Fernie, BC
In the Lizard Range of Southeastern British Columbia, Fernie, BC, is known for its large, steep mountains, abundant snowfall and tight community. Forrest Burki and Jason Robinson join Colin Wiseman and filmer Cameron Fair for foot-a-day dumps and off-the-grid turns in the Morrissey Triangle and the home of the Griz.
Riders in southeastern British Columbia’s Elk River Valley know all about the Fernie Factor—when coastal storms get caught up in the Lizard Range of the western Rocky Mountains and linger for days. But the tale of the Morrissey Triangle is more of a mystery.
It’s not easy to find the Morrissey Triangle and it’s a simple place to get lost. About seven miles south of the low-key resort town of Fernie, a left off Highway 3 at Morrissey Junction quickly turns to an icy, rutted logging road through a heavy mix of fir and poplar, meandering west towards occasional glimpses of towering alpine peaks. Take another left at the Y and the road begins to climb. Fifteen minutes later, you will reach Fernie Wilderness Adventures [FWA]—a small lodge with a generously warm common area and bunks for a few dozen souls. With the world-renowned Elk River a short drive away, FWA operates as a flyfishing outfit in the summer months, catering to those in search of drift boats and an endless catch of cutthroat and massive bull trout. But it also plays host to an atypical cat operation in the winter—one that caters more to locals looking for a day trip than the high-end customer typically found at snowcat lodges throughout the East Kootenays…