Skiers have been coming to Fernie for one reason, the abundance of snow. In the old days Fernie Snow Valley received so much snow that by default Alpine Skiing was the primary ski activity. Big weekly snow cycles dropping several feet of fresh snow, day after day, didn’t favour grooming Nordic trails and there weren’t any to groom! That was the old Fernie. Today with no Fernie Snow Valley and reduced snowfall, Fernie is favouring other activities.
In with the new, Nordic skiing in Fernie has become the go-to activity for locals and visitors. Six independent Nordic zones are being groomed and they have sprouted in the past decade. The most notable of these new initiatives is the Elk Valley Nordic Centre, a new and amazing community asset that was created and is being operated by the Fernie Nordic Society.
The Elk Valley Nordic Centre offers just under 10 kilometers of groomed trails for the 2016-2017 ski season. These trails are perfect for skating and track-set for the core Nordic skier. You can access these trails from the Mt Fernie Provincial Park where you can also enjoy a very cozy warming hut, or from Fernie Alpine Resort. These trails are not dog friendly and visitors are asked to pay for usage.
The Fernie Nordic Society is a BC registered non-profit organization that was founded in Fernie in the fall of 2006. From a small group of dedicated nordic ski enthusiasts, the membership of the Society has grown to an impressive 700 plus members. A program of lessons for young skiers and adults has been set up and is flourishing. And Fernie has its own race team, the Fernie Nordic Racers! Aged from 10 and up, the team members train before and during the ski season and participate in the Kootenay Cup series.
The Fernie Nordic Society is hosting a Kootenay Cup event, The Fernie Nordic Winterfest on February 11th at the Elk Valley Nordic Centre. People are invited to participate or show up and cheer on the racers! Local participation will help the team win the Kootenay Cup point race again this year, it is awarded based on results and participation.
For information on Fernie’s other Nordic skiing facilities click here.
