Located in a valley hugged by the peaks of the southern BC Rocky Mountains, Fernie has its roots in the coal mining industry. Today, the area is renowned for pristine wilderness, upscale resorts and bountiful outdoor activities. During winter months, Fernie Alpine Resort draws skiers and boarders to some of the most lustrous powder in North America, averaging 8.8 m (29 ft) a year. In summer, mountain bikers take on the hills with fiery determination, re-using the same thrilling slopes skiers careened down months before. More sedately, golfers in the valley enjoy a spectacular panorama as they try to drive and putt their way to par at the Fernie Golf & Country Club. On the region's rivers and streams, fishers too find an idyllic getaway. Clear streams and cool rivers are ideal for trout, drawing fly rods to river banks throughout the region.

TransRockies Challenge

August 12-18, 2007: The TransRockies Challenge is an epic mountain bike race through the heart of the wild and rugged Canadian Rocky Mountains. The Fernie Stanford Resort is an official sponsor of the TransRockies Challenge.

Fernie Golf & Country Club

The course is laid out to create a challenge for both the beginner and avid golfer. One of the biggest challenges is lowering the eyes from the spectacular mountain view to focus on the ball. Enjoy the many amenities of this course, including a fully licensed restaurant, lounge, driving range and banquet facilities.

http://www.golffernie.com/

Fernie Snowmobile Association

http://www3.telus.net/
FernieSnowmobile/index.htm

Fernie Snowmobile Tours

http://www.snowmobilefernie.com/
snowmobile_tours.htm

Awards & Accolades

Fernie is highly acclaimed by the people that live and play here year round. This acclamation has also been recognized with many distinctive awards from around the world.

• One of the Top 6 Powder Destinations on the Planet (Fall Line Skiing Magazine, 2007)
• ‘Best Powder’ (Ski Canada Magazine, 2007)
• ‘Best New On-Mountain Restaurant’ – Lost Boys Café (Ski Canada Magazine, 2007)
• ‘Best Thank You to the Locals’ (Ski Canada Magazine, 2007)
• ‘Best Places to Powder Your Nose’ - Fernie’s White Room Sessions (Ski Canada Magazine, 2007)
• Ranked 8th out of the Top 25 Resorts in North America (Skiing Magazine, 2006)
• ‘Best Deck Party in Canada’, ‘Best Ski Town’, ‘Best Powder’ (Ski Canada Magazine, 2006)
• "Best Ski Town, Best Powder, and Best Deck Party in Canada!"
  Ski Canada Magazine (2006)
• "Four-Sport Playground in Canada"
  New York Times says of Fernie, B.C. (2006)
• "Best Little Town in BC" 2 years running!"
  British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association
• "Resort of the Year" in North America
  Good Skiing and Snowboarding Guide (2004)
• Ranked as one of the Top Ten Resorts in North America
  Skiing Magazine (2004)
• "Top 20 Dream Towns"
  Outside Magazine (2004)
• Best Ski Town across Canada
  Ski Canada Magazine's Best of Canadian Skiing Awards (2003)
• Ranked #3 in CNN.com's Best Ski Destinations (2002)
• #8 for Terrain & Value
  Ski Magazine Top Ten (2005)
• "Coolest Town in North America

Fernie Alpine Resort Named one of the Top 5 Best Ski Resorts in North America for 2007

Fernie Alpine Resort took the Number 5 spot in Skiing Magazine’s “Top 25 Resorts in North America”. The Resort was one of only two Canadian resorts in the Top 10. The magazine compiled the results after readers submitted their favourite resort picks based on quality of snow, terrain, affordability and nightlife.

Fernie Alpine Resort has gained a reputation for its powder, but is now becoming famous for so much more. With a fun and friendly ski town atmosphere, great dining, adventure activities, a mountain village and a number of new real estate developments, Fernie caters to a variety of skiers and riders from around the globe.

Says Matt Mosteller, Senior Director of Business Development for the Resort, “We’re thrilled that Fernie Alpine Resort continues to join the ranks of some of the top resorts in North America. With over 29 feet of powder each season, 111 runs, 5 alpine bowls, a cool ski town atmosphere and the never-ending events and festivals, it’s no wonder Fernie continues to be one of the best places to visit and ski in Canada.”

The Resort has also received a number of other accolades in the past year, as outlined in the “Awards & Accolades” section above.

FERNIE, B.C. -- From a perch atop Lizard Bowl we can see both the old mining town of Fernie, its small grid drawn on the flat-bottomed Elk River valley as if etched on a sheet of ice, and the sprawling, barrack-like condos at the base of the Rocky Mountain ski resort that share the town's name.

Both are growing and thriving with new housing developments, shops and restaurants, and it's all because of snow: light, airy, deep, blinding-white snow. In this age of fickle snowfalls, with resorts across North America and Europe experiencing particularly erratic conditions this season, Fernie has been a model of consistency. Nearly eight metres of snow has blanketed the resort so far this year, just a ski-length short of the seasonal average. And with Cranbrook Airport undergoing an expansion that will see direct international flights arrive by next season, even more skiers and snowboarders are likely to choose Fernie for what they crave most: deep snow.

Twenty-five centimetres of the stuff has swaddled the hill overnight. This would seem exceptional by the standards of most ski hills, but as the Fernie Alpine Resort website says, both plainly and smugly this morning, it's "just one of those days." Just one of those days when you laugh after a 30-kilometre-an-hour face plant because it didn't hurt. Just one of those days when you can imagine a surfer being jealous of a skier's or a snowboarder's ability to truly fly across the surface of the Earth.

Fernie is in the sweet spot of ski destinations. It's minutes away from a town with an active nightlife that has yet to be overrun by the Aspen set; it has varied-enough terrain for almost any gravity-sport enthusiast; and it has more snow than almost anywhere else in Canada. Physically, it's closer to Montana than it is to the nearest CFL franchise, but Cranbrook Airport, an hour east by car, "is something we've been working on for five or six years," says Fernie Mayor Randal Macnair, who has been in office since 2002.

"There's a buzz around the East Kootenay [region] and the airport. All of a sudden people's ears are perking up. It creates a heightened awareness which creates a heightened momentum."

Much like Banff before it, Fernie is feeling the pressure of its long transition from a small town, in this case known for coal mining and a rail line, to a tourist playground. The growth has been steady since the hill opened in 1963, but over the past 10 years it has accelerated like an out-of-control five-year-old skier who's revelling in giving up the snow plow. Everywhere we go in Fernie, we note a British, Australian or German accent as often as we hear Canadian patter.

One of our British chair-lift companions is in town for two months to ski his heart out as part of Nonstop Skiing, a U.K. ski instructor's program that has brought more than 100 Brits to the mountain. He has nothing against the Alps, but with their spotty snow, he says, "there's no guarantee." At Fernie, it's a no-brainer for those who desire the steep and deep and don't want to shell out a few grand just to look at a grassy mountain.

Judging by the advertising in area publications, condo developers are only too happy to meet the burgeoning demand. But Macnair says he has no plans to let the growth spurt turn into a real-estate explosion.

"There's a lot of capacity here," says the Mayor, reached by phone after we returned home. "If you look at the infrastructure that's been built here, we're probably only at over-85 per cent capacity 15 days a year. So there's lots of growth opportunity to bring in more visitors and more economic opportunities, without increasing the number of beds substantially."

And that means boosting summer recreation: mountain biking (Fernie is now a top destination, and riders can take their bikes up the mountain on specially adjusted lifts); golfing (a course designed by Greg Norman is one of two top-notch facilities); hiking; river rafting (riding the Elk and Bull rivers is not unlike riding the animals of the same name); and tubing.

Macnair says no one wants to see Fernie become a ghost town, so infill housing and development of existing buildings are priorities. One project, known as 901 Fernie, is a city-style condo conversion of the almost-century-old high school. "This [kind of development] contributes to a walkable, sustainable community," says Macnail.

"I went to high school there," Fernieite Krista Turcasso tells us. "In the '70s they stuccoed the school. . .it's actually really beautiful brick. Fernie residents want the historic downtown to remain the same."

The same -- but with an upgrade. One that gives Fernie, the town, the charm that is a big attraction for visitors. In addition to projects like 901, new stores and restaurants are also fuelling the transition. Take the Brickhouse, on the downtown strip, a restaurant set in an old bank building that opened recently. Hungry skiers line up for its gastro-pub fare, whether it's a Sunday or a Wednesday. If you're looking for a fine-dining experience, there's the Old Elevator, winner of a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence last year. Of course, if you never want to leave the mountain, you can get your duck confit at The Wood, which you can ski to from the bunny hill.

And for a night cap? Old hotel bars that would have served the Canadian Pacific crowd have been replaced by hangouts catering to youthful hipsters. Around the main drag, The Central Bar, and the bar at the Royal Hotel, are cool with a touch of shamble chic. Indeed, they wouldn't seem out of place in trendy spots like Toronto's Queen Street West or Montreal's Plateau.
 
Turcasso, 27, says she was drawn back to her hometown after studying English literature at the University of Victoria because of this sense of excitement -- and her love of the outdoors, not surprisingly. Last November, she started a snappy local monthly magazine called Fernie Fix, which gleefully chronicles the area's happenings and dining scene.

"Fernie is a community with a ski hill, not vice versa," she explains.

Macnair agrees, adding that the plan is to keep it that way. "I hear over and over that Fernie is a real community. It's not a fabricated resort town," he says. "In Whistler, it's Disneyland."

And we don't want Disneyland, so that suits us just fine. After an exhilarating week of boarding down the powdery bowls of Fernie, our skills improve. We're no longer scraping the snow off the mountain, but riding on top of it.

With a day left in our vacation, a friend who was with us earlier in the trip calls from Whistler. He's having a fine enough time, but the snow at the coastal giant has been heavy and mushy. I describe our bounty. He knows he never should have left; we don't want to either.

Pack your skis

GETTING THERE

It's one hour by road from Cranbrook Airport, and just under four hours from Calgary if you drive south on Highway 22 (through the areas made famous by movies like Brokeback Mountain and Legends of the Fall), then tilt in through the Crowsnest Pass on Highway 3.

GETTING AROUND

The town of Fernie is five minutes from the hill. If you're not staying on the hill, there are daily shuttles serviced by Kootenay Taxi (250-423-4409) Prices: $3 for a single one-way ride, $10 for four.

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

The Wood: 5369 Ski Hill Rd.; 250-423-4597. On the hill, for both après ski and fine dining.

The Brickhouse: 401 2nd Ave.; 250-423-0009. Solid pub grub. There's also a club downstairs, The Eldorado, featuring jazz and DJs.

The Old Elevator: 291 1st Ave.; 250-423-7115; http://www.oldelevator.com. Upscale dining.

Yamagoya Japanese Cuisine: 741 7th Ave.; 250-430-0090. Best sushi in town.

The Blue Toque Diner: 601 1st Ave. 250-423-4637. Great for breakfast, lunch and tea.

The Curry Bowl: 931 7th Ave.; 250-423-2695. Named for the Curry Bowl, one of the ski bowls on Fernie, it offers hearty curries.

MEMORABLE MOMENT

Last Thursday morning, a sunny day atop the mountain with 25 centimetres of fresh snow. Need we say more?

STRESS FACTOR

Factoring in the two-hour jet lag after flying from Toronto and still making it on the hill for the 9 a.m. opening lift in the first few days was tough. After that, factoring in the fatigued muscles. Our recommendation: Ski or snowboard for a half day (starts at 12:30 p.m.) one day during the week and don't feel guilty about it.
 
MORE INFORMATION

Fernie Alpine Resort: 1-866-633-7643; http://www.skifernie.com.  Regular season tickets full day/half day: adults $69/$55; holiday season: $74/$60.

Fernie awarded "Best Little Town in B.C." for 2nd year in a row

Fernie, BC -- Fernie Tourism Association is proud to announce that the British Columbia Recreation and Parks Association (BCRPA) crowned Fernie as the "Best Little Town in B.C." for the second year in a row. The title was awarded at the BCRPA's annual convention held last Spring in Victoria, B.C.

All municipalities in the province were invited by the BCRPA to participate in "The Best Little Town in B.C." contest. Contestants were required to create and submit weekend get-away packages illustrating activities and amenities available in their area. All weekend packages were reviewed and bid-on in a silent auction, and Fernie - having received the most interest and highest bid - was nominated "The Best Little Town in B.C.". More than 300 people attended the convention and bid on the packages, raising $11,000 for BCRPA.

Fernie competed against such notable B.C. towns as Surrey, Delta, Gibsons, Richmond, Kelowna, Kamloops, Prince George, and Vancouver

By BARB MARTOWSKI, Edmonton Sun

It’s a bit hard this week for Sarah Hope-Johnston, Fernie’s events coordinator, to keep her mind on the job at hand – getting ready for this weekend’s Big Air and Snow Jam. Mother Nature just keeps hitting Fernie with more snow and Hope-Johnston can’t resist the chance to get out and play in it.
 
“What can I say ... Winter’s returned and my feet just keep taking me towards the lift lines,” she said when I reached her on Tuesday. “Over the last seven days, we’ve received about 80 cms of fresh snow. The bowls and high alpine are in great shape for those who are planning on visiting this weekend.”
 
And there’s plenty of fun as well, as Fernie moves into the final few weeks of this season.
 
“We’ve got the Big Air and Snow Jam taking place both Saturday and Sunday in the Telus Terrain Park and it’s going to be an interesting event. “There’s various categories of course, but on Saturday, nobody will be judged. Instead everyone’s expected to bring their A-game and the judges will then pick the people who will be competing on Sunday. That’s when the judging will take place.”
 
You can register online at www.skircr.com/compete or take your chances on securing a spot at the Daylodge on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
 
Categories this year will include Novice ski and snowboard (13 years and under), Junior ski and snowboard (14-16 years), Senior ski and snowboard (17 years and up), and Women ski and snowboard (all ages). The Big Air is sponsored by Helly Hansen, Scott, Old Dutch Foods, Fresh Sports, TELUS, Volkswagen, Husky and Coca Cola.
 
In the village, the Kokanee Free Ride crew will be on hand as well as the band, Five Star Affair.
 
“These guys are from Calgary and we’ve been trying to book them all season, so I’m really happy we have them playing. They’ll be doing an apres set in the Griz Pub and then playing in the evening starting at 9 p.m.”
 
Outside in the beer gardens, Rick Voisey will be entertaining the masses from Noon until 4 p.m. For the youngsters in the crowd, the Easter Bunny will be making an appearance on Sunday.
 
There’s plenty of accommodation onhill and in Fernie that range from the luxurious to the economical. Check out ourfernie.com or http://www.skifernie.com/ Both sites provide plenty of information.
 
One of my favourites is the Fernie Stanford Resort. It’s only a short five minute drive from the ski hill, yet close enough that you can enjoy the many amenities available in the Town of Fernie. The Standford offers a wide variety of options including hotel rooms and multi-bedroom condos. With a restaurant, waterslide, lounge, fitness room and an onsite spa, it’s the perfect family choice.

Fernie Alpine Resort Named North American Resort of the Year

The Good Skiing & Snowboarding Guide 2004 has voted Fernie Alpine Resort the North American "Resort of the Year" in the annual Golden Ski Awards for 2004.

The largest selling English-language ski guide in the world, the Good Skiing & Snowboarding Guide is an annual 'warts and all' guide to 700 resorts worldwide. The book, now in its eleventh year, is published by Which? Books of the U.K. and is regarded as the 'bible' of the ski industry in Britain and Europe.

These annual awards are highly prestigious and are known in the U.K. as the 'white Oscars' of skiing. These Golden Ski Awards are given in twelve categories including resorts, hotels, restaurants, etc. After nominating a Top 100, the readers vote and the finalists are judged by a small jury of ski industry experts.

"Fernie has joined the ranks of the top ski destinations in the world with this award," says Melody Kultgen, sales & public relations manager for the resort. She adds, "last year this award was given to Aspen and our European counterpart this year is St. Anton."

Fernie Alpine Resort has grown from a local ski hill to a year round, international destination resort since its purchase by Resorts of the Canadian Rockies in 1997. The resort has undergone many changes in the past 6 years and is continually striving to provide its guests with the best vacation and recreational experience possible.

Fernie Alpine Resort is located in southeastern British Columbia and is a division of Resorts of the Canadian Rockies Inc., owners and operators of Lake Louise Ski Area, Kimberley Alpine Resort/Trickle Creek Golf Resort, Nakiska, Fortress, Mont Saint-Anne and Stoneham

"This is a great feather in our cap," says Melody Kultgen, Sales & Public Relations Manager for Fernie Alpine Resort. "The award is decided by a committee who have a very big list to choose from." "There is no place like Fernie in the world!" says Matt Mosteller, Senior Director of Business Development for Resorts of the Canadian Rockies.

Fernie Alpine Resort also recently received recognition as the #1 Rated Resort in Canada (Explore Magazine Nov/Dec 2001), and was rated #3 in the Top 10 Guide to the Best Ski Destinations (CNN.com)