NE Slidepath on Fernie Mountain
Climbed up Heiko’s Fernie Mountain Trail on Friday and skied down the slide path on the NE flank of Fernie Mountain. Access is from Alpine Trails condo land (old gravel pit). Park at the locked gate at the end of the public road and walk up to Fairy Creek access road. Fernie Mountain Trail starts about 50 meters past the junction and is signed. Snow shoers frequently use the trail so it is well broken in until you reach the east ridge of Fernie Mountain. Climbing this ridge is a steep, safe route with nicely spaced fir and cedar trees. Enter the slide path at 1650 meter elevation or from the top saddle at 1800 meter elevation.
We had wind slab conditions so we entered at the 1650 meter elevation and avoided the steeper terrain above us. This gave us 600 meters vertical of 35 degree fall-line down to Fairy Creek. At the headwall above Fairy Creek go hard left and cross at the toe of the north slide path where avalanches have bridged the creek. From here it is a quick 1.5 kilometer slide along Fairy Creek Road back to the parking lot.
