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• Resort Guide

Resort Height: 1068m

Fernie is a serious ski area, famed for its abundant powder snow and steep skiing, which attracts the world’s serious skiers. However, there’s plenty of terrain for everyone else, from beginners through intermediates, who have a choice of staying in the slopeside resort or in the nearby historic town.

There’s a choice of ski-in, ski-out accommodation at the hill, ranging up to five star accommodation with private hot tub in a mountain cabin hideaway.

The small city of Fernie is located five kilometres (three miles) from the ski area, and is accessible by regular shuttle service. It was established a little over a century ago after coal was discovered in the area and retains some of its Victorian era architecture and charm.

Beginners

The Mighty Moose area served by the Mighty Moose lift is the place to start for first timers. The Elk Quad Chair and Deer Chair access wide open daily groomed rolling slopes, perfect for any ability level. Despite its reputation for steep and deep skiing, nearly one third of the terrain at Fernie is deemed beginner, which provides plenty of opportunity once you’ve mastered your basic technique (turning and stopping!). The highly qualified staff of professional ski instructors will help to develop your skills and provide you with the best possible winter experience.

Intermediates

With 40 percent of the terrain graded intermediate, more than 2,500 acres of terrain, including five large powder bowls and over 110 runs, plus usually at least 30 feet (nine metres) of snowfall to play on, there’s a lot for any recreational skier to enjoy here. To be the first on the mountain, sign up for First Tracks, which provides you with lift access a full hour prior to the mountain opening to everyone else, with one of Fernie’s top guides.

Advanced

With an immense variety of big mountain terrain, advanced skiers can venture on to a number of trails that lead to nearly untouched alpine bowls for you to carve your way through. Or, head off piste into one of the many thinly wooded (gladed) areas for deep powder. Cat skiing and heliskiing are both available locally, and you can sign up for Steep and Deep Clinics or for the ladies Powder Girl Camps with the ski school.

Snowboarding

Snowboarders will find a half-pipe and terrain park on the Upper Falling Star run, with hip jumps, six rails, a wall jump, bank turns, and assorted rollers. The natural terrain, however, is the biggest draw to serious snowboarders. Be prepared to slog up some lengthy traverses to get to the best-kept secrets but, when you get there, you'll be glad you made the effort.

Other Activities and Facilities

There's plenty to do in Fernie when you’re not skiing downhill. Slopeside there are snowshoe tours, sleigh rides, dog sledding, snowmobiling and snowshoeing by day, as well as a stargazing variant by night.

In town The Arts Station is the centre for arts in Fernie, hosting concerts, art exhibitions, workshops, community events and more. The Vogue theatre shows new movies in the Twin Cinemas, with Foreign Films and Film Festivals from time to time. There is also a museum and library as well as curling, yoga and a climbing wall.

The Fernie Aquatic Centre features a six lane - 25 metre pool with a one metre diving board and tarzan swing, a 15 metre leisure pool ranging with depth up to one metre with spray fountains, hot tub, steam room, and the ever popular 50m (150 foot) waterslide with its own run off lane.

Fernie Memorial Arena is the location for public ice skating, shinny hockey, or to watch a Ghostrider Hockey game whilst the Community Centre hosts a variety of events & activities, including evening drop-in sports like badminton, floor hockey and indoor soccer. Evolution Health and Fitness is Fernie’s local all-encompassing health & fitness facility. Features include strength and cardio equipment, group fitness classes, injury prevention and rehabilitation kinesiologist, smoothie bar, tanning facilities, and child’s playroom.

Après Ski and Dining Out

The Griz Bar, located slope-side, has been the watering hole for skiers and riders since 1962. The evidence is there in old photos of Fernie through the decades. You can dance to live music and watch the sunset from the Kokanee Deck. Apart from Griz, no stay is complete without a visit to the Fernie Brewing Company, where you can enjoy locally brewed Fernie Beer and take a brewery tour.

There are half a dozen eateries on the mountain and a bigger choice in town. Options include the Slopeside Deli and Café, The Wood Restaurant, Gabriella’s Little Italy and the scrumptious Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory.

Families

Non-ski nursery is available in the Cornerstone Lodge on the main floor for children aged from 19 months to six years (for younger infant care please contact the resort for information). There are Kinder Private lessons for children aged two to four, offering ski and play for young children in the care of their instructors. They have two - four hours of on-snow instruction as well as playtime, which includes tobogganing, snow painting, building snowmen, craft time and so on.

Ski abilities in children’s ski schools are divided in to four categories. ‘Minis’ will have never skied before, or still require assistance on Mini Moose magic carpet, working towards Mighty Moose. ‘Mighties’ can stop on the Mighty Moose run and can turn one or both ways on Mighty Moose, working towards going up to Deer level. ‘Deer’ skiers can stop and link turns in control down the Deer and Meadow runs and are working towards skiing off the Elk run. ‘Elk’ skiers can stop and link turns in control down the Lower Lizard and Elk pistes, becoming more comfortable with speed.

Ski/Board Suitability Guide

Suitable for families:	[Yes]
Suitable for beginners:	[4]
Suitable for intermediate skiers:	[4]
Suitable for advanced skiers:	[4]
Suitable for boarders skiers:	[4]

Piste Map for Fernie

Accommodation in Fernie

• Chalet Riverside - 4 star, catered
• Cornerstone Lodge - 4 star, self catering
• Cornerstone Lodge - 4 star, self catering
• Fernie Mtn Lodge - 4 star, room only
• Griz Inn - 3 star, room only
• Lizard Creek - 4 star, room only
• Park Place Lodge - 4 star, room only
• Park Place Lodge - 4 star, room only
• Snow Creek Lodge - 4 star, self catering
• Snow Creek Lodge - 4 star, self catering
• Snow Creek Lodge - 4 star, room only
• Stanford Hotel & Resorts - 4 star, room only
• Stanford Inn - 4 star, room only
• The Timberline Lodges - 4 star, self catering
• The Timberline Lodges - 4 star, self catering
• Timberline Lodge - 4 star, self catering
• Timberline Lodge - 3 star, self catering
• Wolf's Den Mountain Lodge - 3 star, room only

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