfect for families looking for an afternoon spent exercising outdoors in one of the sunniest places in B.C! Other trails to try are the Lois Creek Trails, geared towards beginner to intermediate riders, and the Kimberley Nature Park, one of the largest municipal parks in Canada for great for riders of all levels.
Get more information on the Tourism Kimberley website.
Photo: Tourism Golden
Golden, B.C
Try out the only gondola accessed mountain biking in the region at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, with over 3,700 feet of variety, there’s downhill hardcore single tracks with multiple berms, jumps and wooden features as well as lessons and green trails offered for beginners! Golden, B.C has more amazing mountain biking options to offer, being located near Mount 7, one of the most challenging downhills in Canada! Not to worry if you aren’t into the challenge, there are over 100 kms of cross country trails on Mountain Shadows and Moonraker trail systems as well as easier road and mountain cycling. Don’t miss the annual Totally Spoked Bike Fest, this year on May 30th, and participate or observe great mountain biking events at the resort and all around the town!
Get more information on the Tourism Golden website.
Fernie Alpine Resort’s bike park has been ranked by voters in the Top 5 Bike Parks in Canada for the second summer in a row by MTBParks. Look out for the official announcement and list in May on MTBparks.com and decline magazines digital edition.
Start planning summer now! Opening day is Saturday, June 27th, experience lift accessed hiking and mountain biking as well as interpretive programs our zipline & aerial park and much more!
Book your vacation online or call us at 1-800-258-7669 today!
Words by: Andrew Findlay
Photos by: Robin Siggers & Fernie Alpine Resort
Published: March 15, 2015
Robin Siggers discovered Fernie some three decades ago long before someone conjured up that delicious sounding term Powder Highway. The Vancouver boy never left. It’s a Thursday afternoon, and I’m following Siggers as he drops into Corner Pocket, a spicy little couloir that squeezes into 
wide open Lizard Bowl, one of five bowls at Fernie Alpine Resort. The couloir features a fixed rope allowing people to hand line down the steep, often wind polished entrance that always gets the adrenaline pumping. Siggers goes first. He holds the rope, does a side slipping abseil to where the chute opens up. He releases the rope and after a trio of tight jump turns, exits the couloir then waits for me in the lee of a vertical limestone cliff that trims the bowl. This guy clearly loves skiing. As operations manager he probably bags more days on snow than an airline pilot logs time in the air. He loves skiing so much, that he’s out here today, on his day off, shredding like a 25 year old with a bunch of visiting writers.
For the already initiated, the Powder Highway needs no introduction. For the uninitiated, think of it as the place in British Columbia where you go to realize your skiing dreams, where the terms steep and deep are more than just platitudes on a brochure or website – they’re real, very real. Nature pays special attention to this corner of BC, a province already blessed from a snow sports perspective. As winter weather fronts march east from the Pacific Ocean, they discharge moisture on the rugged Coast Range. By the time these systems hit the Columbia Mountains and western slope of the Rockies, they have recharged with moisture from interior lakes. Snow falls again, this 
time in dreamy, fluffy, feather-light quantities. There are no guarantees; it’s weather after all, but the odds are on your side when you travel the Powder Highway. The ridiculous variety and concentration of world class destination resort, cat, backcountry lodge and heli skiing operations is a testament to the riches. Skiers are smart this way. Like Robin Siggers, they go to where the goods are. You’ve probably heard about the Powder Highway, and it’s now lodged in your brain. It won’t go away, so it’s time to act. Consider Fernie Alpine Resort and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort the southern and northern bookends to your Powder Highway road trip. Fernie overlooks the charming town of the same name, tucked into the Lizard Range, a magical piece of geology that puts the lie to the claim that it never really snows in the Canadian Rockies. Here, where the craggy Lizard Range sits perpendicular to the normal north-south axis of the Rockies, intensely local weather systems re-circulate over the mountains often dumping coastal quantities of snow on the resort’s array of wide open bowls, chutes and long meandering tree runs. By the time, you’ve zig zagged your way up Kootenay back roads and Columbia Mountain valleys, legs feeling fit and acclimatized to Powder Highway vertical, you’ll arrive on the western side of the Rocky Mountain Trench at Kicking Horse Resort. This is 
where you’ll get your game on – again. As you ride up the Golden Eagle Express gondola your eyes will scan the bony ridges that cut the Dogtooth Range, and divide the Kicking Horse into four main zones of downhill fun. Top to bottoms at Kicking Horse are legendary. Stack a few of these 1,260 meter vertical back-to-back and you’ll have no problem sitting at the Eagle’s Eye restaurant and tucking into a lunch of Elk Bourguignon or some good old Alberta beef. Or perhaps you’ll make dinner reservations at this peerless mountain-top dining room. You’ll watch the moonrise, and the first stars twinkle over the surrounding peaks. Or perhaps snowflakes falling in the amber glow of the outdoor lights. You’ll dream of the Powder Highway and when you’ll come back. Once experienced, never forgotten. Just ask Robin Siggers.
