Fernie and Fernie Alpine Resort Winter Season
Your Happily Ever After Starts Here!
A wedding in the mountains is a dream for many, and luckily for you, we are in the business of making dreams come true!
Located in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Fernie Alpine Resort goes above and beyond to understand your vision, mix it with our uniqueness and offer you a variety of venues that will help your dreams become a reality.
The joy is in the journey, and your choice of a magical mountain wedding, whether it be intimate or extravagant, rustic or elegant, becomes effortless with our passionate staff dedicated to taking care of your every need.
On January 19th, 2020, we will be at The Wedding Fair in Calgary. This event is the largest, most respected and sought after wedding show in Alberta.
Look for our Fernie Alpine Resort booth and stop by to see us!
YOUR CEREMONY
LOST BOYS – THE BREATHTAKING VIEW SPEAKS FOR ITSELF
Whisk your guests up 5,662 feet on the Timber Express Chair for an unforgettable experience. This unique mode of transportation will leave your guests talking about your wedding for years to come.
Say ‘I do’ surrounded by the spectacular views of the Lizard Mountain Range. With space for 100 guests, your ceremony will be sure to impress. It’s not just a stunning location; you can have a traditional ceremony with a sense of adventure! No celebration is complete without a champagne toast to the newlywed couple, luckily Lost Boys Café is licenced.
ELK TOP – TRANQUILITY OF THE NATURAL SURROUNDINGS
Take the Elk Quad Chair up to say your vows on a deck that looks as if it is suspended in mid-air and overlooks the beautiful Elk Valley. It’s not just a breathtaking location; you can have a traditional ceremony that makes you feel as if you’re on a secluded mountainside setting with enough room for up to 100 guests. The mountains will take care of the decorating for you, but a beautiful arch really sets the scene with this unique location.
LIZARD CREEK – SURROUNDED BY THE MAJESTIC ROCKY MOUNTAINS
Lizard Creek is at the base of the mountain so that you can start your new life together with Fernie Alpine Resort as the backdrop. This space is perfect for those wanting to be surrounded by the mountains without taking your feet off the ground. With space for 120 guests, the lawn provides a tranquil area attached to Lizard Creek Lodge and Cirque Restaurant. It’s a stunning location for your guests to witness you saying, “I do!”.
YOUR RECEPTION
CIRQUE RESTAURANT – ROMANCE AT THE HEART OF THE MOUNTAINS
Located in Lizard Creek Lodge, Cirque Restaurant can accommodate 120 guests allowing for an intimate ambiance and embodies the true feeling of a romantic and elegant mountain destination wedding. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow you and your guests to enjoy the view of the Lizard Mountain Range as you celebrate the beginning of your new life together. Cirque has elegant fixtures, luxurious linen, leather chairs and a four-sided fireplace that are perfectly themed for a chic mountain wedding.
THE GRIZ LODGE – INFUSE YOUR WEDDING WITH A LITTLE BIT OF MOVIE MAGIC
Our largest venue, The Griz Lodge, can accommodate up to 200 guests allowing for all your friends and family to make the invite list. Bring your creative mind to infuse this space with a little magic of your own, transforming it into a venue fit for an extravagant affair. The Griz Lodge is located at the heart of Fernie Alpine Resort and is within walking distance to both the Timber Chair and on-hill accommodations.
Fun fact, The Griz Lodge was part of the set for the movie Hot Tub Time Machine, making it a unique wedding venue.
THE GRIZ BAR – MAKE YOUR BIG DAY LEGENDARY
Located in the village plaza, your guests will enjoy celebrating the night away in this legendary venue. The rustic mountain charm creates an ambiance of casual comfort, allowing you and your guests to relax and party hard. Fernie Alpine Resort’s most iconic venue, the Griz Bar, features vintage skis and photos lining the walls making this the perfect reception space for couples looking to add some of Fernie’s ski history to their wedding day. The Griz Bar can accommodate 80 guests allowing for an intimate affair.
From helicopter rides to the top of the
mountain for unforgettable photos, to a uniquely chilling experience in our Ice Bar, we are excited to help bring ‘a day that you will always remember’ to life.
You can find our Wedding Guide with more information here.
We would love to speak with you; please contact us to discuss how we can go above and beyond to get you the wedding of your dreams.
Stacey Charest Weddings & Groups Coordinator | Phone: (250) 430-7163 | E-Mail: [email protected]
Fernie Alpine Resort Wedding Guide
Experience the Holiday Magic at Fernie Alpine Resort
Fernie is a town full of magic. No matter the season, you will often hear people mention the ‘Fernie Magic’. This is especially true during the Holidays.
This year, Fernie Alpine Resort has a jam-packed Holiday Calendar that will help keep your spirits high and your family entertained.
Oh, what fun it is to ride in a two-horse open sleigh, hey! We think horse-drawn sleigh rides are a magical way to explore our very own winter wonderland! For only $15 per person, enjoy a scenic ride through Fernie Alpine Resort between December 21st and January 4th. Want to spread the holiday cheer with a bigger group? You have the opportunity to rent a private sleigh, available for a maximum of 11 guests. Hear the sweet jingle of our sleighs between 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm daily.
Skiing is fun, but night skiing adds an extra element that kids love! The Mighty Moose lift will be lit up from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm so that you can ski under the lights and enjoy this fun experience with your family. Night Skiing on the Mighty Moose runs from December 21st to 24th and December 26th through to January 4th.
Today you can join us for an afternoon of crafts in Slopeside Cafe from 2:30 – 4:00 pm. The kids can get creative by making their very own Christmas decorations. This is a drop-in afternoon of arts and crafts. Our staff will be on hand to help with the creativity and fun!
Ski with Santa
Ski with Santa and join the big man himself as he shreds the lower mountain between 10:00 am to noon. Santa will be enjoying his après ski cookies and milk in the Daylodge between noon to 2:00 pm, so don’t forget to check if you’ve been naughty or nice and snap a picture with him before his big night.
‘Tis the season for giving, so in true Christmas spirit, we are hosting a multitude of fun family activities absolutely free! Starting December 26th and again January 2nd, Ski Run Bingo takes to the slopes. Mark off every run you ski on your bingo card and snap a picture for a chance to win some sweet prizes.
Family Scavenger Hunt
On December 27rd and January 3rd, you can take part in the Family Scavenger Hunt, which takes place all over the hill. Pick up your list of clues between 9:00 and 10:30 am at Slopeside Café (or anytime at Guest Services) and then the hunt is on! The clues will lead you to areas on the mountain and around the base area. Find as many clues as you can and take photo evidence of you & your family. Don’t forget to tag your photo to #lovefernie.
Ski and Snowboard Camp
Help your kids develop their passion for sliding on snow by signing up for our Ski and Snowboard Camp from December 31st to January 3rd! Join us for a fun-filled week on the snow, with top quality lessons from our expert instructors. Focusing on skill development and guided discovery through fun activities on the mountain, our coaches will look for ways to challenge and improve on their existing skills.
Enter 2020 with a BANG by joining us in the base area from 7-9 pm for an abundance of activities at our Family NYE Activities & NYE Fireworks Presented By TELUS. Activities include arts & crafts, family scavenger hunt and more taking place in Slopeside Cafe. The evening culminates with a fireworks show on the Mighty Moose. All activities are free of charge. Please note this is not a supervised event. Please note, staff will be around to facilitate the activities but will not be able to supervise the kids.
Looking for a party? Bring in the New Year with a party at Cirque Restaurant. Enjoy a delicious 4-course dinner and then dance the night away while welcoming in the new year. Dinner seatings will be between 5:00 pm and 8:30 pm. This year we have a DJ playing all evening, with the party really kicking off after dinner service.
What better way to celebrate at the Griz Bar NYE Party with a group of your friends while listening to live music by our favourite NYE band, The Todd Selleck’s. We’ll have NYE Party Favourites, a toast at midnight and our famous late-night poutine bar!
We are anything but boring here at Fernie Alpine Resort, especially with great activities and events happening almost every day throughout the week! Saturdays on the hill are jam-packed with loads of fun for all ages. Lizard Creek Lodge will be hosting a Kid’s Pool Party and Movie Night every Saturday, with a BBQ dinner thrown into the mix.
We have some great weekly activities to help you make the most of your time here in Fernie. Here’s a quick round-up.
For a chill Saturday activity between 7:30 and 8:30 am, why not enjoy Yoga & Stretching at Lizard Creek Lodge before you hit the slopes?
Nordic Sundays are a fun way to spend your Sundays, enjoy a guided instructional tour on our beautiful Nordic trail system.
On Tuesday, enjoy a Snowshoe and Dine experience you’ll never forget, where a 1.5 hour guided snowshoe tour ends with delicious pasta and wine at Cirque Restaurant.
On Wednesday’s you can try the fast-paced and exciting Vinyasa Yoga from 5:30 to 6:30 pm at Lizard Creek Lodge.
And finally, Ride and Dine on Thursdays with a 1.5 hour guided bike tour followed by burgers and beer at Legends Mountain Eatery.
Phew! So much to do and so little time to enjoy it! From all of us at Fernie Alpine Resort, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Check out the full holiday schedule by clicking Holiday Activities Calendar!
For Guest Services contact: 250-423-2435 or [email protected]
For Winter Sports School contact: 250-423-2406 or [email protected]
The Alders Stood No Chance!
Did you know that in the summer, we have a whole team of people dedicated to preparing our skiable terrain for winter? We call them the Saw & Brush Crew and this year, the stars aligned, and they were able to take the resorts ‘haircut’ to a whole new level. The early season conditions will be incredible (what alders!?) and some of our most loved runs on the mountain, think Boom, Buck-shot, Suprize and Black Cloud will offer you a very different (FUN!) ski/ride experience.
North ridge mowed vs unmowed
The most significant change is thanks to the FrankenCat! That’s what we call the new mower-cat that was created here at Fernie Alpine Resort. Our Vehicle Maintenace Crew have outdone themselves by constructing a machine that can tackle terrain that was previously unattainable.
Blair and Alina (our grooming/mower-cat extraordinaires) were able to cut every inch of mowable terrain across all 5 of our bowls. In fact, thanks to the use of a winch, they were able to access very steep terrain that has never been mowed before (see below for a HUGE list of what runs were mowed). This is exciting news! If you combine that with the work that our saw and brush crew completed over the summer (see more here), the alders didn’t stand a chance. Our early season conditions are set up to be some of the best yet!
Mowing timeline over the years:
1987 – The first (recorded) mowing was in the Fernie Snow Valley days, by Fernie legend, and previous owner, Heiko Socher. They used a European hand mower (walk behind) to mow the Lizard and Elk runs.
1988 – We upgraded to a John Deere 350 Dozer with an attached ditch mower
1993 – We moved onto a bigger Dozer, John Deere 550 while using the same ditch mower
1996 – We changed to a Bush Hog Mower
2007 – The BR-350 #19 snowcat was converted to a mower with a mulcher on the front and fitted with a Winch on the back
2019 – Cat #19 BR350 and cat #33 BR350 were combined to create ‘FrankenCat’. It was fitted out with a THC Cancela TTH-350 Hydraulic mower. The #33 cat has been part of the FAR grooming fleet as a winch cat since the 15/16 season. This machine was a favourite for many of the operators in the Grooming department.
The #19 snowcat is a special machine to us as it was the first BR350 that Fernie added to their grooming fleet, and also the first BR350 with a winch. This machine even borrowed by Lake Louise for the FIS Alpine World Cup!
FrankenCat taking on the mountain!
The creation of the FrankenCat has allowed us to make our terrain even better, and a huge credit is owed to the Vehicle Maintenance Mechanics and Jeff’s entire team, who worked incredibly hard to make all of this happen for the Resort.
Another cool fun fact: Tim, who joined the Mechanical staff in April after many years of dreaming of being a mechanic at the ski hill, was assigned to work on FrankenCat as his first major project. FrankenCat was the first Groomer that he has worked on. Shane provided a ton of guidance during this project; Dan and Rob also had the lovely task of replacing the hammers inside the mower (which was not an easy job). The new hammers cut the alders like a Samurai sword.
Let’s hear it for the Shop Crew, Blair and Alina! Give them some yee haa’s when you’re cruising down Sib Ridge in the early season.
Runs that have been mowed:
Meadow
Silver Fox
Incline
Bambi
Downhill
Lower Bear
Elk
Emily’s
Lower Cruiser
China Mite
Tuck Out
Lower North Ridge
Ballet
Lower Ballet
Lizard
Bear
Lower Kodiak
Bear Cub
Lower Linda’s
North Ridge – winch
Upper Kodiak – winch
Bear Right
Bear – winch
Bear Ridge
Upper North Ridge – winch
Siberia Ridge – winch
Wallaby
Deer
Silk Trail – XC Short Loop
Lower Boom
Gilmar Trail
Upper Falling Star
Runs that were cut by the Saw & Brush Crew:
Sunnyside
Bomb Drop (upper Cedar Bowl)
Boomerang
Deep Space
Buck Shot
Upper Suprize
Lower Suprize
Stag Leap – up to Megasaurus
Decline – up to Megasaurus
Skydive – up to Megasaurus
Griz Lift line (in between China Wall and Ballet)
Incline Trail
Timber Lift line above Rock Landing to White Pass load
Black Cloud
Deep Sea
Currie Chutes
China Wall
Upper Puff
2019.20 Kids Multi Week Clubs
It’s almost that time of year. Winter is fast approaching and the time has come to start thinking about what the right ski/snowboard club is the right one for your child. We want to help make it easy. We’ve put together a complete list of all of your choices. The graphic is to keep it simple, to help show you what stage your child is at in accordance with their age and/or skill level. If you would like more information on the levels then scroll down to find the full description.
Take a look and if you have any questions, be sure to give us a call so we can help guide you, 250-423-2406.
REGISTER HERE
Kids & Youth Ski Clubs
Little Rippers (Age 3-4 )
The Little Rippers program is the perfect introductory program into the world of learning to ski for you and your child. The one-on-one tuition builds confidence both in the sport and with their independence, as each 45-minute lesson is tailored individually to ensure continuous development for each child, and a season of fun on the snow.
Offered for 6 or 12 weeks.
Ratio – 1:1
Wees Club (Ages 4-5)
In our Wees Club, we build on the foundation that was built in the Little Rippers program and introduce the kids to a social sports environment. Our energetic coaches use games and guided discovery to continue to develop the fundamentals of skiing necessary to progress their individual skiing. They will start to explore more of what the mountain has to offer, in a safe, team approach.
Offered for half-day or full-day, 6 or 12 weeks.
Days taught: Saturdays & Sundays
Ratio – 4:1
Snow Rangers (Ages 5 -6)
Our Snow Rangers program is geared toward kids graduating from our Wees program, and starting to ski in bigger groups. Snow Rangers will help bridge the gap for these youngsters between our Wees Club, and our Ski Club, with class ratios of 6:1 This will allow them to continue to explore the mountain, develop stronger independence in their skiing, and help build their love of the sport….
Offered for 6 or 12 weeks.
Days taught: Saturdays & Sundays
Ratio – 6:1
Ski Club (Ages 6-17)
This popular club is a fun and engaging program for children, which will have them embarking on a more technical approach to skiing. Whether they are beginners or intermediate skiers, we look for ways to challenge and improve on their existing skills and encourage them to take their abilities to the next level. Our coaches create an engaging, fair play social environment, allowing children to form friendships that continue from season to season.
Offered for 6 or 12 weeks.
Days taught: Saturdays & Sundays
Ratio – 10:1
Extreme Club (Ages 8-12)
The Extreme Club will develop skiers into confident all-mountain skiers. For kids who are confident on blue runs and some black runs, this program will start to challenge and consolidate their tactics as they develop into more “All Mountain” riders. They will be able to experience more of what Fernie Alpine Resort is all about, in their own way. Our specialist coaches will help nurture their desire for adventure in a safe and structured way.
Offered for 6 or 12 weeks
Days taught: Saturdays & Sundays
Ratio – 10:1
Freeski Club (Ages 12-17) tactics, thought process, risk and reward, refinement
This challenging high-end program cultivates true, solid “big mountain” skiers. Our specialist coaches help develop the skills necessary to shred the bumps, trees, powder, and even the gnarliest of conditions. Good use of proper tactics, developing sound thought process, understanding risk and reward and working toward the refinement of skills will all be part of the program. Introducing the Freeriders to important elements of alpine safety will also allow them to take ownership of their individual well being on the mountain.
Offered for 6 or 12 weeks
Days taught: Saturdays
Ratio – 10:1
Girls Freeski Club (Ages 12-17)
This increasingly popular program is for young ladies who really want to push their skiing. This has all the benefits of the Freeride Team but is exclusively for girls. It’s really exciting to see young women skiing big mountain terrain with so much confidence, talent and flair!
Offered for 6 or 12 weeks
Days taught: Saturdays
Ratio – 10:1
Big Mountain Development team (7 – 18)
This is a competitive program for competent big mountain skiers. The program is designed for young athletes who want to enter Junior Freeski Competitions at Fernie Alpine Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Coached by our dedicated high-performance coaches, this program is purely focused on developing the skills, strategy and style needed to move into the world of competitive freestyle.
Offered 12 weeks
Days taught: Saturdays
Ratio – 10:1
Big Mountain / Freeski Non Competitive program (7 – 18) NEW
Similar in approach to both the Freeski and Big Mountain programs, this Non Competitive program is based around the development of young skiers to reach their full potential on our mountain. Our high-performance coaches will help them develop good decision making, skills, and strategy to be able to cope with all the mountain has to offer.
Offered 12 weeks
Days taught: Sundays
Ratio – 10:1
Christmas Camp & Spring Extravaganza Camp(Ages 6 -17)
Join us for a fun-filled week, with top quality instruction from our
specialist children instructors. Includes coaching all days, video and apres ski.
Days taught: Tuesday – Friday
Dates: Christmas camps: Dec 31- Jam 3, 2020
Spring Extravaganza Mar. 24- 27, 2020
Session time daily: 10 am – 3:30 pm
Kids & Youth Snowboard Clubs
Little Shredders (Age 3- 5 )
The Little Rippers program is the perfect introductory program into the world of learning to snowboard for you and your child. The one-on-one tuition builds confidence both in the sport and with their independence, as each 45-minute lesson is tailored individually to ensure continuous development for each child, and a season of fun on the snow.
Offered for 6 or 12 weeks.
Ability Levels: 1 – 4
Days taught: Saturdays & Sundays
Ratio – 1:1
Wees Snowboard Club (Ages 4-6)
In our Wees Club, we build on the foundation that was built in the Little Rippers program and introduce the kids to a social sports environment. Our energetic coaches use games and guided discovery to continue to develop the fundamentals of snowboarding necessary to progress their individual riding. They will start to explore more of what the mountain has to offer, in a safe, team approach.
Offered half day or full day, 6 or 12 weeks.
Days taught: Saturdays & Sundays
Ability Levels: 2 – 4
Ratio – 3:1
Snowboard Rangers (Ages 5 -6) NEW
Our NEW Snowboard Rangers program is geared toward kids graduating from our Wees program, and starting to ski in bigger groups. Snowboard Rangers will help bridge the gap for these youngsters between our Wees Club, and our Freeride Club, with class ratios of 6:1 This will allow them to continue to explore the mountain, develop stronger independence in their riding, and help build their love of the sport….
Offered for 6 or 12 weeks.
Days taught: Saturdays & Sundays
Ratio – 6:1
Snowboard Freeride Club (Ages 6-17)
This Snowboard Freeride Program’s main goal is to make snowboarding fun. Whether they are beginners or intermediates, we look for ways to challenge and improve their existing skills and encourage them to take their abilities to the next level. Our coaches create an engaging, fair play social environment, allowing children to form friendships that continue from season to season.
Offered for 6 or 12 weeks.
Days taught: Saturdays
Ratio – 10:1
Girls Freeride Club (Ages 12-17)
This increasingly popular program is for young ladies who really want to push their riding. This has all the benefits of the Freeride Club but is exclusively for girls. It’s really exciting to see young women riding big mountain terrain with so much confidence, talent and flair!
Offered 6 or12 weeks.
Days taught: Saturdays
Ratio – 10:1
Note:
6 week programs start on January 4 & 5, 2020 or February 22 & 23, 2020.
12-week programs start on January 4 & 5, 2020.
Prices do not include tax.
REGISTER HERE
For more information: 250-423-2406
FIERCE FEMALES FIND FERNIE IN THE EARLY SEASON
Undoubtedly a little bias, we think that heading to Fernie Alpine Resort during any time of the year is a good idea, there’s just so much to do year-round! BUT, there are a few particular reasons why you should plan your girls road trip to Fernie in the early ski season. With the long anticipation of winter, early season turns are the perfect excuse to get the gang together to welcome the change of pace and to kick off your season. With the crisp fall mornings here and winter thoughts creeping in, here’s why you should get your girl’s trip on the calendar for this upcoming December.
EARLY SEASON SNOW, IT’S ALL YOURS!
While the base accumulates rapidly, the falling snow provides untouched powder ripe for the shredding! By booking your trip earlier in the season, you’ll get in on the blank canvas that coats Fernie Alpine Resort and get it all to yourselves! Visit mid-week early season, and the resort will feel like a private mountain experience, zero lift lines and impeccable snow for your girls trip!
EARLY SEASON DEALS
The saying “the early bird gets the worm” couldn’t be more true when you book your girls getaway for the start of the season in Fernie. Purchase multi-day lift tickets a week in advance for substantial savings or book lift tickets and accommodations at the same time for a killer deal. Keep eyes on skifernie.com for additional early season specials that will seal the deal!
BEAT THE HOLIDAY RUSH
Holidays are all about spending time with family, taking it slow and basking in each other’s company. A girls shred trip is much more about the shredding. When you hit the slopes earlier in the season, you’ll get your fix of serious shred days so that you’re content to hang back and do the family program around the holidays without a case of the antsy pants, which your family will be grateful for.
GET YOUR SKI/SNOWBOARD LEGS BACK EARLY
You’ll surely stay ahead of the curve when you sneak in a ski trip in the early season. You’ll work on your stamina and be able to handle big days without getting jello legs. You’ll Thank Yourself for starting your season early and see the progression in your skiing and riding ability.
When it comes down to it, any woman’s week or weekend at Fernie Alpine Resort makes for a fun trip packed with insightful conversations, silly shenanigans and memorable moments. We hope your annual (or soon to be annual) girls road trip to Fernie Alpine Resort is filled with powder, small lift lines and great deals! Enjoy finding your much-anticipated mountain bliss with your lady crew this upcoming December.
Words & Photos by Abby Cooper
Timber Chair Update
Each season Fernie Alpine Resort strives to make improvements and upgrades to our existing services to ensure that you have the best vacation and recreational experience possible.
As a lot of you know, this summer the Timber Chair has been undergoing a significant makeover. The work that is being done is extensive and time-consuming but will add an extra 25 years onto the life of the chair.
In May, a crane and a D8 dozer travelled up the mountain to remove the gearbox out of the Timber Chair top station and transport it down to the maintenance shop. The gearbox was then successfully rebuilt by our maintenance team, in conjunction with an engineer from Austria, and transported back to the top of the lift and re-installed.
The delivery of the 2nd communication line for the electrical upgrade was delayed by three weeks and arrived the second week of July. The comm line is approx 1.8M/ 2.9KM long and weighs 6 Tons; a crane was required to lift the cable off the delivery truck. The cable was loaded to a specially prepared trailer for transport to the Timber unload /top station to be prepared for pulling in. The comm line carries electrical signals through for the safety circuits between the load and unload stations to ensure the safe running of all equipment.
In mid-July, on a cold and rainy day, up to 30 staff, including the electrical 
crew, pull the cable by hand from the Timber top station to the load at the base. They had to go from tower to tower, up and over every tower top and through the rollers. It was a massive effort by our Mountain Operations team and at the end of the day, rain-soaked and cold, they were all still smiling.
The next step was for the electrical crew to go through the process of setting the tension of the cable between every tower and terminating the electrical connections.
The panels that drive and control that chair lifts start, run and monitor all the safety devices and stop the controls, arrived on August 16th and installation began right away. The panels were installed in a day, but it took three weeks to connect all the wiring between the drive/control panel and the station and to verify that it was working correctly.
During the week of September 23rd, the lift is expected to start turning. We will be testing the setup and ensuring the correct functionality.
The load test is planned for the beginning of October. This involves loading the chairs with weighted buckets and performing a series of safety tests to ensure everything meets the manufacturer and Technical Safety BC standards.
Then, on November 30th (tentative opening date!), the Timber Chair will be waiting for you to take a ride. We can’t wait!
What the Brush!
The annual Brushing Program for the Fernie Ski Resort is having a very successful summer. The cooler weather and lower Fire Danger ratings have allowed the crew to keep working through the dog days of summer without restrictions due to Fire Danger. The crew this summer has also been doubled to allow us to catch up a little on the past couple seasons where High Fire Danger has shut us down or limited our progress. The crews have been hard at work in many areas across the mountain.
New line down the North Boundry – Steep & Deep!
There has been a new line cut down Snake Ridge as well as cleaning a new line down the North Boundary for those that are looking for the Steep and Deep that Fernie is famous for.
Additionally, we have been working on core areas on the Lizard Side that focusses on terrain that is open at 9 am on most big snow days. The Sunny Side has had a new haircut that extends down onto the China Wall and old Griz Lift line that will provide some early deep turns on those Pow Days.
Boomerang and Boom Ridge has received another mow and will be prime for early season riding providing steep turns right out of the gate.
New Side lovers will also see some changes to the lines in the Alpha Centauries and Currie Chutes areas as well as the lower elevations of the Big Three as we cleaned up the exits from those thigh-burning runs. In addition, core areas around the Timber Bowl, Surprise, Black Cloud have all been touched.
Our Summer Mower Cat was rebuilt from a repurposed Snowcat this Spring and will be out in anger this fall to mow many of our main runs including all our beginner terrain on the lower mountain and runs where all the rocks and obstacles have been removed such as Bear, North Ridge, Kodiak, and many others.
It is a giant mountain, and we have excellent growing conditions. People ask why don’t you just cut it all? Sounds like a good idea but when you are standing at the bottom of Cedar Ridge looking up at acres of 12 foot high Alder, you start to feel pretty small. When you dive into Cedar Ridge early season and have that perfect line top to bottom down the King Fir don’t forget to think about that person that has spent their summer on the end of a saw making that possible.
We are looking forward to an awesome season.
The red highlights the areas that the Brush Program have cleared so far this summer.
Challenge accepted!
There are many things in this world that we take for granted. The way that we move and our freedom to walk, run, ski and bike are undoubtedly some of them.
It’s not so hard.
Want to go skiing? Go.
Want to climb a mountain? Go.
Want to go downhill mountain biking? Go.
I have a question, what if you had no legs? Would the ‘go’ be as easy?
This past Saturday was International Ride MTB Day, and we had the honour of having Mack Adams, a shredder from the Elk Valley, spend the day with us here at Fernie Alpine Resort. Mack is an upbeat guy who is always keen for a chat and, ALWAYS keen to send it on the mountain with his friends.
You wouldn’t guess it to look at him, but Mack is a double amputee who lost both of his legs at ten months old due to a congenital birth defect. He hasn’t let that stop him.
At the age of 12, Mack learnt how to bike, using outriggers (adult training wheels), with the help of Mark Hall, owner of GearHub. He then tried his hand at dirt jumping but found that his true biking passion lay with downhill mountain biking.
So, once again, with the help of Mark from GearHub who loaned him a Rocky Mountain Maiden, on Saturday Mack was back up at our bike park, in the pouring rain, getting his laps in. At one point I asked him if he was doing ok. He answered, “Yeah, but my ankles are starting to hurt.” His friends told me that these kinds of jokes had been flying around all day. His stoke was high, he was having fun, and watching him do his thing was inspiring! What a great way to spend International Ride MTB Day.
Mack has a dream of riding every trail that we have in one weekend, and Fernie Alpine Resort is working with Mack to help him make it happen. He is also a keen basketballer, volleyballer and loves to play his guitar – basically, nothing will stop him once he has set his mind to it.
What a legend.
Adult Mountain Bike Camps/Lessons
Downhill mountain biking in Fernie is exhilarating, and often breathtaking.
The downhill trails here at Fernie Alpine Resort are in prime condition and riding beautifully.
Come and check out what it’s all about, and advance your skills, in one of our mountain bike camps or lessons!
NEW! ADULT CO-ED DOWNHILL CAMPS
Are you comfortable on green & blue trails but want to develop your downhill riding skills? Join us for our new adult co-ed intermediate weekend camps – focusing on progression to more technical descents, roots, rocks, drops, jumps & obstacles. With small group sizes, our certified professional coaches will help take your riding to the next level. Camp includes 10 hrs of coaching over two days, lunch, lift tickets, and bike maintenance session. Ages 18+.
Dates: July 13 & 14 / August 10 & 11 Time: 10am – 4pm. Price: 2 day camp $229 / 1 day camp $139
WOMEN’S MOUNTAIN BIKE CAMPS
MTB designed by women for women! These camps are catered to various levels of riding ability and are led by qualified female instructors. Camps include skill sessions, bike maintenance, lift tickets, instructional trail rides and lunch.
Dates: July 13 & 14, 2019 / August 10 & 11, 2019
Time: 10am – 4pm
Price: 2 day camp $229 / 1 day camp $139
MOUNTAIN BIKE PRIVATE LESSONS
For the beginner or hardcore rider — have a lesson tailor-made to suit your skills! Rates are based on 3 people per lesson — price includes instruction only. Lift ticket is required. Participants receive a 20% discount on bike rentals for the day of their private lesson.
DISCOVER MOUNTAIN BIKING
Discover the thrill of Downhill Mountain biking under the expert guidance of one of our bike coaches. Learn the basics and gain confidence! Minimum 3 people per lesson and a maximum of 10 people per lesson. The clinic includes a 3-hour coaching session, 3-hour bike rental and 3-hour lift pass. Rates based per person. For ages 8+.
Days & Times: Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10am-1pm
PEAK TO PARK TO PINT BIKE TOUR
Join us for a fun afternoon of biking! Starting from the top of the chairlift at Fernie Alpine Resort, cruising downhill to Mt Fernie Provincial Park and then pedalling through town to enjoy a refreshing sampling of East Kootenay beers! Includes guiding, lift ticket, and post-ride sampler drinks. Guests then have the option to take our complimentary shuttle back to the resort. Minimum 2 participants. Ages 19+.
Fridays & Saturdays
1:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Trail Crew Update #2
Tail crew primarily spent this week on the Lizard Lane.
-On Monday, we finished all the machine work and began hand shaping.
-Tuesday & Wednesday were spent dialling in the shapes of features and hand packing.
-After Wednesday night’s rain, we spent Thursday repacking Duff Dynasty, Monorail, Case Closed and began packing on Mr. Berms.
-From Tuesday to Thursday we’ve had a machine in the Aggravated Assault Extension tree island. More info to come on this project over the next week!
Modern problems (no rain) require modern solutions (tapping into the snowmaking to water our shapes)
The final shape of the first feature, we’ve dubbed this one “Swayze”.
Packed and shaped! With more dirt this year everything has gotten a little bigger on the Lizard Lane.
A revamped Monorail gets a second run through.
The last 2 corners on Case Closed about to get some shovel love.
See you on the trails!
Trail Crew 🚵
