 Poster: A snowHead
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Trying to organise a trip for a large party for Easter 2005. I quite like the sound of Fernie, and have found a suitable chalet, but what's it like for reluctant skiers, non-skiers, small children etc. It sounds ideal for my family, but what about the rest. We are a very mixed bag-teens,toddlers,intermediates, and advanced. Some of us will ski all day, others may not want to ski at all depending on how they feel. Any suggestions? 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Yes. Get someone else to do it. It's a thankless task 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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In my view Fernie is for skiers (and boarders) first and foremost. Although it is a real town the options for non-skiers depend on what you think about rural North American continent ex-mining towns with long trains having lonesome whistles passing through, and what you want to do during the day. eg shopping opportunities are limited. If you are staying at the FAR (Fernie Alpine Resort) there would be little to do other than ski so travel by bus, taxi or hire car would really be essential. The latter would provide an opportunity to explore but the nearest big town is Calgary, 3 hours drive through emptiness, and not much to look at either. For skiing and snow stuff it is THE BIZ, and there are good restaurants and bars to go to at night, but I do not think non-skiers and toddlers would be impressed.
http://far.redtree.com/cgi-bin/far/index.py will give you lots of stuff about Fernie
Others contradict me if you know better 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Alan's said more or less what I would have. As a skiier I think its's great. For non-skiiers, there are better places
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You've confirmed my suspiscions guys, but we would rather not do 3 valleys again.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Sounds like you need somewhere with some non-skiing possibilities. You could do worse than the Jungfrau Region in Switzerland (Wengen, Grindelwald or Murren). Lots to do and see for non-skiers, and you can even meet up with them on the mountain as much of the transport is pedestrian friendly. Non skiers can buy an 'Active Pass', which is a reduced-price ski-pass for pedestrians.
The skiing's not bad either 
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Your all right-it's a thankless task, I put the idea of JUngfrau to them and got too much negative reponse-expensive, it's Switzerland etc. I'm giving it up as a bad job and letting someone else do it. All skking trips are expensive and they all have heaps more dough than me!!!
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Good call Helen. As Maggi says, trying to organise skiing holidays is a thankless task - trying to organise a cheap skiing holiday is well-nigh impossible!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I think I've taken on organising next year's trip to Zermatt. (I don't expect it to be cheap). Have I done the wrong thing?
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It's ok as long as everyone has a similar expectation on price, transport, quality of accommodation etc. Under no circumstances should you permit any degree of democracy - just be an energetic autocrat and you'll be ok!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I would advice against organising a trip. I had a wonderful experience. I was trying to organise a trip for myself, my then wife, a couple of friends and my then mother-in-law. Another chap that we all knew asked if he could come along with some of his friends. Loads of people kept pulling out so we had to keep finding new people and the aforementioned chap ran off with my then wife!!!!!! I've never quite been able to think about La Plagne in the same way again - the skiing was good mind!
I would agree with mike telford about this - you need to get money from people before you book, and tell them where you are going and insist on a yes/no answer.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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arranging a ski trip is liking trying to nail jelly to the wall. In October, I asked a group of friends, about 24 people in all, who was up for skiing. Most people expressed an interest. I thought if we get a bit over half confirm that would be enough to book out a whole chalet. So i found a catered chalet for 16 people. two weeks before xmas only 3 other poeple had confirmed, so booked a self catering appt instead.
In the end 17 people went, travelling by a mixture of train, plane and car. Spread over 2 appts and one catered chalet. And do you know what they said to me.....
why arent we all together....aaaaaaaagggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh 
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FAQ
. We started with a couple of families wanting to go, but it's grown and I've been asked to try to sort out a chalet for 20 (but it could be more) and they don't want to spend too much, and it must be Ok for kids, beginners, experts, childcare, near the slopes etc. etc.
