Fernie conditions 2014/15

[Modman]

here is what we had on Friday....slurpee snow on the railing of the cabin.....

 

[Modman]

as noted there was some decent stuff up top but not the deepest or driest snow I've ridden in, call me a snow snob I guess......oh well

 

[Modman]

definitely could feel the heavy snow when you were turning.....this was right up on the ridge at 6400 ft

 

[Modman]

We found this natural slide that had occurred maybe the morning of or the night before. Definite sun crust down about 30 cms, then new heavy on top of that, sliding bad. This one ran into the trees for a good distance and it wasn't on aggressive terrain either. Just goes to show that trees are not as safe as you might think.

 

[pistoncontracting]

I think we came across your tracks, judging by one of those pics.

Definitely not dry snow. Or the deepest I've seen, but if you avoid the logged stuff, depth isn't a huge issue.

 

[shawnmcgr]

With all the rain Fernie has had is there any trail riding left to do down there? I'd like to take a family out trail riding and was thinking Ram? Maybe Hartely? Any grooming going on or too warm? Any other suggestions? I would normally go to Atlas or York in the Crow but sounds like it's down to dirt there.

I'd appreciate any tips for smooth beginner trails in the Crow/Fernie/Sparwood/Elkford areas.

 

[ThrottleOps]

Come on up to elkford tomorrow saturday for our Valentine's Day ride we will have a fire on once you get up there pm me if you'd like more Info!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ferniesnow]

With all the rain Fernie has had is there any trail riding left to do down there? I'd like to take a family out trail riding and was thinking Ram? Maybe Hartely? Any grooming going on or too warm? Any other suggestions? I would normally go to Atlas or York in the Crow but sounds like it's down to dirt there.

I'd appreciate any tips for smooth beginner trails in the Crow/Fernie/Sparwood/Elkford areas.

Grooming up Coal Creek for the weekend. Trail was icy but smooth Saturday morning. Another groom last night. Conditions are better than I thought they would be. We rode untracked (albeit, a little stiff in the morning, better as the day went on) all day and plan to do the same today.

 

[ferniesnow]

The trail for Sunday was great (up and down) so it should still be great for Monday. The snow up top is "go anywhere snow". Scratchers are required and necessary. The staging area is still snow covered so no mud to deal with. Great spring riding!

 

[cdnredneck_t3]

Found the same as ferniesnow yesterday. We staged at Morrissey. DO NOT STAGE AT MORRISSY. There is at least a mile of bare dirt and the trail at elevation is horrible. Can't even keep the sleds cool with the scratchers down. Rode some of the FSA trail looking to meet up with ferniesnow yesterday and it was in great shape. Coal Creek is where it is at for sure.

 

[CJR]

Anyone use the staging areas on Corbin road, east of sparwood? Can you ride the pipeline to rolling hills area? Shows these staging areas on the FSA trails map, but it have never used them.

 

[Vertical-Extreme]

There's a few different ways to get to the rolling hill from the Corbin road. You can take the pipeline, or the power line or the road from the yellow gates. All are usually really rough. I can't imagine any are that great with the snow this year

 

[dogsmack]

I just back from Fernie. Day one we took the Morrisey Stage area.... MISTAKE!! half the way up was 80mm pit run and gravel. Day two come out of Fernie town site and at least there was snow all the way up. End of the day was misery. Snow is like concrete at the hills and wranglers cabin going every which way you can think of. Weather was awesome but the conditions are just plain abusive to ride. Scratchers are a MUST!

 

[ferniesnow]

I ask the question, why are so many people using the Morrissey staging area? Is someone telling you guys that it is good or better than Coal Creek?

 

[dogsmack]

I ask the question, why are so many people using the Morrissey staging area? Is someone telling you guys that it is good or better than Coal Creek?

Yes, we where told it was "the staging area to use". I used my entire vocabulary of cus words that day and then some. Don't get me wrong I will be back, this is the second time I have been there but the first time we come in via Corbin and the ride in was rough. The Fernie side is much nicer and worth the trail fees. I just need to work on my timing when I go next time. FYI those skid forward scratchers BRP puts out that you can reverse on are AMAZING!! Worked like a dream on my wife's sled. I'm changing to those this week.

 

[Vertical-Extreme]

I ask the question, why are so many people using the Morrissey staging area? Is someone telling you guys that it is good or better than Coal Creek?

Doug, when we decide to stage from Morrissey it is usually because of a few reasons: We are at the condo and it is on that side of town, and if no one needs fuel, drinks/ snacks, and we are riding one certain area it is about half as long of a trail ride in. If someone needs something from town or we are planning to ride around the cabin area we head up coal creek, or if we are coming from home and doing a day trip we ride coal creek. So for us there's a reason to use both access points. just depends on the situation

 

[cdnredneck_t3]

I like Morrissey because we ride the trees and can cut the trail ride time down vs Coal Creek. But until the FSA takes over or the other club folds I will only use Coal Creek in the future. It would have been nice if the other club gave an honest trail report. I guess we know who to trust going forward.

 

[dogsmack]

I like Morrissey because we ride the trees and can cut the trail ride time down vs Coal Creek. But until the FSA takes over or the other club folds I will only use Coal Creek in the future. It would have been nice if the other club gave an honest trail report. I guess we know who to trust going forward.

Nothing wrong with the staging area or trail in. Problem is right now and the lack of snow. If the conditions would of been different I am sure we would of used that access both days, but a kilometer of dry gravel and course 80mm size rocks really was a shock. And I agree 100% with honest reports. I wonder if at times some make false reports or fail to report just to be "funny". I would hope not but I have seen all kinds of people at the various cabins and staging areas in my years of sledding. I don't know who they are but a group that had lunch about the same time we did at wranglers on saturday were savage with the information they were given by someone to use Morrissey as well. What made it worse was a another group showing up saying the other area was in great condition

I'm not sure if Coal Creek is the area east of Fernie town site but I will say the trail fees are being used to there full benefit. The groomed trail actually saved an otherwise soured trip. Done with the sour grapes, it was still better than being at work!

 

[Modman]

I like Morrissey because we ride the trees and can cut the trail ride time down vs Coal Creek.

We always thought that too long time ago, but its bascially a fallacy. By the time you drive out to Morrissey, you are up top from Coal Creek side. We timed it with some buddies of ours, and beat them to Wranglers cabin from Coal Creek by a pretty good margin. Mileage is pretty well the same on the sleds.

 

[cdnredneck_t3]

We always thought that too long time ago, but its bascially a fallacy. By the time you drive out to Morrissey, you are up top from Coal Creek side. We timed it with some buddies of ours, and beat them to Wranglers cabin from Coal Creek by a pretty good margin. Mileage is pretty well the same on the sleds.

We don't go very far to find good riding, I have not been to the wranglers cabin in a couple years. It is closer from Morrissey for us. Coal Creek is not much further to good areas but it is further.

Edit: Did some Google mapping and found it is 8.9 km to where we ride if staging Morrissey and 15.8 km to the Cabin from Coal Creek.