GQ Insider Gary Williams (@masterwilliams) is generally more of a city guy. But this past September he heard the call of the wild and heeded it, heading north of the border for a stylish jaunt into the Canadian Rockies. His destination? Fernie, British Columbia, an underappreciated mountain town that’s a 3.5-hour drive from Calgary. Here’s a rundown of how he hiked, paddled, got sidetracked by the crazy scenery—and managed to look sharp while doing all of it. Take this itinerary (and the style cues) as inspiration.
The handsome year-round resort’s indoor charms—like locally made wooden furniture and an appealing menu of après-workout spa options—compete with its truly stellar alpine location. Williams went hiking, swimming, and canoeing. During the paddle especially, his desire to break a sweat lost out to his need to soak up the scenery. “I found myself going super slow just trying to take it all in,” he said.
The evergreen-lined fairways and mountain backdrops make this par-70 course one of the most picturesque in North America. “[At] some golf courses, the back nine don’t look as great as the front nine,” Williams notes—but not at this 100-year-old club, where the postcard views are panoramic. “To play golf and be visually stimulated, that’s a win-win for me.”
Winter turns the mountain’s 2,500 acres terrain into a powdery, not-too-crowded skier’s paradise. During the grass months, this part of the so-called Lizard Range makes for a perfect front-country hiking experience. The Lost Boys trails, with their alpine meadows, are mellow; tacking on a few hours to summit nearly 7,000-foot Polar Peak considerably ups the ante. “It was challenging at times, but also invigorating and energetic,” says Williams. “Every step was well worth it.”
Housed in an old bank building this downtown hangout serves up live music, tasty pub grub, and local pours. Fernie Brewing Co., based just across the Elk River, makes a beautifully crisp German-style pilsner. Williams, relaxing from outdoorsy pursuits for a welcome moment, reported warm and friendly small-town vibes. “They always say Canadians are nice people. I can now say, ‘Yeah—I’ll vouch for that.’” Meanwhile, he’s dreaming about bringing his workout to this unsung mountain resort again soon. “It was so refreshing to go to Fernie and get that air. They need to bottle it up and sell it,” Williams says. “Until they do, I’ll be happy to go back. Maybe next time in winter.” Fly to Vancouver with WestJet to explore Fernie, British Columbia.
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