I recently saw the virtue of temperance described as “the combination of inspiring history with modern day beauty; where tradition meets newness”. No better words could encapsulate what your FAR Bike Crew has been up to since our last update.
After completing general spring trail clean up and hazard tree removal last week, we have been surveying our network of thirty-four trails and deciding what must stay and what it is time to let go of. Are memories of old favorite trails and features just that, faded recollections tainted by time? Or was the old line really that good and why did we change it anyways? How do you breath new life into old faithful trails but pay homage to what has made Fernie Alpine Resort such a unique and great place to ride through the years?
Fortunately for us, resources are piling up. You may have heard that we bought a brand new mini-hoe for trail work this spring. Even better than our new mini-hoe is the return of our stellar machine operator; fresh off the plane from New Zealand and back at it on the fernie trails this summer. We have three new trail crew staff bringing eager muscles and keen eyes to old tasks. Of course, some of the senior crew is back and the Fernie Carpenters and Fallers are also getting their hands dirty.
As a team, we are focused on completing a couple of projects for openning weekend. As of noon today, we have completed the last of the work on Ewok. This was a huge project with six new wood boardwalk structures all connected with classic fernie loamy singletrack. Preliminary test rides yesterday proved that any ability of rider can conquer them all, but the crew favorite is one we affectionately call Jabba The Hutt. Check it out on preview weekend June 22 & 23rd to see how it got it’s name. The mini is spinning its tracks on Honey Bee and Eville as we install some permanent drainage, re-grade and resurface to accommodate the irresolute natural springs. Just in case you didn’t feel like enough of a rock star rolling into the Timber Chair load last year, we have just resurfaced the steep pitch exiting the tree island. The team literally rolled out 100 ft of rough cut fir carpet with a step and repeat backdrop of interior cedar-hemlock forest and legendary alpine bowls. If you brought your paparazzi with you, this is the place to whhhip-it and shine.
The Webster dictionary defines temperance as “control over excess” or “finding the middle ground”. Our hopes are that you do not restrain and settle for the middle ground this summer but that you reach new heights on our trails, in in our zipline and in our aerials park. We are dreaming big for summer 2013 and hoping you are too. Trails may change, people may come and go, but Legendary Summer at Fernie Alpine Resort is here to stay.
See you in a few short weeks,
Your Fernie Alpine Resort Bike Crew
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