FAST Ski Team showing us how it's done! Skiing fast and having fun at the same time!
Stand by for more info! (if yesturday was epic.... today should set new standards!)
24 Hour: 24 cm / 9 in Snow Pack: 227 cm / 89 in 48 Hour: 37 cm / 15 in Year to Date: 382 cm /150 in 7 Day: 132 cm / 52 in
Well gang it was yet another epic day. Multiple laps in Currie Bowl as the snow was soooo soft and deep there was no need to look anywhere else. Have a look at Heidi and Chuck making some turns and you'll see just what I mean.
We ran into some of Fernie's future Olympians as well. These FAST ski racers we're out enjoying the soft snow with everyone else wearing some big smiles while doing it. Keep your eyes out for these racers and coaches on the hill and make sure to say hi as this is what skiing is all about people, ski racers turned coaches passing on the spirit of the sport!
I heard the word epic at least 50 times today, and at least 10 of those would have been from me! Now keep in mind, I ve been calling Fernie home for 15 years now so I ve seen all the big snow days in that time. So when I say it was epic, I’m not pulling your leg. The biggest difference these days is that there’re just a few more people to share it with.
On the lift this morning right at 9AM sharp using a few tricks to get past the crowds right onto the Bear Chair before 9:30. As soon as our skis hit snow at the top we were off with a mob to Snake Ridge, (which had just opened that morning after days of untouched snow). Traversing across Cedar Bowl went fast and then a short hike up just before Red Tree allowed us to drop right in the middle of Snake Main. Whoo hoo! were the only words you heard from me and about a dozen others as we skied virtually untracked snow top to bottom. In between continuous face shots I managed to find a few moments to breath as there was no way I was stopping. Thank God Snake is steep because with that amount of snow coverage you wouldn t be able to even move down a blue run if it wasn t groomed. Snow rolled up my chest, over my shoulders and even over my head at times. Now that I look back I don t think I felt my skis hit anything remotely firm under the week old snow. I did have full intentions of stopping and getting some pictures and videos for you all but you know the old saying… powder has no friends. So, I was selfish and did a non-stop without looking back once. I can't tell you that the timing was incredible, the sun poked out just as we started down and all you saw were snow dust trails, a helmet and a hand once in a while. Yes, Fernie did us very proud, especially the last two days.
Here is a brief clip of a Heidi skiing down Snake. Now keep in mind, this is about 1pm, many runs and 4 hours after the first epic run. Heidi hasn t found any secret pockets or stashes here, this is in the middle of the highest traffic area in Snake and STILL look how deep and soft the snow was. I will have more to report tomorrow! To all of you who aren t here right now why aren t you???
Above Cedar just waiting to be opend! Heidi and I managed to get into Cedar shortly after it opened finding blueberry covered in a knee-deep blanket of fluffy white powder. Effortless powder turns from top to bottom as it seemed most were up on the White Pass chair today. Heidi and I we re happy not to tell anyone that there was barley any tracks in Easter Bowl and Cedar as we kept logging in the miles on both. If you planned your holiday around New Years, well, it s very safe to say you won t be disappointed!! With more snow in the forecast and this great coverage all over you ll be skiing soft snow for a long time yet!
City Hall Christmas Eve Everyone is at home with family on Christmas Eve. A quiet downtown Fernie
Merry Christmas everyone. To our family, friends and all of you.
A very special Merry Christmas to our friend Paul Attalla who can't be with his family today as he is rowing the Atlantic right now. We wish him all the best and a speedy return to Fernie.
Just a few people enjoying the new soft snow on the Bear Lots of snow brings lots of happy people!
I know I keep mentioning how great it is to wake up every morning in Fernie. But this morning, Christmas Eve, feeling a little sore and tired after a big day yesterday find ourselves staring at another big dump of snow! Time to suck up the early season sore muscles and get back out for at least a few hours. Here's today's stats:
24 Hour: 30 cm / 12 in Snow Pack: 189 cm / 74 in 48 Hour: 44 cm / 17 in Year to Date: 280 cm /110 in 7 Day: 83 cm / 33 in
Paul and Heidi Cedar Bowl. Boot deep everywhere and so so very soft
Line up at the Bear Chair. Everyone having a great day. Two young racers from the Fernie Alpine Ski Team.
Heidi and Paul with some new friends in Cedar. We still can't get over how much snow there was even in the high traffic areas!
Well what can you say besides WOW, what a great day. Heidi and I managed to hook up with my good friend Paul and makes turns all through Lizard and Cedar. The creamy soft snow was everywhere. Ridiculously good skiing for pre- New Years. The lift lines were full of happy smiley faces, and who could blame them. Another fantastic day.
Ok, so it s Dec 21st and you re all on your way done to Fernie wondering what things will be like when you get here. Well, as I have been waking up to the Fernie landscape for 15 years I can tell you that it simply doesn’t get any better. These photos ere taken from my living room this morning (I live up in Parkland Terrace/Alpine Trails area) and after 50cms of snow fall this week and a 155cm base I can tell you’re going to have some serious fun!
I ll be posting more video and pictures as today and the weekend continues!! Call us for last minute deals!!
Looks like locals will have a great week all to themselves. The Griz was kind enough to dump more snow on us last night, today and this week before everyone comes to Fernie for their Holiday. I was woken by multiple BOOM's this morning as the resort was busy blasting new avalanche hazards. We love that sound, the sound of more snow!
The Fernie Factor continues! Come on down and join us!!
Well it was another great weekend in Fernie. Early season skiing was great on the groomers and in some of the trees with surprisingly good coverage all over. The past few snow falls have been dry and creamy so the turns in Bow Trees were particularly good on Saturday. Most of the day was spent on the Bear, Arrow, Dancer and trees in-between as we didn t get over to the White Pass side. Quality on the groomers kept us ripping up the old side for hours.
Sunday was onto the sleds as we headed up by Morrissey and rode to Wranglers Cabin and then onto the Notch. The pipeline had good coverage even allowing us to make a few quality boon-docking turns in some untouched pow! Saw dozens of riders out breaking in their new sleds and scoping out areas to play. Trails are in more then excellent condition but watch for early season hazards if ski touring or playing in the bowls. Gully s and stumps may be covered but wait for another good snow fall before getting too advent ours.
Lake Louise would be jealous! Not a bad stat to a great year. As work and a few other issues kept me from joining the first chairs of the year I decided to take a couple hours today and check the hill out for myself. Not bad at all! The Bear was in fantastic shape. Grooming was great and the snow was carvy and hero like. The blue bird day sure didn’t hurt either.
Not too many people yet to share the hill with but everyone who was out was having a great time.
That s right, it s finally here! FAR is opening the resort tomorrow for the public. I woke up this morning to yet another glorious sun shinny day. The Lizard Range is bright and beautiful this morning with a blue-sky day. A brisk minus 8 this morning with the blue skies is setting the perfect condition for some fun groomers tomorrow.
Keep watching and I ll post some more skiing photos!
Simon skiing down Bear Ridge as Chuck and Heidi watch.
Chuck skiing down Bear Ridge. Lucky guy even managed to get a few face shots on the way down! Heidi and the gang coming up Ballet just above the Bear's Den.
What a day. When we woke up that morning and saw another solid 20cms on the deck and everyone out snow blowing their driveways we couldnt wait to get on the hill. So on Sunday, Heidi and I met up with a few friends and joined the highway of people as we skinned up Dipsy tothe top of the Bear. Stopping briefly at the top of the Boomerang chair we began our decent down Bear Ridge.
Love those first dozen turns when the snow is knee deep and your legs are a bit Jell-O like. Not the prettiest of turns but the fun factor was there. All of us were surprised in the quality of turns for this early season ski. Consistently boot to knee deep turns from top to bottom of the Bear. Though there were a few tall grass and alder patches it definitely did not affect the skiing.
Snow Cats are out track packing the hill actively along side multiple snow guns. Looks like the lift areas on the old side will be in great shape for the opening especially with more snow in the forecast!
Come on out for some great early season skiing. Island Lake is booking single day trips as well pre-Christmas so give us a call and we can get you some great accommodations at early season rates!
