Tell Me About Crowsnest Pass

[troutman]

I’m getting a place in the Crowsnest Pass next month.

Any CP members live there? Tell me all the pro tips about life in the Pass.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by troutman

I’m getting a place in the Crowsnest Pass next month.

Any CP members live there? Tell me all the pro tips about life in the Pass.

I have lots of family there and love visiting. I'd retire there myself one day if I can.

[J pold]

My parents retired there and love it. Old Man River Brewing in Lumberk has a jam night on Wednesdays (pretty sure) and it's sometimes hosted by a guy named Larry.

[White Out 403]

Rum runner days used to be a lot cooler when thunder in the valley happened

[DoubleK]

The Rum Runner makes a poutine burger that is divine.

The renovated golf course is among the best in the province. I'm so happy I got to play it before I left Alberta.

The Crowsnest River has surprisingly good fly fishing if you are so inclined.

[Derek Sutton]

So you’re moving there? or have a weekend getaway place? The Pass is comprised of about 5 towns/ villages all linked together. Not the biggest fan of it myself, lots of “White tRash with money” folks thanks to TECK, which, also thanks to TECK, the area is fairly transient. And the locals are real hillbillies. There are a few highlights. Pass Brewing is good for both food and beer. Chris’ in Coleman is hidden gem of a restaurant (old school cafe) and the Cinnamon Bear Bakery is awesome! The Rum Runner is really good too (although they don’t have a/c in there). I also like Charlie Biggs Chicken but you never know if they are going to be open or not. The Pass golf course gets brave reviews and they do have promotions for locals, I personally find it overrated.

One thing that really sucks out there is that there are no options for consumers. There’s an overpriced, rundown IGA grocery store, a Hardware store and that’s about it. Also, if you have a vehicle newer then 2010, or imported, your service options are limited.

The in-laws have a place out there.

[habernac]

Terrific man biking at Pass Powderkeg. Endless hiking and off-road opportunities.

[Geraldsh]

I worked on a dept of highway survey crew there in 1968. The 4 of us, all in our early 20’s, rented an apartment above the liquor store in Coleman - good times.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by habernac

Terrific man biking at Pass Powderkeg. Endless hiking and off-road opportunities.

What...like women aren't allowed?

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Locke

What...like women aren't allowed?

I take it you're riding men, so man sex man euphamism?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Shazam

I take it you're riding men, so man sex man euphamism?

Either its male-only biking or you have to pass a test to prove that you are indeed 'Terrific.'

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by Locke

Either its male-only biking or you have to pass a test to prove that you are indeed 'Terrific.'

Who knew three words could be so ambiguous.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Shazam

Who knew three words could be so ambiguous.

Oh and if you thought I wasn't going to be pedantic about it then you were fooling yourself!!

Is there like a Council of Elders who determine if you're a 'Terrific Man' and thusly allow you to bike? What kind of shenanigans are going down in the Crowsnest Pass?

[Tron_fdc]

I live in Fernie and I love CP. Excellent biking, amazing hiking, unreal golf, decent hill for night skiing at PP, close to Fernie and Castle for bigger mountain skiing, great sledding, world class fly fishing and (IMO) the brewery is better than Fernie brewing.

Yeah it’s rough around the edges with the miners (same as Fernie) but money is coming in and it’s going to be similar to Canmore. Except it’s really windy.

I wouldn’t think twice.

[Erick Estrada]

My father lived there for about 20 years as did I on and off and know a lot of people that still live there. It's great in the summer if you are into outdoor activities as many have said but a ghost town in the winter so you have to be into snowmobiling or skiing (Fernie). As Derek said above the services and shopping are absolute crap. I disagree that the locals are hillbillies. Belleview and Hillcrest people are kind of weird (hard to explain as you would have to live in the Pass to understand) but Coleman and Blairmore folks are pretty normal rural Alberta/BC for the most part so hopefully you got your property in Coleman or Blairmore. My dad has a nice lot in Coleman but none of us are remotely interested in building a house there because it's just too old, dead, and nothing ever gets built there because municipality politics. They could have had a nice (and badly needed) indoor facility with pools in Blairmore but the other towns couldn't agree because of course they wanted it in their town so everyone loses. That's largely why it's kind of dumpy and run down. Great place if you want to disappear, grow old, and die.

[BigThief]

The locals are absolutely hillbillies

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by BigThief

The locals are absolutely hillbillies

Meh. If you are expecting rural Albertans to dress, talk, and act like city people then I supposed you will think everyone outside cities are hillbillies. There are extremes just as there are in the city but there's lots of good people there as I know a lot of them still. Pincher Creek definitely would have more people per capita that qualify as hillbillies. Maybe inbreeding or something in the water but some weird folks in that town. I'll leave it to troutman to come to his own conclusions on the local people after he's spent enough time there but I imagine he will agree with me.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by BigThief

The locals are absolutely hillbillies

this is correct. The locals absolutely are Hillbillies

[SutterBrother]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Great place if you want to disappear, grow old, and die.

I must be getting old because DAMN does that sound good to me!

[Cecil Terwilliger]

I’ve always liked Chinook Lake. Nice place for your relaxing day on a tube or the walking path that goes around the lake.