Fernie Alpine Resort goes to 3,550'

It's official after much rumour and speculation, Fernie Alpine Resort is adding in a new chair. It will launch their vertical to 3,550' and add in 22 more runs, but what does this mean for slackcountry / backcountry skiing off the new chair? Any locals in the know want to speak up?

See that little red line below,...? well that's it. I am sure it will look much beter this season in person.

Here are the details from the press release just out:

FERNIE ALPINE RESORT CELEBRATES 50 YEARS WITH NEW LIFT TO PEAK!

One of Canada’s Best Ski Resorts, Fernie Alpine Resort, celebrates 50 years with new lift to peak, giving it the Biggest Vertical in the Canadian Rockies. New lift will take skiing to the top in Fernie, now boasting the most Ski Runs in the Canadian Rockies!

Fernie, BC - The spectacular Polar Peak Lift, will add onto the already incredible vertical at Fernie Alpine Resort, now giving the ski resort a whopping 3550 vertical feet of Legendary Snow Fun. Combine this with over 2550 acres of terrain over 5 Alpine Bowls, Deepest Snow in the Rockies and a year-long celebration commemorating 50 years of Legendary Skiing and Riding and you have a ski destination not to miss this winter! Combine the most snow in the Canadian Rockies, with the most Alpine Bowl skiing in the Canadian Rockies plus the Biggest vertical and you have your ski destination of choice in Canada.

“Fernie is regularly laden with the Deepest Snow in the Canadian Rockies this past winter was no exception with a near record snowfall of over 37 feet!” says Matt Mosteller. Once the snow is cleared, Fernie Alpine Resort began construction of the new Polar Peak Lift with the completion date ready for skiers and riders to enjoy in the 2011/12 winter ski season. The Polar Peak lift is the only major new lift installation in the B.C. Rockies for this winter and one of a few new lift installations in North America. It is believed that it is the only new lift installation going to a mountain top for this upcoming winter. “The Polar Peak Lift is an incredible addition to the Legendary Fernie experience,” says Matt Mosteller. “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” added Mosteller. “Polar Peak Lift is taking lift access skiing and riding to the next level, putting Fernie at the top of any Skiers and Riders bucket list” Mosteller adds.

The Polar Peak Lift adds an above tree-line Bowl skiing experience with over 22 new runs and the incredible experience of skiing off the summit of one of the highest peaks in the Lizard Range, Polar Peak. Many will enjoy making laps of the new Polar Peak Lift or one can enjoy the thigh burning fun of skiing some of the longest runs in the Canadian Rockies and 3550 vertical feet. In addition to the new Polar Peak Lift, Fernie Alpine Resort offers nine other lifts and 140 marked runs – now having the most Ski Runs in the Canadian Rockies!

In addition to the increased terrain, increased vertical and summit experience is the significant enhancement to our Snow Control efforts. The Polar Peak Lift provides quick access to the various ridge-lines above the major alpine bowls. This quicker access for Ski Patrol will speed up efforts to open up terrain following the regular snowfalls Fernie Alpine Resort receives.