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Fernie Alpine Resort closes lifts following large avalanche in Snake Ridge

Extremely high avalanche risk meant that Fernie Alpine Resort had to close almost all of its lifts today.

Extremely high avalanche risk meant that Fernie Alpine Resort had to close almost all of its lifts today (Friday).

Following a significant amount of heavy, wet snow, the resort decided to close all of the lifts apart from the Mighty Moose, The Elk Chair and The Mini Moose.

The resort brought in extra avalanche control crews and helicopters to release avalanche bombs, in the hope of making more terrain safe so more areas could be opened at the weekend.

“We have had historic snowfall in the last two weeks, and we are trying to clear as many areas as possible,” said Matt Mosteller, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Resorts of the Canadian Rockies (RCR).

“The team is just givin’ er with all they have to make it safe.

“The most important thing to us is the safety of our guests and staff.”

Mosteller said some closures will still be in place tomorrow, and the website will be updated first thing in the morning to advise people of the closures.

“All I know right now is we won’t have the whole of the hill open,” he said.

Yesterday (Thursday) a large natural avalanche occurred at Snake Ridge within the resort boundaries at about 3 p.m. The area was closed to the public at the time.