Outdoors
The Elk Rim Trail
Spring is in the air and you are probably eager to hit the trails! April can be a tricky month for weather in Fernie. The roads are a good option this time of year in Fernie or the South Country area. You can find some great options around Baynes Lake, Jaffray, Newgate and Fort Steele.
Fernie Women on Wheels
The Fernie Women on Wheels program (FWOW), spearheaded by an FTA member club the Fernie Mountain Bike Club (FMBC) has been running since 2013. They are a group of women ripping it up on Fernie’s awesome trails. The group has grown into weekly scheduled rides on Wednesdays and Fridays with approximately 15-20 ladies attending pre COVID-19. They hope to get things rolling again in the Spring, COVID-19 dependent.
Feedback Sought on Draft 2021 Koocanusa Recreation Strategy
The Koocanusa Recreation Steering Committee (KRSC) is seeking public comment on its Draft 2021 Koocanusa Recreation Strategy, which strives to support and manage Crown land recreation access and use in a way that maintains the ecological integrity, cultural values, recreation experience, and economic value of the Koocanusa area for current and future users.
The Last Day
We get to the turn around and shut off the snowmobile. The stillness that follows is like music to my ears and I feel a tickle of pride knowing that I haven’t turned into the “sled neck” my friends were
sure I would become when I bought the machine four years ago. It is still simply a necessary tool.
A Breath of Fresh Air in Ridgemont
Time: Approx. 45 mins - 1 hour
Distance: 5 km • Difficulty: Blue
Emily Brydon Rediscovers the East Kootenays
When COVID brought her back home in March, I did my best to take advantage. Over the summer, I observed her getting reacquainted with a town that had developed and changed, just as she had, in the years they had been separated.
My Fernie Favourites
There are so many extremely amazing trails in Fernie so picking a few favourites is difficult, but here are my top three winter trails and activities!
Special Public Avalanche Warning issued for much of Western Canada
Avalanche Canada, in partnership with Parks Canada and Alberta’s Kananaskis Country, is issuing a Special Public Avalanche Warning for recreational users of backcountry and frontcountry avalanche terrain, in effect immediately until Sunday, Dec. 27.
The Ridge
I slam my beat-up ski boot into the icy rime of the windswept ridge. The pounding of my heart thumping with the crunch of snow. I’m thankful for the warm, calm March weather, a stark juxtaposition to the cold, hard knot that has a stranglehold on my guts. I need to find confidence in the next step. In every step. For her sake too. We’re in it together, but as always, I feel responsible.
Provincial Park Snowshoe
It’s the holiday season and you may be looking for the gift that keeps giving. We have just what you need! The Fernie Trails Pass keeps giving as you enjoy the trails all season long (note the pass runs a calendar year, from Jan 1 – Dec 31). This is the perfect gift for the active person on your list.
The Changing Face of Snowmobiling
Ten months had passed since my snowmobile last saw daylight. But there I was, two hours back in the saddle weaving through a delicious technical treeline. Gluttonously feasting on a classic Fernie powder buffet. Stoked to be back at the table.
Avalanche Canada Launches New Online Tutorial for Backcountry Beginners
Avalanche Canada is proud to introduce a new addition to its online education roster. Avy Savvy is aimed at new users of the winter backcountry and provides a solid introduction to avalanche safety.
Fat Biking 101
We’ve been fat biking in Fernie for many years. Our Fernie fat biking community has gotten bigger and more organized with each year. We went from floundering on precarious single track to riding side by side on groomed trails. Our volunteers are the heart of this community and continue to go out and groom trails for all users in the middle of the night!
Winter at Fernie Alpine Resort - More Than Just Skiing
Connecting and enjoying time with friends in the outdoors has never been more important to our well-being as it has since the arrival of the global pandemic in 2020.