Underexposed: Fernie, BC

Underexposed is a self-shot and produced series of documentary short-films by Pivot Cycles athlete Brice Shirbach. The series is dedicated to showcasing mountain bike advocacy and stewardship while exploring trails across the globe. Join Brice as he explores the relationship between community and trails.

This Underexposed is dedicated to the memory of Abi Moore, to her family, and to everyone building their legacies through trails, community, and inclusivity.

Seven days before I arrived in the stunning Canadian Rockies community of Fernie, BC, the town suffered the tragic loss of one of its residents and biggest trail advocates, Abi Moore. Abi was the co-owner of Stag Leap Running Company and the race director of the Elk Valley Ultra, and was a board member for the Fernie Trails Alliance. Coming into my week in Fernie, I was completely unaware of the loss, with my head down and doing my best to stay organized and on top of logistics. Underexposed is a heavy lift, being a completely self-filmed and self-produced docuseries and at times it can be a bit of whirlwind - albeit brilliantly fun - experience exploring communities and their trails. It was toward the end of my first full day in town when I learned of Abi’s passing. 

I was working alongside a group of volunteers from the Fernie Trails Alliance clearing up sight lines and cambers when Mel Wrigglesworth mentioned it. Mel is the executive director of the non-profit trail association and, as I would learn during my time in town, appears to be best friends with practically everyone who calls Fernie home. “If you start to see anyone crying unexpectedly, it’s because we just lost one of the best people we had here,” she said to me as she raked brush clippings off of the trail.

Fernie and its surrounding area is home to around 7,000 people and is the only city in Canada that is fully encircled by the Rockies. The timber and mining industries still play a significant role for the region’s economy, but outdoor recreation is on equal footing here. It's home to Fernie Alpine Resort, which is well known for its world class ski slopes as well as its access to backcountry ski terrain, and the area in general is loaded with a bevy of ways to enjoy time outside that include fly fishing, hiking, climbing, paddling, and yes - obviously mountain biking. Being outside is an integral part of the fabric of Fernie’s culture, and despite the modest numbers as far as residents go, a sizable portion of those who call this place home devote much of their time to strengthening their bonds to one another through outdoor recreation, specifically on the trails. Abi Moore was very much a big part of that contingent. 

I have spent a lot of time over the years talking about how good bikes can be for the world, and Fernie is among the best examples of that I've ever seen. It's not just about how much fun it is to ride bikes in the woods, or the personal growth that comes from it. I truly believe that trails are a form of connective tissue for communities around the world. They connect us to the land, and quite honestly, to each other. It's a connection that can last a lifetime, and for those of us who make it a part of our lives, it can ultimately be a part of our legacy. I think too often we only bring up the idea of legacy after we lose someone near and dear to us, but my time in Fernie provided an opportunity to appreciate legacy in real time as well.

Later in the week I would have the opportunity to sit with Mel to discuss the FTA, as well as Abi Moore’s memory and impact. It was during that conversation and even afterward as Mel and I rode together across town to the local Pivot dealer, Ski Base, that I could see her own legacy in action as we stopped every 10 seconds to chat with one local after another about any number of things, from trails, to social gatherings, to food suggestions, and more. Leadership is something that comes very naturally to Mel, as does empathy, which for a town like Fernie, serves to only strengthen the cohesion among those who call this place home.

The other trail group in town is the Coal Creek Heritage Society which, alongside the FTA, are a part of the “divide and conquer” approach to trail access and maintenance in and around Fernie. Patrick Gilmar is the president of the CCHS and has been building trails in Fernie for 40 years. The retired geologist has put more blood, sweat and tears into these trails than perhaps anyone, which for most would be more than enough to cement their legacy, but as Pat tells it, he’s got more work to do. 

“When you’re retired you’ve got lots of time, but not a lot of body left.” he tells me with a laugh. “That’s just the reality. I used to be able to go out all day long, and now two or three hours is a huge workout. I would say in my progression over the last 40 years, I’m less trailwork and more paperwork.”

The loss of Abi Moore will be felt by locals in Fernie for a long time. While I never had the opportunity to meet Abi, her impact on the community was easy to see and feel throughout my week in town. I expected to come to town and tell a story about a dreamscape in the heart of the Elk Valley exploring amazing trails and grinning from ear-to-ear on some ripping descents. To be clear, those things did indeed happen. But far more importantly, I was reminded of the importance of trails, not simply to us as individuals, but to “us” as a collective. I was also reminded that legacies are an ongoing process and shouldn’t only be recognized or appreciated after the fact, but I cannot imagine a better one to leave behind than the one Abi Moore left here in Fernie.