hey
@Mike Rogers could you expound on Northern vs Southern faces - I'm looking at a map of Fernie - will be there next Friday - and it *appears* there's a north side and south side to about 4 or 5 shoulders coming down to the base area? Any particular runs or lifts you'd recommend? Thanks!
You have the right idea.
Fernie's marketing team loves to sell the "5 alpine bowls". In reality, most skiers who prefer more challenging terrain will enjoy the ridges between the bowls the most.
Note: Before the late 1990s, Fernie only included the Lizard Bowl, Boomerang, and the Cedar bowl. This is the "old side". Anything served by the Timber Chair, White Pass Chair, or Polar Peak is considered to be the "new side"
I typically start my day on the new side. Take timber up and ski either "Big Bang" the open area dropping from Siberia Ridge to the White Pass load, or Mitchy Chutes: the trees to the skier's right of Big Bang. The trees between Big Bang and timber Lift Line can also be nice. Big Bang and Mitch face north. Big Bang is best access via a short sidestep, skiers right of the timber chair. This leads to a high traverse from timber to Siberia Ridge. Alternately, you can climb the entire ridge (obvious bootpack), but there is little advantage unless you are skiing "morning glory"
There are 2 north facing options from white pass. If you want to stay on the "new side" you can drop "Gotta Go", "Cobra Rock" or "Anaconda". To get there, you need to traverse along the ridge that seperates Timber Bowl and Currie bowl. For Gotta Go and Cobra Rock, take the high traverse, which is about halfway down the knot chutes. It can be a bit rocky on the ribs between the chutes, but it goes. You have two choices here: 1. Hike to the top of the Knot Chutes (south facing) and catch the obvious traverse line halfway down, or 2. follow the rope line that runs skier left of the whitepass until you see an opening marked with a "double black". This is the start of the high traverse.
To get to anaconda (5 chutes and skiable trees between them) take the lower traverse (high works too). This runs at the base of the Knots and is signed.
WIth either choice, you should try to catch the cat-track below the fans. Take this until you get to the bootleg glades, or even better, the trees beyond bootleg, but before diamond back, for another shot of north facing goodness.
If you decide to drop into lizard, you will need to take the "reverse traverse". Jump on the catrack heading into Currie and follow the ropeline on your left. You'll wind across the bowl and come to a sign warning of steep terrain. Keep going Stay high if you want to drop the saddles...they're signed and obvious, except for Lone Fir..for this one follow the sidestep up and beyond from "saddle". It is usually worth it.
If the saddles aren't looking good, traverse all the way across currie to get to the front 3 runs (skydive, decline and stag leap). From here, a short sidestep to your left will lead to to Easter Bowl, part of the Lizard Bowl, and possibly my favorite run at fernie. The trees skiers right of this are also quite nice. Another option is to ski "decline" a bit, this is the left branch of the front three, and then jump into the trees on your left to link up with the Window Chutes. The trees between all of the front three runs go, and can be really run, though only left of decline will give you northern aspects.
The Elk Chair is painfully slow, so I think the best way of getting to the old side is through the Saddles, Easter Bowl, or Window Chutes. These runs you can go back to Timber or link up with the bear chair.
The bear gives you the best access to Cedar Bowl. Unfortunately, the best parts of Cedar (Snake, Gorby, and Steep and Deep), face south. Maybe it will offer good corn? Out of bounds, you can drop from snake ridge into the Fish bowl. This faces north. There is avalanche risk, but a groomer has packed down the path back to the resort, so it is an easy return via bootpack if you don't have skins.
The Boomerang area forms a min-bowl, with good northern shots off Boomerang Ridge into Cedar. Look at King Fir and Cedar Ridge, and from the Bear Run into the boomerang area via the Bear Chutes. The Boomerang run itself tends to stay in the shade.
"kangaroo" from the haulback and "freeway" in the Lizard bowl are usually ice-bumps. I would avoid these unless you are in the mood, or if it is hot.
For melt-freeze, the southern faces might provide some good corn. Look to ski Mars from Siberia Ridge into the Siberia Bowl.
Knot Chutes into Timber or the Suprise Trees (just drop south instead of north when going to Anaconda).
Polar Peak or Concussion drop south into Currie. Pick whatever line looks good.
Sunnyside drops south from the Bear run into the Lizard Bowl, and Deep Space drops South from North Ridge into the Boomerang mini-bowl.
Snake is your southern choice for Cedar.
Hopefully they get some cold weather and nice snow before we arrive on April 5th. I have a long term forecast that looks promising but those are never super reliable.
