Fernie Alpine Resort officially suspended their operations for the season on March 15, 2020 due to concerns over COVID-19. Despite this closure, several people have been hiking up the mountain and trying to get a few runs in.
The resort has made several posts on their social media and website, asking people to please refrain from these activities that put everyone at risk. On April 3, Andy Cohen, general manager of Fernie Alpine Resort released a letter further imploring people to stay off of the resort. The full letter can be viewed below.
Dear Fernie Community,
We are blessed to live in this relatively safe, beautiful place. Our mountain community is the envy of many and the destination of choice for adventurous vacationers.
While we enjoy the realities of this amazing valley, we are faced with our greatest test in our memory.
Fernie Alpine Resort and the rest of our industry peers just took an unprecedented step to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and restrict visitation from people not living here. We closed operations on March 15, in the hopes of helping our community and its brave health care warriors be able to deal with the coming challenges of COVID-19.
A few of our neighbours are choosing to ignore Fernie Alpine Resort’s closed status and continue to hike uphill within our boundaries.
What happens if they get hurt? Who will rescue them? Who will take care of them?
The dangers, including avalanches, on our closed resort, are massive. One incident triggered by a member of the public could lead to unintended yet devastating consequences reaching many of our staff and community.
We are reminding you that Fernie Alpine Resort is closed and that you are not permitted to travel across resort lands.
Anyone caught trespassing, by travelling up the mountain, risks losing the ability to buy passes for years to come.
Our choices are becoming less and less as this pandemic rises around us. Please do not put our staff and community at risk for the sake of a run. Is it really worth it?
Thanks for thinking about our community and neighbours.
Andy Cohen
General Manager
Fernie Alpine Resort
