The Thunder Meadows Hut
The Thunder Meadows Hut - nestled in the trees and with great, short laps all around it.
Just outside Fernie you'll find Thunder Meadows. The hut can be a bit of a slog to get to (unless you cheat and access via the ski resort), but there's some great skiing once you're there.
Vital Info
Capacity: 10 People
Location: 11U 632270E 5482440N
Access: 8km and 850m of elevation gain.
Swank Factor: Medium - There's heat, a two burner propane stove and some pots and pans. Things are well used, but functional.
Getting There
Drive to Fernie. Once there, head South for a whole 1 or 2 km - you barely leave town. Turn right onto Mt. Fernie Park Road. Drive up the road until you reach the obvious and large parking lot. This lot is used by Island Lake and local cross country skiers. Park here.
Follow up the groomed logging road that leaves from the north side of the lot heading due west. Follow the logging road until a sharp corner at 11U 633030E 5484600N (there's an obvious sign) at about 5km up the road. Follow a trail down into the drainage and then start gaining the cabin ridge. Follow this up until an obvious bench leads you to climbers left and out into the open bowl at about 1550m elevation. Continue to climb up the climber's right side of the bowl until you reach a high pass. Don't get sucked right and instead go slightly higher and to the left, but to the right of where things get cliffed out. Gain the top of the pass (1950m) by whatever route feels right to you. Unless the weather is socked in, you should be able to see the hut as soon as you clear the trees. Ski down by whatever route you like, easiest options lie to skier's left. The hut is nestled in some trees at about 1875m.
What's There
Basic, heated hut. There's a wood burning stove, with wood. Lights are LED and actually work. The kitchen has a two burner propane stove (and propane) as well as a few pots, pans, cooking tools as well as plates, mugs, etc.
Once You're There
Lots of mellow lines in the bowl that surrounds the hut. Cabin Bowl and Orca Bowl, both North of the hut have many options for longer lines and some incredible couloirs.
BOOKING THE HUT
Get in touch with the Guide's hut in Fernie. They'll take your money and reservation.
Cost
A pretty reasonable $110 for the full hut (including a $10 booking fee that goes to the Guide's hut for the hassle).