Hiking?

[sarak527]

Sooo, we’re new in town, and have heard a lot about people hiking the hill. Needless to say, with that dump of snow we’ve gotten in the past couple days, we’re very much interested in giving it a shot ourselves. However, we’re assuming that FAR wouldnt appreciate people climbing from the actual base of the hill. Are we right? Where does everyone else hike from?

[whitedawg]

Most people hike from the base.
Last year some hiker/riders were caught in a slide or triggered a slide near the headwall so last year early season hiking was banned at the hill due to liability & safety reasons. Not sure about this year but I assume it would be the same

[jeklund]

I saw some people on the webcam hiking up under the great bear chair and I would assume the easiest way to get up would be to drive up to the condos around elk chair and hike up one of the ski out that leads to them. That way you could probably save some time by being 1/4 up elk chair and not draw attention to yourself. Ive been thinking about going up but i don’t really have anyone to go with and am kinda lazy lol.

[admin]

The avalanche danger is high and there will be NO safety at FAR until opening day.

Following other peoples tracks does not ensure that you are being safe. They could be as ignorant as you or worse.

With so little snow the terrain hazards are also high. Ruining gear or breaking bones is a reality.

Be smart and enjoy a long season!

[mikes]

Until Dec.4 Fernie Alpine Resort is considered an Industrial Work Site. Snow Cats are out, ski lifts are moving, snowmobiles are moving, but most importantly, patrol is doing avalanche control. You could be walking up a skin track and they could be throwing a bomb right above you. There has been some naturals moving as well ei. Gun Bowl. Every year something happens to somebody pre-season. Broken femur in Currie, Size 2.5 Heiko’s Fan.

[megadude]

Yes…I would definitely not advise hiking up there, very dangerous, plus you put the people working up there in danger too.

[slacklocal]

RCR is always posting photos and videos of people out on the mountain before its open. So it seems they fully endorse it.

If you go out, make sure you don’t be an idiot like the people last year hiking up in a prime start zone right under the headwall.

Play it safe, go north ridge or something. Have fun, enjoy the snow! Look out for snowcats and sleds ripping around and get at it!

[mikes]

WRONG!

[admin]

slacklocal has made a few classic lines:

– "so it seems they fully endorse it"

‚Äì "make sure you don’t be an idiot"

Don’t let irresponsible people like slacklocal mislead you. Avalanche skills and an understanding of the resorts work tasks are mandatory for skiing at the hill prior to opening. For example: winch cats use cables that can be-head people. Ski patrol initiated avalanches can kill.

Be safe.

[megadude]

The ski hill definitely does not endorse skiing the hill pre-opening. As has been said before, they have people working all over, who could be caught in an avalanche by someone breaking off snowload above them that they aren’t even aware of, and, there are patrollers and avalanche control personnel setting off slides on purpose that someone hiking around would not be aware of. My question for the people who insist on doing this has always been, if you want to ski tour somewhere pre-season, why do you do it at the hill? Why not go somewhere else, anywhere else and do it to get the full on renegade experience? The answer is of course that they assume that they are entitled to go on the resort, that it’s safer and that if they do get into trouble for being irresponsible someone will be there to rescue their sorry asses.If you want to ski-tour, feel free…there are an infinite amount of places to do it within 30 mins of town. Why do you need to do it at the hill, and advertise it here? Go somewhere where you won’t be endangering others.

[imported_ryland]

people have been hiking the ski hill before it opens since the beginning of time. It has become more of an issue recently as the resort isn’t opening when there is enough snow to ski so there is more time that people want to be riding while the resort is waiting to open.

If the ski hill would open when there is enough snow to ski on there wouldn’t be this problem. And if they aren’t opening when conditions permit maybe they shouldn’t be posting photos and videos of people skiing early season prior to the lifts opening. Thats just being really cheeky if you ask me.

People are going to continue to hike the ski hill if there is enough snow to ski, there isn’t much that can be done. So if your going to go out be super aware of snowcats and their winch cables, snowmobiles and avalanches. Don’t ski gnarly terrain where you could cut a slope down onto unsuspecting people below you. There are lots of pretty safe zones out there like surprise trees, siberia ridge, north ridge, the bear, curry powder etc.

Maybe they will open for a "preview weekend" That would help quell peoples early season urges to ride! Or better yet just get er open for the season like they have done everywhere else where the conditions have allowed (whistler, cypress, baker, whitewater next weekend etc)

[mikes]

"people have been hiking the ski hill before it opens since the beginning of time" = EVERYBODYS DOING IT

"If the ski hill would open when there is enough snow to ski on there wouldn’t be this problem." = IT’S THEIR FAULT I’M TRESSPASSING

"And if they aren’t opening when conditions permit maybe they shouldn’t be posting photos and videos of people skiing early season prior to the lifts opening."==============IF I COULD, I’D TOTALLY POST A YOUTUBE VID OF ME POACHING WHILE TRESSPASSSING"

"People are going to continue to hike the ski hill if there is enough snow to ski, there isn’t much that can be done." = WHAT ARE THEY GONNA DO, BAN ME?

" Don’t ski gnarly terrain where you could cut a slope down onto unsuspecting people below you." = RUN OF THE DAY………SPINETINGLER!

"There are lots of pretty safe zones out there like surprise trees, siberia ridge, north ridge, the bear, curry powder etc." = GO HERE, BUT WHEN YOU GET CAUGHT IN A SLIDE ……….YOU DIDN’T HEAR IT FROM ME

"Maybe they will open for a "preview weekend" That would help quell peoples early season urges to ride! Or better yet just get er open for the season like they have done everywhere else where the conditions have allowed (whistler, cypress, baker, whitewater next weekend etc)" ‘M SO BUYING A SEASON PASS AT CASTLE !

[Author]

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