Page 8 - SRCG_HTML_2013

Destination Report: West
Fernie Alpine Resort

I
By Vanessa Day

n the heart of the Canadian Rockies sits the town
of Fernie, a popular ski area known for its legendary
powder and expansive terrain. This traditional ski
town, located along the Powder Highway, is blessed
with up to 37 feet of powder each ski season, which
is perhaps why it is considered one of the best ski
destinations in North America.

First founded as a coal-mining town in the late
1800s, Fernie has encountered some interest-
ing characters in its long history, which
locals credit for the city’s immense
growth, record-setting snowfall and
Fernie attracts a wide
range of skiers and riders elite ski conditions, not to mention
from around the globe. the town’s charismatic community.
Indeed, these legends, such as
the Ghostrider and Griz, are just
some of the things that truly
set Fernie apart.

Fernie Alpine Resort,
located at the base of Elk
Valley in British Columbia,
is three miles from the
town of Fernie and about
40 miles from the U.S.-Canada
border. The resort first opened in 1963, but it wasn’t
until the late ’90s that it expanded significantly into the
sprawling, internationally recognized ski destination it
Henry Georgi Photos is today. Now the resort is so big that locals like to
pick which side they prefer, “old side” or “new side”—
referring to the major expansion that took place in the

Skiers take a break outside of Kelsey’s Bar and Grill. late ’90s.

8 ❖ SKI & RIDE CLUB GUIDE 2013/2014 WINTER PREVIEW ❖ www.skicmsc.com