DougKoran
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Porky Blue Crew
The Fernie Trail Crew has been out the past few weeks preparing Porky Blue Trail for the TransRockies Race on August 9th. The trail is brushed out and soon to be ready for cycling. Porky Blue is designed for cross country riders (moderate difficulty) and boasts 10 kilometers of single-track that drops 1000 vertical meters down to the Coal Discovery Trail from Coal Creek Summit.
New Coal Discovery Trail Bridges
Three additional bridges along the new section of the Coal Discovery Trail.
Coal Discovery Trail Upgrade
The Fernie Trails Crew has been busy clearing out the Coal Discovery Trail the past two weeks. This weekend we used Bighorn Helicopters to sling in 5 loads of bridge beams and decking and built two of three bridges going in on 2 kilometers of new single-track. The cross-country single-track now goes northward nine kilometers towards Hosmer. Can return on Ridgemont Road or on the Hosmer Powerline 4 X 4 road.
This section of trail will be used by over 500 cyclists during the TransRockies stage race in August.
Coal Discovery Trail 20 km ride.jpg
This week we cleared the deadfall with hand saws along the Coal Discovery Trail towards Hosmer. We then rode back to Fernie on Ridgemont Road and descended on R Trail and Oh Dear. Very nice 20 kilometer cross country ride. Should take less than 2 hours.
Hyper Extension Open for Riding
A couple of us chain sawed the deadfall and bush on Hyper Extension on Friday. The descent is riding exceptional well now after cutting out several of the handle bar grabbers and smoothing out some of the dips. Only a couple spots have small patches of snow on the trail. This trail is accessed by riding up Roots and Hyper Ventilation.
A Cabin Crisis: The Economy of Toilet Paper views: 2020
Deep in the heart of the Fernie backcountry, at the legendary Thunder Meadows, Tunnel Creek, and Harvey Pass cabins, a shadowy barter economy thrives. No, it’s not trading trail mix for dry socks or a thermos of coffee for a warm seat by the fire. It’s something far more primal: toilet paper. Yes, in the […]
Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club Annual General Meeting 2026 views: 178
The Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club invites members and anyone interested in ski touring and four-season cabin use in the Elk Valley to attend the 2026 Annual General Meeting. Who: Anyone interested in ski touring and winter/summer use cabins in the Elk Valley What: 2026 Annual General Meeting Where: Fernie Seniors Centre, 562 3 […]
January 15 Booking Release Opens for Fernie’s Backcountry Cabins views: 807
The January 15 booking period for Fernie’s backcountry cabins opens Thursday, January 15 at 6:00am MST, releasing February 1 to April 30 overnight inventory for Thunder Meadows Cabin and Tunnel Creek Cabin. This is the second and final winter release for the 2025–26 season and typically fills quickly. What’s Being Released on January 15 Thunder […]
2026 Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Avalanche Bursary Recipients views: 670
The Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club (FTSTC) 2026 Avalanche Bursary Program awarded a total of $2,500, with funding allocated based on the cost of each recipient’s training program. Applicants this year reflect the breadth of avalanche education being pursued in the Elk Valley, from first-time courses to continued skill development. FTSTC President Magnus Leckenby […]
Tunnel Creek Cabin Fall Maintenance Update views: 660
Nine dedicated volunteers made the trek up to the Tunnel Creek Cabin this week for a full day of fall maintenance and cleanup. The crew completed a deep clean of the hut, installed a new chimney, added snow stops to the roof, and took care of extensive brush and weed trimming around the cabin, outhouse, […]




Bring it back!!!