FERNIE SNOWMOBILE ASSOCIATION TRAIL GUIDE 2018-2019 www.ferniesnowmobile.com Further is: Strengthening our safety culture off-site At Teck, safety is a core value and we believe in everyone going home safe and healthy every day—even outside of work. That’s why we support Avalanche Canada’s local field team, who collect backcountry snow data in the Elk Valley for the detailed South Rockies and Lizard Range-Flathead public avalanche forecasts. Check the conditions before you set out at www.avalanche.ca South Rockies team member Jennifer Coulter tests the snowpack for weak layers that could increase avalanche danger. Photo by Raven Eye Photography FERNIE SNOWMOBILE ASSOCIATION GENERAL INFORMATION Welcome to Fernie, BC! Nestled deep within the heart of the Rocky Mountains, this legendary town is a place of unrivaled adventure, where snowy mountain tops sparkle in the mid-winter sun giving way to a myriad of powder lines from peak to valley. Fernie will inspire you, fortify you, challenge you and restore you. We are so glad you are here! The Fernie Snowmobile Association (FSA) has been the voice of snowmobiling in the Elk Valley since 1990. Our members are dedicated mountain enthusiasts at heart who proudly serve as stewards to some of the best snowmobile terrain in the Rocky Mountains. Each year the FSA diligently works with government and private land owners to secure access for a variety of backcountry users. These agreements generously permit the FSA to groom over 160km of trails providing five distinct riding areas and thousands of acres of terrain beyond. We also maintain three well-equipped backcountry warming cabins for public use and host a variety of organized events through the season. Funds collected through trail pass fees directly support the costs associated with these programs which contribute to vibrant mountain experiences for both visitors and our local community. This brochure has been provided by the Fernie Snowmobile Association and our valued partners as a business and service guide. Please take the opportunity to thank the contribution of our partners by choosing them. Maps in this brochure are for general reference only and all backcountry travel is at your own risk. Bold location numbers on map correspond with FSA signage found on trails. Hipgnosis Media Photo Play Hard. NEW TO FERNIE! Sidehill Sled Rentals Come ride with us on a brand new 2019 850 mountain ready Ski Doo! Then Relax. No Gear? We have a full selection of helmets, The best way to end avalanche packs, beacons, shovels and probes for a perfect, winter day! rent. Trailers and shuttle service available! www.sidehillrentals.ca 10% DISCOUNT ON WATER CARE PRODUCTS, FILTERS & ACCESSORIES TO MEMBERS OF THE FSA Jason Szykulski Rob Alford ( upon presentation of membership card ) 250.430.7853 250.814.8540 1541 9th Ave. Fernie, B.C. 250-423-3370 • [email protected] Follow us: ferniehottubs.com [email protected] @sidehillrentals Snowmobile Guides, Avalanche Education, Rentals & Clinics 250-531-0703 GREAT CAREERS ARE BUILT HERE IN THE KOOTENAYS APPLY NOW AND UNLEASH YOUR POTENTIAL elkvalleysnowshepherds.com Finning (Canada), Elkford, BC 1-888-finning | finning.com 346-6464 WHAT’S NEW THIS SEASON? Last winter, with the generous help of our corporate partners and your trail fees, the FSA was able to purchase a new snowcat groomer and hire a full-time operator to maintain our core trail network. As a result, our program increased from 19 to 91 days of impeccable grooming completed during the 17/18 season! We aim to increase that number further this year with an additional operator now employed to maintain Corbin, Hartley, the Morrissey Connector Trail and our parking lot facilities. To support these enhanced services the FSA invested an additional $70,000 in maintenance of our fleet of three snowcats over the summer. Bringing these essential pieces of equipment up to prescribed manufacturers’ maintenance schedules will increase reliability of operations, safety for staff, and more enjoyable trails for users like you! With support from the Columbia Basin Trust and our 18 / 19 corporate partners, volunteers also completed construction of a new backcountry warming cabin over the summer. Wrangler’s Cabin’s original aging plywood was well beyond repair and has since been replaced with a creative new structure capable of withstanding the harsh backcountry elements. There is still work to do including construction of the new outhouse facility, woodshed and some exterior finishing but the cabin will eagerly welcome its first visitors this winter. The FSA looks forward to injecting a little fun this season with the addition of the NEW Fernie Gumball event on March 30th! Teams (four riders) will have six hours to find checkpoints and complete a variety of skills challenges to earn points. The event involves navigation, strategy, skill, great costumes, and a bit of luck to win! The course will be set up over several hundred acres of varying terrain accessible from our maintained trail network and warming shelters. There will also be a shorter, family- friendly route option available. Resort Municipality Initiative Investing in B.C. Resort Communities Check out our HMK product line and other Sledding needs at Canadian Tire Fernie 1791 9th Ave. Fernie BC 250-423-4222 RIDING AREA OVERVIEW COAL CREEK: Fernie’s most popular and easily accessible sledding area. Expansive riding options for all abilities centered around the Rolling Hills cabin. Follow the easy, groomed trail from the Coal Creek staging area for 16km to reach the cabin. Please note trail passes under a large avalanche path just after the staging area which may not be groomed in times of high avalanche hazard. Continue past the cabin through the flowy Doug Dean trail to reach a key junction for the Wrangler’s Cabin or the Morrissey Staging Area. Riders can also choose to loop back around the Summit Trail for a return trip to Coal Creek. This groomed trail circuit makes an excellent family ride or novice day trip. MORRISSEY: The groomed Morrissey trail provides access to some of Fernie’s best technical tree riding areas with plenty of tempting spots to dip off the trail and explore. Stay out of marked cat skiing area. Most riders will continue past the all new Wrangler’s Cabin and neighbouring meadow to head up the ‘Pipeline’ for the Notch riding area. Those choosing to ride here over the ‘Double Hills’ will need to navigate steep climbs (occasionally groomed) to access upper tree-line bowls and endless gladded riding opportunities. HARTLEY LAKE: Fernie’s gateway to technical alpine riding and some of our region’s most remote backcountry terrain. The groomed trail is an easy climb past the old lake bed, to a series of open meadows. Note trail crosses several large avalanche paths and may not be groomed in times of high hazard. Riders can enjoy some great boondocking opportunities here or continue past the Sulpher FSA junction to reach endless alpine riding zones set among the towering limestone peaks and scenic Rocky Mountain vistas. RAM / CABIN PASS: This isolated riding area links with the Flathead showcasing the true wilderness of south eastern BC. Riders should bring extra fuel for the 50km, winding ride into the Ram Cabin and beyond. Continue above or on main road past cabin to access an old burn and some truly spectacular advanced riding. CORBIN: Located deep in a remote valley of the Rockies, Corbin is home to only a handful of residents, a Coal Mine and some excellent alpine bowl riding. This is a popular area due to its proximity to the Alberta border and high elevation resulting in good early season riding conditions. Please note that the ‘Tin Shed’ and Pipeline access points are also managed by the FSA and require purchase of annual membership or day use ticket, available at the Corbin staging area. Full Page Ad 3 Single or group tours, guided or go alone. Call, click or stop in store for details and bookings Sled Rentals 30 Shadow Road, Fernie B.C. - 250-423-9251 www.ghostridermotorsports.com Tuesday - Saturday 8:30-5:30 TRAIL PASS INFORMATION The Fernie Snowmobile Association is proudly a British Columbia Snowmobile Association (BCSF) member club. Thirty-five dollars of every FSA membership sold is applied to province-wide programs such as securing access to public lands and provincial safety initiatives. The remainder of your annual membership dollars stay right here in the valley and are used to fund operations including grooming, insurance, events, infrastructure, signage, and marketing. Your annual membership is valid at all five Fernie staging areas for the duration of the season. FSA members are entitled to many benefits and discounts. Please visit www.ferniesnowmobile.com for more information or to purchase your membership today. Annual Primary Membership: $185 Annual Secondary Membership: $85 Child: $40 Senior: $30 The FSA is authorized to collect day use fees for riding areas under land management agreements with both private land owners and BC Trails and Rec Sites. Day tickets are available for purchase at the trailhead kiosks 7 days a week. Adult: $25 Child: $10 EVENTS 2018-2019 DECEMBER 29: BOB ARNOTT MEMORIAL FAMILY RIDE Join us for a family ride and BBQ to the Rolling Hills Cabin in honor of past club President Bob Arnott who was instrumental in many of the initial infrastructure and organizational elements of the FSA. Bob was an outstanding ambassador of the snowmobile community. Each year the FSA awards a scholarship in his name to a student pursuing secondary education in the trades who has demonstrated exceptional community spirit. JANUARY 19: AVALANCHE AWARENESS DAYS Local avalanche professionals gather to provide a day of free training, seminars, and demonstrations for sledders.