Fernie Customer Reviews

Unfortunately, as with the other Canadian resorts this year, we did not hit Fernie at its best. Snowfall was poor, nevertheless we made the most of it as the groomers did a fantastic job with what they had available. Of the runs that were open, they worked very hard to keep them skiable. This did, however, leave very few shallow blues and greens available on the lower mountain. For skiers new to Fernie, please note the blues are steep and would be classed as blacks in resorts like Whistler and Lake Louise!

Fernie is a lovely town, the ski hill only a short drive away. Fernie gets legendary snowfall and didn't disappoint despite the base being low this year in Canada. Fresh snow on 3 days out of 4 and 20 cm on our departure day! There are green lower runs off elk and deer chair but the deer chair needs a refurb though the lift people will slow for beginners. The Blues are good for intermediates with bear the steepest. The bowls all have their own hidden gems with secret snow stashes. Some difficult to get to hence holding the snow for longer. Outside holiday times the resort is quiet but there is a 20cm rule for school and businesses. The polar peak chair may add vertical but it is not open regularly and if windy the chutes are a challenge and the blue track not really suitable. However there is enough for everyone and access to territory unpatrolled eg fish bowl and mammoth head, if the trickier traverse routes providing chutes and steeps and long mogul runs like sky dive are exhausted. There is a beginner park off deer with boxes and rails. I didn't head up Siberia where they used to have jumps and the boarder cross wasn't at the Deer chair this year. I would recommend Fernie and we went as part of a trip from Revelstoke which is a long drive but ok during the day. We ate at Kelsey's, park place Max restaurant, the Bridge bistro and the Sandford Indian restaurant. Often North American fare but there are others in town, however when the curry says hot that is what you get.

Fernie's a great place to ski with varied terrain to suit almost everyone (probably except early intermediates.) Runs seem a little steeper here than in Europe. Each bowl has it's own character and you will need at least a week to really get to grips with this resort. The best food in the evening is found in the Corner Lodge in resort across the car park and The Pantry is the in resort general store 70 yards away.