Fernie Alpine Resort
It is one of Canada's world famous ski resorts and it is located near Fernie town in British Columbia. It is on the Lizard mountain range segment of the Canadian Rockies in the province's East Kootenay region. The location is an ideal place for skiing and snowboarding since it experiences a large amount of snowfall every year. Fernie Resort is a popular destination for people who are into powder skiing, that is, skiing or snowboarding on snow that is not so densely packed. The Fernie Resort is actually open the whole year. It transforms into a haven for hikers and mountain bikers during the summer. However, its facilities meant for skiers are available from December to April.
From the late 19th to the first half of the 20th century, the town of Fernie and nearby areas were renowned as a coal-rich region. However, the last of the coal mines in the region closed in the 1950s and threatened to make Fernie into a ghost town. Enterprising souls living in the area noticed that the place they live in has a topography that is ideal for downhill skiing and so formed the Fernie Snow Valley. The ski resort opened in the 1960s. From then on, tourism has become an important part of the town’s economy, with ongoing plans to build restaurants, lodging areas and other facilities for skiers in the area. The resort has since been renamed to Fernie Alpine Ski Resort.
Fernie Alpine Resort often experiences the highest snowfalls in the region with more than 28 feet (854 centimeters) every year. Visitors have access to about 2,500 acres (10 square kilometers) of skiing terrain and a maximum vertical at 857 meters. The resort also has 220 kilometers of downhill ski area, with facilities at the lower slopes for beginner skiers, as well as some slopes more appropriate for skiers with intermediate skills in the higher elevations. If you have more advanced skiing skills, you can go to the long ridge running between the Lizard and Currie alpine bowls.
Visitors have mixed feelings about the Fernie Alpine Resort. Almost everyone views the ski runs in a favorable light, although most of the skiing terrain is not really for beginning skiers. Some guests, particularly the skiers who have gone to other ski resorts are not so happy with Fernie. One of the guests may have hit upon the reason for this, saying that a skier might find the resort's ski slopes inferior to other nearby resorts, such as Whitewater or Revelstoke. However, compared to the ski areas in other countries, such as those in the eastern part of North America and in Europe, Fernie's slopes are much better.
For those who are thinking of going to the resort this winter, you should be aware that this is a very popular resort and so there could be a large crowd there. This is a good thing if you are looking forward to making friends from other countries and other parts of Canada. However, it also means that there are long lines to the chair lifts, and that can really dampen your vacation. Also, since that the resort's terrain is suitable for more advanced skiers, it might not be a wise move to spend a family vacation there.
Fernie Alpine Resort may not be a hit with everyone who goes there, but everyone likes its location. The high amount of snowfall in the region makes it an ideal place for skiing enthusiasts.