Tag 1 - A Journey to Fernie

02.02.2018

Tagwache is at 05:00 local time Kriens-Obernau City. After a mini-breakfast, we will drive to Luzern main station fully loaded (more on that later). The train, slightly more crowded than usual due to the interruption in the Zofingen route and passengers being redirected to Zurich via Bern, will take us to Zurich HB, where a change to Zurich Airport is necessary. We checked in yesterday, so we just need to drop off our luggage (1 suitcase, ski/snowboard bag, and shoe bag).

After a second breakfast, we will go through the security check, and while waiting to board, we will have the most expensive latte macchiato of our lives (CHF 6.50). We will then board the Lufthansa Airbus 320, which will take us to Frankfurt in 65 minutes, where we will have a good 2-hour layover. The weather in Zurich is much better than in Frankfurt.

At 13:30, we will board the Air Canada Dreamliner (Boeing 787) to Calgary. We were lucky during check-in and got three window seats. We will travel over Iceland and Greenland for the 7,000 km journey to Canada. On the way, we will see an impressive landscape with lots of icebergs.

At 15:00 (local time), we will arrive in Calgary and go through passport control and customs (importing apples is prohibited). Then, we will go to the car rental office, where we will pick up our vehicle in minus 18 degrees. Winter tires cost extra, but hopefully, snow and all-season tires will be enough. Now, it's time for the 300 km journey to Fernie in British Columbia. Initially, still in daylight, we will follow the twilight as we approach our accommodation. The landscape is rather barren and initially flat, but soon we won't see much except our headlights. The initially straight roads will become more winding, and it will get warmer... Our stomachs growl more and more, but there are no civilization in sight, then finally, we see a small village and rush to the first restaurant/pub. As we continue driving, the number of villages and dining options increase.

At 21:30, the journey ends, and we arrive in Fernie. After a quick shower, we will go to bed as soon as possible because we have been awake for over 24 hours. In Switzerland, it is already 06:00 in the morning, good morning or rather good night.