Fernie Wilderness Adventures — Forty Years Deep

Where It All Began

A Kitchen-Table Dream,
Four Decades Strong

In 1986, Kim and Deb Sedrovic started something most people only ever talk about. FWA began humbly — Kim offering guided fishing trips on his days off from his full-time job at Line Creek, the first licensed fishing outfitter in the Elk Valley. He had been guiding since he was 15. He knew these mountains the way most people know their own backyard.

In 1995, they went all in. Both resigned from their other jobs and committed fully to FWA. Cat skiing launched on Morrissey Ridge that same year — and that same year, Kim drove up one day to find only glowing embers where the lodge and bunkhouses had stood. The community showed up and they built something better together.

Word spread the way it does when something is genuinely, quietly extraordinary. A one-cat, three-seat operation grew into a full mountain experience — winter cat skiing, summer fly fishing on the Elk, Flathead, Wigwam, and Bull Rivers, wildlife tours, river floats, and a backcountry lodge that became a second home to thousands of people over four decades.

This is grass-roots Fernie. Locally owned. Built slowly and stubbornly, season by season, against every kind of storm. Kim and Deb didn't just build a business — they built a community, a culture, and a legacy that belongs to everyone who was ever part of it.

Forty Years

The Long Game

1986
FWA is born. Kim starts offering guided fishing trips on his days off — the first licensed fishing outfitter in the Elk Valley. He joins Fernie Fire Rescue as an auxiliary firefighter in 1993, beginning 25 years of service to the community alongside building FWA.
1995
Kim and Deb go all in — both resign from their other jobs and commit fully to FWA. Cat skiing launches on Morrissey Ridge. Later that year, the lodge burns to the ground. The community shows up and rebuilds it together.
Late 1990s
Word spreads the old-fashioned way — through people who've been there and can't stop talking about it. Long-term staff start to feel like family. The FWA culture takes root.
2000s
Summer operations grow. Guided fly fishing on the Elk, Flathead, Wigwam, and Bull Rivers. Wildlife tours. River floats. The backcountry lodge becomes a year-round destination — wood-fired hot tub, home-cooked meals, and stories that never get old.
2012
Kim is inducted into the inaugural Fernie Ski Wall of Fame as a Pioneer — one of only 21 honourees ever named — recognized for establishing FWA and helping put Fernie on the international skiing map.
2015
A terrain expansion partnership brings the Sedrovics' longtime dream to life. "This is the end of our dream," Kim says — meaning the beginning of everything they'd worked toward.
2018
Kim receives the federal Fire Services Exemplary Service Medal for 25 years with Fernie Fire Rescue. At the ceremony, Deb is thanked by name for 25 years of waking up to a pager going off at 1am, 2am, 3am. The both of them, always showing up.
2026
Forty years. The same ridge. The same values. The same two people who bet everything on a dream — and turned it into something that changed lives. Happy 40th, Kim and Deb.

Honoured by the Community

What Fernie Said About Them

Kim and Deb built FWA quietly and without fanfare — but over forty years, the community made sure to say thank you.

2012

Fernie Ski Wall of Fame
Pioneer Inductee

Kim was named among the first 21 members ever inducted into the Fernie Ski Wall of Fame — in the Pioneer category — for establishing FWA and helping put Fernie on the international map for cat skiing and backcountry adventure.

2018

Federal Fire Services
Exemplary Service Medal

After 25 years as an auxiliary firefighter with Fernie Fire Rescue — from river rescues to car wrecks to hamburger days — Kim received the federal medal for 20+ years of service with 10 in risk-facing duties. Deb was thanked by name at the ceremony for 25 years of waking to a pager at 1am, 2am, 3am.

City of Fernie

Long Service Award

The City of Fernie formally honoured Kim with a Long Service Award — recognition of four decades of contribution to this community through FWA, firefighting, community giving, and being the kind of person who shows up when it counts.

"For 25 years, Kim has dedicated thousands of hours to helping people in our community — whether it was just flipping a patty at hamburger days or a rescue on the river or from a mangled car. Kim was an exemplary firefighter who was a mentor to all auxiliary firefighters."
— Fernie Fire Rescue, 2018

In Their Own Words

What People Say

Just an awesome experience. Exceeded all of my expectations. Great guides, endless variety of first-track terrain and champagne powder everywhere.

Guest

Cat Skiing

Undoubtedly a great experience. With expansive terrain and genuine expertise, the crew cultivated a fantastic day for our group. Each run was a spectacular new adventure.

Guest

Cat Skiing

Kim, Brian and Cindy and the whole crew really look after you. We had top-to-bottom waist-deep powder all day. If you love skiing powder — look no further.

Repeat Guest

Cat Skiing

I have been fortunate to ski over 25 days with Fernie Wilderness in the past 3 years and each new day brings on bigger smiles than Christmas morning.

Repeat Guest

Cat Skiing

Patient, knowledgeable, great tips — we felt like we were in great hands all day and had a magnificent day out on the water.

Guest

Fly Fishing

Working for FWA always felt like working with Kim and Deb. Every day felt like an adventure. The team always found a way to put smiles on faces. Definitely some of the best days of my life.

Former Staff

FWA Crew

My second family. A mom and dad who took me in as their own. Taught me so many things I try to pass on to my kids to this day. I will never forget your mom, dad, and you guys.

Former Staff

FWA Crew

We've been skiing with you guys since the late '90s — what an amazing organisation. So glad that you've given us so many amazing experiences over the years.

Long-time Guest

Skiing with FWA since the late '90s

When We Sent the Call Out