Christmas day reminded me of days a decade ago that encougaged me to relocate to Fernie. The Christmas of 94’ and 96’ were unbelievable. The snow was soft, deep and untracked everywhere.

My first ever powder Christmas was in 86� at Whistler when we adding tracks to our last lines all day-long. In those days there were no snowboards or fat skis and most people stuck to the groomed.

Ironically I skied yesterday with one of the same skiers that I skied that Christmas in Whistler with 20 years past. With older knees and fatter skis our smiles were as big as ever!

The high traverse to Fish and the face-lift were closed yesterday. I expect to see them open today. Today could be the last day before the holiday masses arrive–get out and enjoy!

Smiles were plentiful today as the sliding and mood was festive. Even Santa was seen telemarking on the slopes.The powder was thoroughly ripped today, everywhere except the face-lift which is certain to make its seasonal appearance on the 27th or 28th. Regardless of the face-lift opening, the groomed and crud will keep the masses entertained until the next dump.

I stand corrected – the masses have not invaded the slopes this weekend – they will arrive on the 27th as in past years.It snowed 15 cm today and the conditions were excellent everywhere. To make it even better, the slopes were empty!

And that’s what Fernie is famous for, good snow and only you and your friends to enjoy it.

The next few days look very promising – see you out there.

This past week has offered excellent wind-packed snow conditions and an empty mountain. This weekend our local hill will transform into a mega destination with all the hustle and bustle of any urban centre. For me it’s time to get out my snowshoes, x-country and touring skis.

For those looking for fresh tracks and a bit of solitude I recommend the local snow cat operations:

• Island Lake and Powder Cowboy - 423-3700
• Fernie Wilderness - 423-6704

I have skied four of the first seven days and it has been awesome, despite closed lifts and limited terrain. The last three storm cycles have ended with cold temperatures creating great snow conditions.Today was locals day, free skiing and more with a local address, and the crowds were minimal. Traffic will pick up on the 27th as usual however with great conditions in all of Western Canada I don’t expect lift lines during the holidays.

See you on the slopes!

The OK stems from riding Friday at Island Lake Lodge where fresh tracks were endless. Secondly, it hasn’t snowed for two weeks and locals, myself included, had effectively hiked and skied every run prior to Saturday’s opening.Otherwise the opening was great! The snow coverage was excellent and the sun rose to the occasion both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was quite busy as the powder frenzy was in full effect however Sunday was quieter and the three cm’s of fresh snow made for soft turns everywhere.

Opening weekend is about more that bottomless powder, it’s about people with similar passions and philosophies coming together. It was great having ski friends from Toronto and Calgary in our home and equally as nice seeing those countless faces that compose the Fernie locals scene.

To bring my 13th Fernie opening weekend to an end I sat in the Griz bar and enjoyed a Fernie Brewing Griz Pale Ale in honour of the Griz.

Bring on more snow!!

13 runs and 18,000 ft of vertical kept 12 guests and two guides in a suspended state of perma-grin on Saturday. Island Lake Lodge has launched the Fernie season with very good conditions. The snow-pack provided great coverage and the face shots were plentiful.This summer’s gladding effort opened new lines that otherwise would have been too dense to ski. It has doubled terrain for early season openings and with the generous snow-pack, there wasn’t a rock to be seen.

My friend Pat brought along his nifty GPS gadget, recorded our day and plotted the data on a Google Earth map. It’s great technology and sure to be utilized in a commercial application at resorts in the near future.

With FAR’s lifts opening this coming Saturday and Fernie Wilderness Adventures putting in their cat roads, Fernie will soon be in full operation. More snow and good temperatures are forecast for this week. See you out there!