Ski Fernie: resort guide - Telegraph A slope-side resort has grown from very little in recent years, but there's still not much there except convenient lodging and a few restaurants, bars and small shops. It is quiet at night. There's much more going on in the town of Fernie, named after William Fernie - a prospector who discovered coal here and triggered a boom in the early 1900s. Much of the town was destroyed by fire in 1908, but some buildings survived. Fernie is primarily a place for locals, not tourists. There are some lively bars, decent places to eat and good outdoors equipment shops. It is down to earth rather than charming, and reporters" reactions to it vary: some like staying in a "real" town while others are unhappy about the highway that runs through it. Most stress the friendliness of the locals. Convenience Base lodging or bus ride There is accommodation at the resort and in town. Buses between town and mountain run hourly and cost C$3 one way, stopping at some of the bigger hotels on the way. They run until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights. A reporter found drivers "happy to be flagged down." Scenery The rocky ridges are impressive Fernie's two main peaks, Grizzly and Polar, are part of the steep-sided Lizard Range. They provide an impressively rocky backdrop. There are good views across the Elk Valley too. Snow reliability A key part of the appeal Fernie has an excellent snow record - with an average of 350 inches per year, it's better than practically anywhere in Colorado. But the altitude is modest: rain is not unknown, and in warmer weather the lower slopes can suffer. Too much snow can be a problem, with the high bowls prone to closure - we've had reports of them being shut all week. Snowmaking has been increased over recent years and now covers most of the base area. Piste grooming has also been increased; we have been impressed with it on our most recent visits. Schools and guides Highly praised Reporters praise the school, which seems to achieve rapid progress - no doubt partly because groups are often very small. A recent visitor was very happy with his "really brilliant" private lessons, but also noted that class sizes are often very small, making group lessons very good value. There are several programmes to help you get the best out of the mountain. The Steep and Deep camp has had good feedback; it is a two-day programme (C$299) where you get technique tips while exploring steep terrain - a great way to get to know at least some of the mountain. We've had good sessions being guided by some of their instructor-guides. "First Tracks" (C$269 for three people) is a two-hour private lesson that gets you up the mountain at 8am, before the lifts are open to others. For families Good day care centre There's a day care centre in the Cornerstone Lodge. Once a week there's a craft night for children aged six to 12. And there's a Wilderness Adventure Park with cut-outs of bears and wolves. The ski school offers a "family" private lesson option.