New lift and runs for Fernie’s 50th

31st August 2011, by Chris Gill

Fernie's new lift line on Polar Peak [(c) photos: Fernie Alpine Resort]

Fernie in Canada is planning to open a new lift and slopes this winter, to celebrate its 50th anniversary as a ski resort.

They’ve kept it quiet until now … but there have been rumours all summer about a new lift in construction at Fernie Alpine Resort; this week a press release confirmed those plans.

The new Polar Peak chair will give Fernie the biggest vertical in the country claims the resort, at 3550ft/1070m, and boost the skiable terrain total to approximately 2550 acres. It will go up to the summit ridge above the four existing Alpine bowls, and from a starting point around Currie Bowl. The lift opens up a fifth bowl with 22 new runs (some of these are likely to be traverses and short variants), but visitors will be able to ski off the summit ridge for the first time. The mountain reaches a height of 7010ft / 2135m.

Where the Polar Peak chair with run to/from, above Currie Bowl

Resort spokesman Matt Mosteller says,‘The Polar Peak Lift is an incredible addition to the Legendary Fernie experience. This lift will provide spectacular views of peaks, valleys and lakes from Lake Koocanusa in the Southwest to the spine of the Canadian Rockies looking up the Elk Valley all the way into Kananaskis Country/Banff National Park.’

The Polar Peak lift will be a triple, fixed-grip (ie slow!) chair and serving intermediate and advanced trails.

Work has continued all summer to build the new chairlift – access road (left) to deliver towers etc

• canada
• new lift
• chairlift
• new runs
• fernie

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