Fernie, BC is thankful for The Griz and his love of snow

There are many legends about Fernie, including the tale of the Ghostrider and of course the most popular, The Griz. Fernie was not always blessed with an abundance of powder. It took a local man, a hero in these parts, to coax the snow from the sky, gracing the region with an astounding annual snowfall of over 29 feet.

In 1879, the Griz was born in a ferocious grizzly bear’s den, prompting an epic battle between child and bear. The townsfolk, fearful of the noise heard that night, sent out a party in search of the cause. One man saw a boy wearing a bear coat and hat, but because no one believed what the man had seen, the sighting was almost forgotten. The Griz was last seen by backcountry tourers ascending the peaks above Fernie Alpine Resort in a heavy snowstorm. No longer a boy, the Griz is of average height with broad shoulders six feet wide, holding an eight-foot musket. The skiers watched the 300-pound Griz shoot his giant musket into the clouds, coaxing snow to fall.

In his honour, the people of Fernie hold a carnival in early spring to celebrate the snow. Sporting events, competitions, parades and parties mark the festivities. Pleased with these celebrations, the Griz blankets the mountains with some of the best dry campaign powder in the world.

This year, the Griz is being extremely generous and helping Fernie Alpine Resort prepare for another epic season and early opening date of December 1st (weather permitting). Don’t forget to book your winter getaway at the Red Tree Lodge and enjoy our comfortable, affordable accommodation with spectacular views of surrounding mountains. Relax in our hot tub after a day on the slopes, dry your gear in our heated boot room or tune up your new board in our tuning room. Call us today at 1-800-977-2977 to book!

Check out the video below for another great tale about The Griz!