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FERNIE, BRITISH COLUMBIA
More than skiing
Downhill fun also comes on sleds
by TANYA LAING MOORE


LET IS SNOW: Fernie's abundant snowfall is one of the many features that draw winter enthusiasts to this beautiful area.
—photo courtesy Jim Thorner
While thousands of people a year will flock to the slopes of Fernie for its superlative skiing opportunities, snowmobilers know that the real treat is taking to the hills on their sled of choice. The views cannot be topped and it’s a common occurrence to see wildlife as one climbs up into a bowl or flies along one of the many groomed trails.

Andy Buchan of the Fernie Snowmobile Club thinks that one of the best features of the region is the fact that there are trails, chutes and bowls for every level of sledder.

“We have lots of variety of terrain,” said Buchan, “from extreme to not so extreme. And we have an abundance of snow almost every year.”

Buchan added that there are both groomed and ungroomed trails in the region. The major areas, such as Coal Creek and Morrisey Trail up to the pipeline trails, are groomed and suitable for beginner and intermediate sledders. Other favourites are the Lodgepole trails and Ram Creek Trail, which has a cabin.

Buchan said he likes to do the majority of his snowmobiling in spring, when access to some of the harder-to-reach areas is easier.