‘Keep the rubber side Down’.

Kick off this summer as the Downhill Mountain Bike season begins on Saturday June 28^th, 2008 at Fernie Alpine Resort. The Bike Trail Crew is doing a great job getting the trails cleared, doing erosion control, run-off management and doing trail maintenance. We had over 37 feet of snow at Fernie Alpine Resort (http://www.skifernie.com) and a cold Spring so they have had their work cut out for them. People in Fernie could not wait to get out on their bikes and now summer has truly arrived.

Marc Ledoux is doing great work and has prepared a real solid plan to continue to highlight what Fernie is famous for! Fernie Alpine Resort (http://www.skifernie.com)  is mostly single track, techy riding. Natural features abound. In taking the focus away from jumping, we are moving trail development to wider trails, less grade, berms, wall rides and drops. The crew is also working on a new run on the Timber side and also creating a kick ass Dual Slalom track on the Mighty Moose! Should be lots of fun!

Let me know what you think and look forward to seeing you on the trails this weekend!

Fernie – the community is a must ride mountain bike destination. The local Fernie Mountain Bike Club has been out working hard on trail maintenance. With an incredible array of trails for all levels the toughest part is making your selection- check out the Fernie Mountain Bike Map – a good resource to get you started finding a trail that suits your riding style- it is available at Polar Peek Books, Board Stiff, Fernie Sports, Guides Hut, Ski Base and Straight Line.

There is so much to do in Fernie this summer. You can't beat summer in the Canadian Rockies!. Some of my favorites-

Fernie Writers Conference – July 15-27^th – visit http://www.ferniewriters.org

Trans Rockies – Aug 10^th-16^th – http://www.transrockies.com

3^rd Annual Full Throttle Mountain Bike Festival- Aug 23-24^th – http://www.skifernie.com

Let me know what your favorite summertime event is in Fernie?

Back to sharing passion for the mountains!  In our mountain communities of Fernie and Kimberley there are individuals who are passionate mountain adventurers. They are humble, talented people who have taken their pursuits to great heights. These individuals care about the mountain community. You don’t have to go to the extreme like the few I have listed below to enjoy the mountains. Please send me your story….It would be great if you can send me links and images of individuals I have missed but here are a few that come to mind.

Dave Quinn

Pat Bates, www.batesphoto.com

Kari Medig, http://www.kerimedigphoto.com

Henry Georgi, http://www.henrygeorgi.com

Terry Parker, http://www.terryparkerphoto.com

To name a few of our very talented locals! We had many visit us over the years from adventurers and mountain lovers who live in other places and took away stories and memories

It was great to see Andrew McLean skiing at Fernie Alpine Resort (http://www.skifernie.com ) this winter! Please view Andrew’s story at http://www.greatoutdoors.com/published/skiers-trifecta-in-interior-british-columbia

We have also been fortunate to have Gordon Wiltsie, www.alpenimage.com, Bobby Model, and Carl Skoog visit. Carl Skoog, www.carlskoog.com , unfortunately died on a mountain expedition. Bobby Model, www.bobbymodel.com , a young talent who at a ripe young age was part of a climbing expedition to Pakistan and did the 1^st Free Climb of the Trango Towers , passionate individual who has taken his love for the mountains to the world and has shown tremendous care for people less fortunate and for the environment(Bobby has sustained a life threatening injury while on assignment in Africa http://www.nationalgeographic.com/field/explorers/bobby-model.html ) I believe in power of positive energy so please send your thoughts his way during his recovery.

Like Bobby, many of those mentioned have gone forward to ‘do’ good for people, for the environment and for making us more aware of areas around the world!

We have many incredible adventures and stories to share about the people who live in Fernie and Kimberley. Most live their lives enjoying the mountains and sharing their passion with others. They do not want fan-fare and that is how they like it!

We are fortunate. So fortunate that we are able to make more powder turns, cast that fly line, hike that ridge to catch the sunset and share the tales with friends.

“Up here, it’s always good”

“Up here, it’s always good” a local powder skier said to me this winter in Fernie while we are skiing Snake Ridge.

I have wanted to start this blog for awhile. I hope that it provides a vehicle for fun, productive and informative exchange and that you find value in reading it.

I am crazy about skiing! Eat.Sleep.Ski! Here I am already preparing for next winter and I am fortunate to be working as part of team ,who are all equally as passionate about the sport we share, and who work hard to provide a consistent and quality skiing experience at resorts like Fernie Alpine Resort and Kimberley Alpine Resort.