×
×
SNOW CONDITIONS »
cm
cm
OVERNIGHT
48 HOURS
cm
cm
24 HOURS
7 DAY
WEATHER »
UPPER MOUNTAIN
° C
° C
HIGH
LOW
LOWER MOUNTAIN
° C
° C
HIGH
LOW
RUNS »
     
/
81
GROOMED
     
/
145
OPEN
LIFT STATUS »
/
10
OPEN
ELK QUAD CHAIR:
TIMBER EXPRESS:
BUY LIFT TICKETS
WEATHER FORECAST »
MON
HIGH 11 °C
LOW 7 °C
TUE
HIGH 13 °C
LOW 6 °C
WED
HIGH 12 °C
LOW 8 °C

×
MOUNTAIN CAMS »
GRIZ CAM
CEDAR BOWL
LIZARD BOWL
WHITE PASS
CHAIR
BEARS DEN
LIZARD RUN
×
CM
in the last 24 hours
×
Notification Alert
1 (800) 258-7669
  
  
BLOG | JOBS | HOURS | CONTACT US
SAFETY & RISK AWARENESS
WEB CAMS
LIZARD RUN
 
 

Fernie Alpine Resort

  • PLAN & PURCHASE
    • Close
    • GETTING HERE
      By Road
      By Air
      Tour Operators
      Transportation
      International Travelers
      Hours of Operation
      PURCHASE
      Day Tickets
      Summer Season Passes
      Summer Adventure School
      Bike Rentals
      Mountain Biking Lessons
      Sightseeing
      Guided Hiking Tours
      Kids Summer Activities
      LODGING
      All Lodging
      Hot Deals & Packages
      Package Booking Code
      Resort Map
      Last Minute Deals Signup
      GROUPS
      Weddings
      Large Groups
      Corporate
      School
      WINTER
      SUMMER
      WINTER
      SUMMER
    • Close
  • DISCOVER
    • Close
    • DISCOVER FERNIE
      Real Estate
      Resort Maps
      History & Griz Legend
      THE VILLAGE
      Restaurants
      Shopping / Base Area Services
      BIKE PARK
      Explore the Bike Park
      Bike Trails
      Lessons & Camps
      Rentals
      HIKING/SIGHTSEEING
      Hiking Trails & Map
      Trail Report
      Sightseeing
      Guided & Specialty Hikes
      KIDS
      Kids Summer Activities
      Interpretive Centre
      Forest Playground
      WINTER
      SUMMER
      WINTER
      SUMMER
    • Close
  • THE MOUNTAIN
    • Close
    • GETTING HERE
      By Road
      By Air
      Tour Operators
      Transportation
      International Travelers
      Hours of Operation
      PURCHASE
      Day Tickets
      Summer Season Passes
      Summer Adventure School
      Bike Rentals
      Mountain Biking Lessons
      Sightseeing
      Guided Hiking Tours
      Kids Summer Activities
      LODGING
      All Lodging
      Hot Deals & Packages
      Package Booking Code
      Resort Map
      Last Minute Deals Signup
      GROUPS
      Weddings
      Large Groups
      Corporate
      School
      WINTER
      SUMMER
      WINTER
      SUMMER
    • Close
  • EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
    • Close
    • EVENTS
      All Events
      Family Activities
      Food
      Competitions & Races
      Event Results
      MOUNTAIN ACTIVITIES
      Mountain Biking
      Guided Hiking Tours
      Sightseeing
      Kids Summer Activities
      Nature Bob's Interpretive Centre
      Forest Playground
      OTHER ACTIVITIES
      Rafting
      Fly Fishing
      Golfing / Tennis
      Special Activity Packages
      WINTER
      SUMMER
      WINTER
      SUMMER
    • Close

The Fernie Fun Tax: Pay and Play

The Fernie Fun Tax: Pay and Play

by Angie Abdou / Tuesday, 10 October 2017 / Published in Blog, Fernie, Winter

“HOLD TIGHT, FÉLIX! WE’RE COMING TO GET YOU!”

“I’M IN DEEP! BUT I’VE STILL GOT ONE SKI.”

“10-4! WE’RE ON OUR WAY. RESCUE MISSION INITIATED!”

The nine-year-old boys climb up the mountain through hip-deep snow to save Félix. In reality, they’re directly under the Bear Chair, and they climb about five yards, but in their imaginations they’re deeply immersed in a backcountry survival situation.

Sadly, I see mere snippets of the mission on a shoddy helmet-cam recording. I missed their remote, life-and-death adventure entirely. Why? Because I had the brainstorm of not getting a season’s ski pass that year. Here’s my logic: I’m the hockey mom so that sport takes me away from Fernie a few weekends. I work in Alberta so lose other potential ski days there. I decided “it’s not worth it.” Or more precisely, I decided I am not worth it. Everyone else in my family has a season’s pass, even if they don’t make it up to the hill every weekend.

When I saw that video of my favourite nine-year-old boys, rosy cheeked and fired-up on adventure, I wished I’d been there. After two years with no ski pass, I’m declaring project No-Pass a failed experiment.

Because you know what happens when I don’t have a season’s pass? I don’t go skiing. In the morning, I decide I should wait until after lunch and get the half-day rate. Already I’ve missed the best part of the day: fresh powder. By noon, while the rest of my family flies high, energized by fresh air and exercise, I’m hitting the post-lunch lethargy. So I decide maybe I’d better stay home instead: there’s laundry to do, emails to answer. When the family comes in at 4:30 giggling about a day of snow fun, I’m grouchy because I’ve spent the afternoon folding clothes and scanning social media. But I’ve saved money!

That saved money will not be what I remember when my kids have grown and gone.

My husband always tells me: “You’re not supposed to think about getting a season’s ski pass. It’s the Fernie Fun Tax. Like any tax, you pay it and then you forget about it until the next year.” He has paid his Fernie Fun Tax every year since 1995. He has never once regretted it.

He’s right. In two years, I missed many fun days on the hill. Katie’s first ski race. Crazy Helmet Day. Ollie’s first black diamond run. Pink-clad Katie straight-lining full speed into the SLOW sign (I know, ski patrol friends, not funny, totally not, obviously).

This year my experiment draws to a close. When it comes to Ski Fernie, I am all in: season’s pass, priority parking, new gear. When my kids look back on their 2018 ski season, I will be woohooing my way down Red Tree right beside them. I can’t wait.

See you up there, Fernie Friends!

Photos by Powder Matt, Rob Heule & Mark Eleven Photography

Tagged under: Activities, Blog, Calgary, Family, Fernie, Fun Stuff, Holidays, Kids, Parents, Ski, Snowboard, Tips, Vacations, Winter

About Angie Abdou

Angie Abdou has recently moved to Alberta for work but will never give up her Fernie home. She is the author of four books of fiction, including The Canterbury Trail, a satire of ski culture. It was a finalist for the 2011 Banff Mountain Book of the Year Award.

Other related posts

Fernie Timber Landing – Redefining Après-Ski
Tiny Turns, Big Confidence: A Parent’s Guide to the Griz Kids Centre
Fernie Alpine Resort Celebrates Community with Ski Day Food Bank Fundraiser 

Vacations

PARTNERS
SIGNUP FOR THE LATEST NEWS & RESORT SPECIALS
From Fernie Alpine Resort
SIGN UP

 

CONTACT US
Reservations: 1 (800) 258 7669
[email protected]

5339 Ski Hill Road
Fernie, BC V0B 1M6
Canada
ABOUT RCR

About RCR
Media Inquiries
Job Postings
Donations
Partners
INFORMATION

Contact Us
Help Center
Experience Survey
Hours
Winter Member Benefits
Utility Services
Community Services Assessment (Rent Charge)
Summit Fund
HOW TO ORDER

Online Store
By Phone
Installment Plan
LEGAL

Terms & Conditions
Waivers & Release Agreements
RCR is inclusive. Harassment and discrimination of any kind will not be tolerated.
ABOUT FERNIE REAL ESTATE SAFETY PRESS RELEASES JOBS CONTACT US
TOP