Poster: A snowHead
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Looks like I might be able to squeeze in a little December skiing and I was thinking of going somewhere new.
Fernie looks like a pretty amazing place but what's it like early December? From the snow fall record it gets less snow than Tignes but more regularly or is this completely misleading?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Apples and oranges.
If memory serves it gets close to 9m a season which is nothing to sniff at.
Normally gets good early snow.
Doesn't need as much as Tignes to fill in the gaps.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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29 feet is part of their marketing schtick. Mind you when i spent an extended period of time there some wags went around defacing certain marketing materials and lift maps from "Legendary Powder" to "Allegedly Powder".
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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You can look at the daily snowfall history here https://www.onthesnow.co.uk/british-columbia/fernie-alpine/historical-snowfall.html?&y=2017
How early are you looking? It's not even scheduled to open till 7th December. Personally, I wouldn't risk going before Christmas time. Of course it could be great, but why take a chance when spending so much money.
I would look at somewhere more snowsure - colorado or Wyoming both tend to get lifts spinning in november.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@boarder2020, I was going to do a nonstop course starting 1 December. They did say they couldn’t guarantee powder skiing... I was just wondering how much of a risk it was. As you say it’s a long way to go for not much snow.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I did look at the history....but it's not always clear cut. I mean a lot depends on what the terrain is like temperature and altitude or wind cover. I mean Tignes gets a shed load of snow for instance but probably don't need that much (last year especially) so just because it doesn't drown didn't mean it wouldn't necessarily be awesome.
Just wondering if anyone has done it on a regular basis.
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Quite a big risk I'd say on the 1 December point. I rocked up in Fernie one year around the 15th and we weren't reliably riding the trees or bowls until after new year. And trees/ chutes is really where it's at in Fernie - you need a certain depth to cover deadfall for it to be safe.
Fernie is low altitude compared to Rockies areas which means it needs to get cold. It is geographically advantaged in the sense that when a storm does come it gets stuck in the kink in the valley and precips hard. Just as long as that precip ain't rain. Lake Louise is kinda the opposite high cops early storms but often bypassed by the biggies.
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R@1n is a bigger chance in December than any other winter month at Fernie.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Good point about rain. Been at fernie towards the end of a season and rain completely ruined conditions. Early December is certainly a risk of rain. There's a pretty big chance a lot of the better terrain won't have enough snow. Of course there's also a small chance it could be epic, but not worth the risk imo.
Regarding nonstop, imo they are very overpriced. You can get excellent instruction at any north American resort.
As I said above if your set on those dates there are much better options:
-Jackson hole is more reliable, plus you have grand targhee up the road which is consistently one of the first resorts to open each year. Also if snow sucks at least you can see Yellowstone.
-fly into Denver and get an epic pass. You have your pick of resorts so can pick based on best conditions. Plenty of snowsure places on that pass.
-if you are set on Canada whistler is more snowsure than fernie.
I would also consider staying in Europe and saving the money for when you can go to North America at a better time.
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Colorado is open now.
Barring a ridiculous warm up and/or drought then it seems that's as good a place as any early season THIS season
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I'd say its a bit risky
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I went the 2nd week in January some years ago, and it got down to -37, and we had great snow. Saw my pals at the airport in Calgary on the way back (they were heading out) telling them how good it wasy.
the first day they had was great, then it warmed up to 11C, started raining and in 2 days the mountain was brown. They were given Ski Pass vouchers for the following year and went to Banff and they were fine.
Bit of an extreme example, but sh*t happens sometimes.
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@Dougy Giro, Wow that must have been tough
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You know it makes sense.
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