The Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club (FT&STC) was incorporated in 1993.

The Fernie Trails and Ski Touring Club's goal is to maintain responsible, non-motorized trail access on Fernie area Crown lands and private lands. The organization works with outdoor recreation groups, government, private landowners and tourism businesses to enhance and maintain the Fernie area non-motorized recreational trail system.

The association began over three decades ago as the Elk Valley Ski Touring Association (EVSTA), a loosely knit group of ski touring enthusiasts eager to protect and promote public access to recreation in the Fernie area. It has since evolved to become a strong advocacy group for public recreation in the region.

The group’s first major success was securing a Special Use Permit in 1993 for the purpose of building a permanent shelter in the Thunder Meadows area located between Fernie Alpine Resort and Island Lake Resort Group. That Special Use Permit provided the group with particular access privileges on the crown land located there and continues to this day to give the Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club tenure in the Thunder Meadows area.

Members of the FT&STC also worked consistently on the development of the Southern Rocky Mountains Management Plan, and have over the course of the past several years contributed significantly to trail development, maintenance and promotion in the region.

The FT&STC helped form the Fernie Trails Alliance, an organization dedicated to the joint goals of ensuring that Fernie and area residents maintain their historical access and ability to enjoy the network of non-motorized trails throughout the region. The groups work together for the betterment of recreational trails in the area.

Ski Touring around Fernie & the Lizard Range

The FT&STC maintains permanent shelters (overnight cabins) at:

• Thunder Meadows, located between Fernie Alpine Resort and Island Lake Resort
• Tunnel Creek, to the south of Fernie Alpine Resort

Please consider supporting the ongoing protection of backcountry user rights as well as hut maintenance by becoming a member of the Fernie Trails & Ski Touring Club.