Fernie, BC – February is all about family and fun at Fernie Alpine Resort!  There’s so much to do and see you’ll have a hard time fitting it all in.

First up in February, our Jeep Junior Freeski (presented by Rossignol & Helly Hansen), this event provides an opportunity for youth between the ages of 7 and 18 to develop and showcase their freeskiing & freeriding skills in a fun and supportive environment.  While registration is closed as the event is full it’s a great spectator event, the event runs from February 6th – 10th. Visit the resort each morning to see where the competition will be taking place that day and cheer on the competitors!

Family Day Weekend is from February 15th – 17th, we’ll have a Family Fun Race, Ski Run Bingo, a Family Craft après activity and of course, Night Skiing on Mighty Moose!

We haven’t forgot about the sweethearts, celebrate your love on top of the world at Lost Boys Cafe on February 14th.  Enjoy a delectable 3-course late lunch followed by a guided sunset ski/ride down Falling Star to the base.  Tickets will be on sale soon for this unique date night!

Visit our Events Calendar for information on these events and more!

We have a variety on on mountain dining experiences you’ll want to check out.  You likely already know Legends Restaurant is open for Lunch & Apres, did you also know it’s open for Dinner?  Open until 8pm (9pm on Friday/Saturdays), stop on in to check out our daily specials.

Start your day off right at Cirque Restaurant & Bar where fresh, healthy ingredients are prepared with the utmost care and served with a side of stunning mountain views.  Cirque is open from 8am – 9pm daily, don’t miss our daily apres specials!

Don’t forget to check out our Winter Art Discovery.  Fernie Alpine Resort is thrilled to partner with The Fernie Arts Station and District Arts Council to bring you Winter Art Discovery, an immersive outdoor art experience showcasing the incredible talent of local artists.

In this unique exhibit, artists have transformed skis and snowboards into captivating works of art. Each piece reflects the artist’s individual style and connection to nature, creating an enchanting visual experience as you ride through the forest. Free from constraints, the artists have infused their creations with creativity and flair, turning the slopes into an outdoor gallery.

These original artworks are displayed along the Cedar Trail, easily accessed via the Lower Bear Run. This exhibition is inspired by R.O.A.M. (Revelstoke’s Outdoor Art Movement), blending the worlds of art and outdoor adventure.

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For more information, please contact:
Matt Mosteller
Senior VP Marketing & Resort Experience, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
[email protected]
Instagram, Facebook & Twitter – @PowderMatt

Fernie, BC – We are getting ready to open on Friday, thanks to recent snow storms coming through with nearly 100cms in the last week, we are expecting all our lifts to be open!  Check out our Snow Report (to be updated soon) for more information on runs open and services available.
(Photo from November 25th, 2024)
Snow Report
Mountain Cams

The Griz Bar is undergoing some upgrades!  Our Carpentry team have been working hard for the past few months, giving the front half of the Griz Bar some love. The solarium was due for replacement, so we took the opportunity to open up the interior and level the floor. The space feels more open, flows better, and will ensure we are set up to deliver the best experience possible to our guests. The Griz Bar will still be the number one place to Apres Ski in the valley, see you there for a cheers and a high five once the lifts start spinning.

Terrain Modifications & Improvements 

‘The specific way the ice and water receded from the valley many years ago, coupled with the types of rock and soil in the area, has left a particularly steep section that runs across Fernie Alpine Resort’, says Mark Ormandy, Area Manager at Fernie Alpine Resort. ‘Over the years we have made many changes to this terrain in each of our 5 bowls, linking our beginner & intermediate runs on the upper mountain, to the lower mountain, in turn, making these areas more accessible for both our staff and grooming teams, while enhancing the skier experience. The work we have completed in Siberia, Currie, and Lizard Bowls are a continuation of this work,’ he continued.

Some specifics about what our team have been working on includes;

Falling Star / Hells Gate
We’ve undertaken significant work to improve the terrain flow and accessibility in this area. By widening the Hells Gate section and reworking the flow, we’ve created an easier-to-maintain, more accessible exit from Siberia Bowl and a smoother intermediate run. A new exit off Fred’s Corner now offers a safe route during avalanche closures, and we’ve expanded the area from one groomer pass to six, making this section a premier groomed run.
Gilmar Trail / Lower Barracuda
We’ve smoothed and resurfaced the trail for better skiing and snowboarding in the early season.
Siberia Ridge
The entry from Deep Sea has been widened and regraded, offering more accessible and inviting skiing and riding.
Dancer / Lower Cascade
Significant grading work has been done to allow earlier snowcat access to this area, which will provide guests with earlier season access.

Meet Mark, our newly appointed Area Manager at Fernie Alpine Resort;

Why did you choose to live in Fernie?
‘Fernie is just a fantastic place to live (and visit). With an amazing group of passionate residents, great café’s and restaurants, and an abundance of opportunities to immerse yourself in nature. Like many Kiwi’s and Australians, I came here for the skiing, and stayed because of the whole experience Fernie and the surrounding area has on offer.’

What’s your favourite run(s)?
‘On a powder day my most memorable runs have been in the Snake Ridge area of Cedar Bowl. For a quick fix during lunch Lizard Bowl Laps are hard to beat.’

‘We are excited for you to come and see what we have been up to,’ said Mark.

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For more information, please contact:
Matt Mosteller
Senior VP Marketing & Resort Experience, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
[email protected]
Instagram, Facebook & Twitter – @PowderMatt

Environment Canada and the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) have already declared the upcoming 2024.2025 winter season a La Niña phenonmenon and now Farmer’s Almanac agrees.

According to the Almanac; ‘La Niña, which refers to the periodic cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, is expected to develop and hang on through the season. Taking into account the effect La Niña has on the weather, along with our long-standing formula, we anticipate the winter of 2024-25 will be wet and cold for most locations.’  Which is music to winter sports enthusiasts ears. Read more on the Farmer’s Almanac website.

Get ready for winter, it could be really snowy on the Powder Highway of British Columbia! It’s time to get your ski gear ready & plan your winter ski vacation.  Winter Early Booking offers are on now.

Book Fernie Alpine Resort
Book Kimberley Alpine Resort
Book Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

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For more information, please contact:
Matt Mosteller
Senior VP Marketing & Resort Experience, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
[email protected]
Instagram, Facebook & Twitter – @PowderMatt

Fernie, BC – it’s that time of the year, Griz time!  As we get ready for the winter season our team is a bunch of busy bees.  We want to thank all those who visited this summer and we want to thank everyone in the community for sharing the stoke for the winter season!  Big shout out to all of you who have already purchased your season pass, if you haven’t purchased yours yet they are on sale with our Fall Sale until October 11th.
Order Now

Don’t forget about lessons; children’s programs fill up fast, plus we have programs for adults too. TELUS Winter Sports School Multi Week programs are on sale until October 11th.
Order Now

Do your snow dance and send good tidings to the Griz!  Winter is coming soon, get ready!  Check out what’s new and exciting for the upcoming season;
Griz Bar Renovations
Our famous Griz Bar has been ‘keepin’ rippers ripped’ since 1962, and not much has changed in that time, so it’s time for a facelift. Don’t worry though, the rustic charm we all love will remain, huge improvements will be made to the atrium, including a new roof and opening up the area for more potential seating.
Grooming Fleet Additions
Two of Prinoth’s newest machines will join our fleet, designed to meet the European “Stage V” emission standards, one free cat and one winch cat.  These two beauties are the most efficient machines in their class, wonder what Gary the Cat will think about that? Meow!

Snowmaking Upgrades
We have added 3 new lance guns to our existing fleet.  These guns demand less electricity, which makes more efficient use of our current hydrants and allows us to make the most of snowmaking weather windows.

On-Mountain Brushing Program
Our brushing team has been on the mountain since May and will continue work through the fall.  Our friendly mower cat will be out on the mountain again to prep the runs for good early snow coverage, providing earlier and better access to all your favourite spots!  We will also have large machines completing earthwork/terrain modifications, improving flow in a few areas around the mountain.

Our Early Bird Vacation Offers have been released.  Book before September 30th and save up to 20%!  Book now.

Follow Fernie Alpine Resort;
Youtube • Instagram •  TikTok • Facebook

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For more information, please contact:
Matt Mosteller
Senior VP Marketing & Resort Experience, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
[email protected]
Instagram, Facebook & Twitter – @PowderMatt

Canada – We interrupt your summer with a snowy update.  La Niña winter is in the forecast! 

You’ve probably heard a lot of talk about La Niña or sometimes El Niño, so what do they really mean?  During El Niño, trade winds weaken, warm water is pushed back east, toward the west coast of the Americas resulting in areas in the northern U.S. and Canada are dryer and warmer than usual. Now La Niña is what we really get excited about.  La Niña has the opposite effect of El Niño. During La Niña events, trade winds are stronger than usual, pushing more warm water toward Asia. The cold waters in the Pacific push the jet stream northward. This tends to lead to drought in the southern U.S. and colder events with more percipitation (snow!) in the Pacific Northwest and Canada.

Check out the Environment Canada map at the bottom of this email to see the percipitation predictions for the upcoming winter.

Now we know these are just predictions so don’t stop doing your snow dance. We sure hope the snowier than normal ski season returns this winter! Cheers to La Niña!

We have been busy doing summer grooming at Fernie Alpine Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. We have a custom built mowers that attach to a grooming cat and can give the slopes a sweet hair-cut so they are ready for those first flakes.

Don’t forget to plan ahead if you’re thinking about booking a ski holiday or weekend getaway as space books up quickly.  Book your vacation on our website or email our vacation specialists to inquire about early booking offers at [email protected].

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For more information, please contact:
Matt Mosteller
Senior VP Marketing & Resort Experience, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
[email protected]
Twitter • Facebook • Instagram – @PowderMatt
Powder Matt’s Blog

Fernie, BC – While the resort ski industry is embracing the “easy does it” mantra, our friends up north in Canada are throwing caution to the wind, and it’s all happening at the legendary Polar Peak at Fernie Alpine Resort.

Polar Peak has always symbolized awe-inspiring heights, towering 7,000 feet above sea level with a hair-raising vertical descent of 3,550 feet. But things have taken a radical turn this year – we’ve said goodbye to the notion of an “easy” way down. Forget about those comforting cat tracks and groomed slopes; they’re old news.

Instead, picture this: a permanent snowcat perched at the Peak, ready to pounce into action at the first sight of fresh powder. This means quicker openings after epic snowfalls, giving you more opportunities to rip down the untouched terrain. Polar Peak has transformed into a snow beast that’s always hungry for more powder, and it’s here to satisfy your cravings for steeps, speed and excitement.

But that’s not the only ace up our sleeve – we have six triple black diamonds and 16 double black diamonds – promising an adrenaline-packed experience.

This is not the place for the faint-hearted. It’s a high-octane adventure for the adrenaline junkie in you. Polar Peak is untamed, unpredictable, and unapologetic in its approach. With no groomed slopes, no cat tracks, and no hand-holding, you have to be ready to tackle steep terrain and conquer ever-changing snow conditions. This is the real deal, where Mother Nature reigns supreme, and you’re just a visitor in her domain.

While some ski areas might make it easier for everyone, we’re ramping up the thrill factor. Buck the trend and embrace the wild side of skiing on Polar Peak. It’s a rollercoaster ride on snow that’s edgier, steeper, wilder, and more unforgettable than ever before. So, grab your gear, summon your courage, and prepare for an adventure like no other – Polar Peak is where skiing and riding get wild!

See more here – The Guide to Polar Peak.

Check out ‘From the Peak’, a video following the remarkable skiing of Dave Keenan as he makes his way from the top of Polar Peak to the base of Fernie Alpine Resort. It was expertly filmed via drone by Dylan Siggers, a native of Fernie who honed his filming and skiing skills in these very mountains.

From the Peak is available now on on Fernie Alpine Resort’s Youtube Channel.  Fernie Alpine Resort will open for the winter season on Saturday, December 2nd.

Youtube • Instagram •  TikTok • Facebook
Fernie Alpine Resort

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For more information, please contact:
Matt Mosteller
Senior VP Marketing & Resort Experience, Resorts of the Canadian Rockies
[email protected]
Instagram, Facebook & Twitter – @PowderMatt
Powder Matt’s Blog