By Gordie Bowles ♦ Photos: Fernie's new lift (Fernie Alpine Resort)

It’s the tweet many were waiting for: @SkiFernie (Fernie Alpine Resort) commented Monday on the “Grand Opening of NEW Polar Peak Lift on Saturday.”

The Polar Peak lift will catapult brave powder seekers to the tip-top of this already high-access mountain resort, starting at 11 a.m. Saturday. The Polar Peak lift will boost the mountain’s stats (now 3,550 vertical feet and 140 runs) and, more importantly, serve up some serious above-treeline bowl skiing off the summit in one of the highest peaks in the Lizard Range.

The lift opening is the unofficial kickoff to the resorts’ 50th anniversary, with celebrations continuing throughout the season into late March.

The mountain began installation of the new lift as soon as the snow melted last spring, and the staff is excited about what it brings to the resort.

“The Polar Peak lift is taking lift-access skiing and riding to the next level, putting Fernie at the top of any skier’s’and rider’s bucket list,” said Matt Mosteller, vice president of marketing for Resorts of Canadian Rockies. “This lift (has) spectacular views of peaks, valleys and lakes from Lake Koocanusa in the southwest to the spine of the Canadian Rockies looking up the Elk Valley all the way into Kananaskis Country and Banff National Park.”

In addition to the increased terrain, increased vertical and summit experience is the enhancement to Fernie’s snow-control efforts. The Polar Peak lift provides quick access to the various ridgelines above the major alpine bowls. This quicker access for ski patrol will speed up efforts to open terrain following the regular snowfalls at Fernie.