Five alpine bowls in the Canadian Rockies, filled by a snowfall pattern that locals call the Fernie factor, because storms hit this valley harder than the surrounding area. The terrain is steep and varied with a great deal of tree skiing and open bowl terrain above, and it has a devoted following among people who value snow over facilities. Beginners have a decent area at the base but the mountain is really built for skiers who have found their feet. Fernie town, five kilometres away, is a preserved coal mining settlement with brick buildings and a genuine main street, and it is one of the more likeable ski towns in Canada. Calgary is around three hours away. Prices are lower than at the resorts inside the national parks.