FERNIE SKI RESORT, CANADA
Fernie is the ski resort Canadians love
A far cry from the tourist-thronged slopes of Whistler, Fernie - located in BC's south eastern corner, is a rather special and sentimental favourite among Canadians.
This resort is a traditional powder destination, which used to be pretty sleepy and unexciting.
But since the boom in Alberta, Fernie is now covered with a swath of holiday houses - set up to accommodate the thrill seekers looking to make the most of the region's 30ft of snow fall each year.
You can access Fernie ski resort by either a three hour drive out of Calgary, or a one and a half hour drive from Cranbrook, BC.
While Fernie is not as easily accessible as some of the other ski destinations in Canada, if you don't want to bump into loads of Aussies, and do want to meet more local skiers, Fernie is where it’s at!
Fernie ski runs
Skiing in Fernie is spread across five bowls - Currie, Lizard, Cedar, Timber and Siberia. It's a favourite of experienced skiers, due to the many steep, un-groomed runs just waiting to be explored.
But if you (or your travel buddies) are new to snow sports – don’t worry, there are lots of fun options for beginners on the lower part of the mountain.
Fernie restaurants and nightlife
Fernie ski resort itself is convenient – but light on good bars and restaurants. Your best bet is to pop into Fernie town, just a few km’s away, where you'll find a great range of places to eat, drink and party.
Why would I want to ski in Fernie?
Upon visiting, you’ll soon see that Fernie lives up to its cult-like status among locals. The resort boasts lavish amounts snow fall. The town usually sees eight metres plus of dry powder on its mountain every year.
This all adds up to unbelievable tree skiing and big, beautiful bowls. Not to mention the bonus of very few queues for the lifts – winning!
Getting to the slopes in Fernie
The ski slopes in Fernie are accessed by quick and easy bus services.
Fernie tips
There is the occasional risk of rain in Fernie, which can mean wet snow. Plus, some of the runs are hard to locate. It’s best to be shown around by local experts as soon as you arrive.
