Magic Carpets, Black Diamonds & Happy Cows: Our First Ski Day in Fernie

Fernie Alpine Resort

We finally did it—we put our Epic Passes to use for the first time on this trip! We actually got to try them out once before, back in December at Stowe Mountain during the Christmas break. But this time felt different—bigger, bolder, and wrapped in the wild spirit of our minibus adventure.

The girls were a little nervous. The mountains here are massive, and it was their first time seeing slopes this big. We started slow, just the way they needed it: a run on the magic carpet to build confidence. Arielle chose to stick to the green runs—steady, thoughtful, finding her rhythm.

Élyssa, on the other hand, surprised us all by pointing her skis down a black diamond. Our youngest. On a black diamond. Watching her zip down the hill with such boldness (and a huge grin) was unforgettable.

Instead of taking the shuttle from the RV resort, we brought The Pink Sloth straight to the mountain. Best decision. Having our kitchen, gear, and cozy space with us made the whole day smoother. After a few runs, we came back to the bus, pulled out a camping chair, and sat in the sun enjoying a simple, delicious mountain-side lunch: hot perogies with fresh spinach. There's something extra magical about eating comfort food with a view like that.

And honestly, hanging around The Pink Sloth has become one of the most fun parts of this trip. People smile when they see it—some even stop to take pictures or tell us how cool it is. It’s such a joy to see others light up when they notice it, knowing how much love and dreaming went into bringing her to life.

Later in the day, I asked the girls if they were missing home. They paused for a second, then Arielle looked around and said, “We are home.” My heart nearly burst. It was one of those moments I know I’ll remember forever—the kind that makes all the planning, packing, and leap-taking feel more than worth it.

After skiing, Simon dropped the girls and me off at the community aquatic centre for some splash time while he went to pick up groceries. We spent longer than expected in the water (it was hard to pull ourselves away!), and by the time we got back to The Pink Sloth, we realized we were running late for dinner—and even later for our planned ice cream stop.

Fernie Aquatic Centre

We quickly whipped up some homemade burgers, scarfed them down inside The Pink Sloth as fast as we could, and left the dishes piled up in the sink to deal with later. Then we jumped on our bikes, racing against the clock to make it to Happy Cow before they closed.

Happy Cow Ice Cream

As we sat outside the shop, catching our breath with ice cream cones in hand, Simon looked up mid-lick and grinned: “Sometimes you have to hurry to be happy.” We all burst out laughing—because, of course, our trip’s motto is “Don’t hurry, be happy.” Apparently, we’re learning to live in the sweet spot between the two.

What We're Learning on the Road

One of the biggest lessons we're holding onto right now is this: We can’t be guided by our kids’ fears. We can acknowledge them, meet them with calm and understanding—but we also need to stay grounded in the plan. Because growth doesn’t happen in the comfort zone. And sometimes, the magic only comes after a little wobble.

And also—sometimes, you really do have to hurry to be happy. 🍦