Fernie Wilderness Adventures Lodge
The FWA log cabin is absolutely nothing like the glamorous lodges at the Island Lake cat skiing operation. The FWA lodge is rustic and more like what you’d expect of a “wilderness” lodge. At FWA you get more of a genuine mountain experience.
The lodge sleeps only a small number of guests, so you get very attentive service. However it doesn’t feel like “service”. It’s so homely that you feel like you’re staying at Mum’s place.
Where is the FWA Lodge?
The FWA lodge is located about 20 minutes from
Fernie, out in the wilderness! It’s possible to drive right to the lodge, and because a snowcat or snowmobile ride is not required to get there, you can pack as many suitcases as you like!
A 4-wheel-drive vehicle would be advantageous for the access road and the carpark. If you don’t have a car, return transfers from Fernie to the lodge can be provided for a small fee.
Rooms
There are eight bedrooms with single or double occupancy, five of which have shared bathroom facilities. We stayed in a room with a bunk; a double bed on the bottom and a single bed on the top. The bunk was a bit wobbly, but the bed linen was superb which is somewhat surprising for a backcountry lodge.
Hot water for a shower is an interesting affair. In order to get hot water, no one in the lodge can run a tap or flush the toilet at the same time!
Facilities
The outdoor hot tub is amazingly unique. It’s a stand-up affair and wood fired, so the temperature is a little hard to regulate, but it’s fabulous for fatigued muscles. The outdoor deck also has a firepit; a great place to enjoy a beer.
You can really get away from it all at the lodge as there’s no internet and only limited cell phone coverage (out in the car park!).
The lodge has both solar and generator power, but the generator is only on for a couple of hours a day, so if you need to use a power point for something (e.g. to charge camera batteries) then plan ahead.
The lounge area has a gorgeous fire and really comfie couches.
Dining
The meals are very homely which adds to the friendly environment, and the small dining table assists in the bonding with your new family. As a bonus, you can BYO wine or beer (or Jägermeister if that’s what floats your boat) so there aren’t additional costs associated with having to purchase their alcoholic beverages.
Why Stay at the Fernie Wilderness Lodge?
If you don’t need opulent lodgings and want to get away from civilization, FWA lodge is the place to stay. It’s a fraction of the price of one of the nearby cat skiing lodges, and FWA provides an authentic mountain get-away. In addition to this, the hosts are super friendly and they’ll make you feel very welcome.