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This weekend FAR holds an Avi Awareness Weekend. If you ever have half inkling to ski out of bounds, this is a good weekend to pay a attention to what’s offered free up at FAR. Pick up the handouts. Talk to folks in the know and become avalanche aware.

I grew up driving past avalanche snow sheds stretching protectively railroad tracks and the highway on the way to the mountains. From a very young age, I was aware of avalanches. That said, my first true realization of the power of an avalanche came in a classroom during my geology field camp. Prof. Bradley had been a member of the 10th Mountain Division during WWII and avalanches were his field. He spent an afternoon discussing the mechanics, the power and then showed us a short movie of an avalanche running through an open glade of full growth pine trees. Perhaps three or four feet in diameter, the trees snapped off from the windblast fifty feet or more before the snow cloud reached them. Tossed in the air like pick up sticks, the power of the moving snow impressed everyone. In the silence that followed the short clip, Bradley laughed and said something along the lines of, “You don’t want to get caught in one of those.”

Right. We all nodded. Even as college students, we recognized wise advice.

An avalanche doesn’t need to be big to kill. Several years ago, we pulled a cross-country skier out of an avalanche, really more of a slough, that was eight feet by fifteen and a couple feet deep. He’d traversed down to an open section of creek to get a drink of water. The steep side of the creek sloughed burying him. He didn’t arrive home that night. His wife called the county search and rescue. When we found him, he’d been buried several hours and was dead. An avalanche the size of a big bathroom. Not much. Dead.

Take advantage of FAR bringing in these people to talk about avalanches, participate in a transceiver demo, learning about snow profiles and play/work a little with the avi dogs. Watch. Observe. Learn.

If you ski or board out of bounds without at least basic avalanche awareness, you are playing Russian Roulette with 5 of the cylinders loaded.

Go up to FAR this weekend and start to learn. If you already have an awareness, go up and refresh your knowledge. The more you know when you are out of bounds, the safer you and your companions will be.

Kids are jumping from the roof-top!

The neighbourhood boys were having fun doing back flips off the railing when they upped the ante and went big from the upper roof. Their mothers have expressed concern regarding the apparent danger however all kids will partake in activities that can be hazardous. Say skiing for example. How many of you have traveled out-of-bounds for a few powder turns without backcountry equipment or training?

Each year the Canadian Avalanche Association holds Avalanche Awareness Days activities at Fernie Alpine Resort from January 12 – 14, 2007. The goal of the activities is to promote public awareness about the hazards of touring in the backcountry and how to stay safe.

The line up of activities and demonstrations for the weekend includes:

Friday, January 12th
Avalanche Awareness Days Kick Off Party – Park Place Pub and Grill (Portion of sales going towards the Canadian Avalanche Centre).

Saturday, January 13th
10:00am Transceiver Education and Demonstration – Base of Deer Chair. There will also be a Snow Profile Demonstration at the top of the Bear Chair throughout the morning.
1:00pm Kids’ Scavenger Hunt for Transceivers and Treats – Base of Deer Chair
2:00pm Avalanche Extravaganza Video and Presentation – Daylodge
3:30pm Live Auction Fundraiser for the Canadian Avalanche Association – Griz Bar

Sunday, January 14th
10:00am Avalanche Rescue Dog Demonstration - Base of Deer Chair
11:30am Transceiver Search Competition: Entry fee is a donation to the CAA, no lift ticket is required for this activity. Some transceivers will be on hand to borrow. Prizes will be awarded for the fastest time. – Base of Deer Chair
2:00pm Avalanche Extravaganza Video and Presentation – Daylodge

Today proved to be deeper than forecast–the true Fernie Factor provided us with 39cm overnight!

The lift-lines were full and most terrain was closed due to avalanche concern however it was a day not to be missed. The fresh was in my face every run and 40 cm’s of dry powder makes tracked terrain ski like untracked.

As I write the sound of the patrol bombing the closed bowls echo’s through the valley. Tomorrow will be another day not to be missed. See you out there

Some people ski every day. Yesterday I skied with French Michelle. He hasn’t missed a day at FAR in the past ten years and is on par for 11. When he’s not feeling well a couple of runs are adequate however on most days he skies all day. In my mind he is a true skier–excited about every run while dreaming about tomorrow!

I only ski selective days–powder and in the spring, sunny corn days. Most years I ski about 50 days. This year I’ve already logged over 20 days and all have been powder days.

Tomorrow is forecasting another 20–see you out there!

What is it about “home”?

What makes us nest in one particular spot? I left Fernie for a week in Calgary. Riding back into town, crossing the east bridge, my blood pressure dropped a couple notches from the pure and simple comfort of being home. This is home. The folks. The buildings. The alpen glow on the mountains in the evening. The half light in the morning when we wake, wondering if we should get up or roll over for another half hour.

It’s all home.

Why?

Because we can walk in to Freshies and be greeted by familiar faces from a long string of mornings?

Because people greet you on the street?

Because there is a common bond between those of us who moved to Fernie and those who already lived in the Valley. An appreciation for the beauty, the seasons. And for the people.

Or because we sit at a bar and talk about skiing (boarding) one on one with the same passion no matter our position in town?

What about the miners? This is their town too. Skiers have not taken over, the miners and the founding families still hold a deep vested interest in the progress of Fernie. Those of us who wandered into the Elk Valley later in the history owe a debt to those folks. The Italians and their marching Bands that played all over BC and Alberta.

In my mind, one of the unifying characteristics of the folks choosing to live in the Valley is a tolerance of difference opinions and lifestyles. There remains a respect for others and their ideas not found in larger urban canters. We are a small community. We meet in the grocery store, in the restaurants and in the gas stations. We get along. That’s a key. Out of simple respect.

I was lucky enough to ski Aspen in the 60’s. There was a single chair called Ruthie's that rose out of downtown up Ruthie’s Run to mid mountain. On cold days, the lifties tucked you in with a blanket for the ride up the mountain. As you approached the upper tower, you untucked yourself and passed the blanket to the liftie at the top, saying, "Hey thanks. " And you really meant it. Thanks for the warm ride.

That’s home. A warm ride where they tuck you in and you just feel at home.

And that’s Fernie, too.

And to those of you snow sliding in Fernie–enjoy the excellent conditions. A group of locals and friends closed 2006 with a day of powder at Fernie Wilderness Adventures. The excellent glade skiing produced big smiles and face shots on a picture perfect sunny day. FWA is open for day skiing now through the end of the season. To get away from the crowds and tracked powder be sure to call to book your own day in paradise.

All the best in the New Year…20 cm’s is on the forecast!

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 or Fernie Wilderness 423-6704.

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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 season opened a couple of days ago, but the bang will be this coming weekend with multiple events at FAR and in town.

On December 16th, for the “Locals” RCR opens up Fernie Alpine Resort FREE for the day. Yep, free. Just show you reside in Fernie, Elko, Elkford, Jaffray, Sparwood or in the general Elk Valley and you can pick up a free lift ticket at the window.

There’s more.

If you’re a skiing, snowboard newbie, they have a first-timer class just for you. And that’s free, too. This one’s by reservation only. The slots are limited, so make your call now to the Ski and Snowboard School at FAR—423-4655. Like right NOW, if you want a spot.

Just for the record, there is no free lunch. But. . .

There’s a Charity BBQ to support the Fernie Alpine Ski Team and the Elk Valley Hospice. 2 bucks gets you an RCR Prime Rib Burger or a Nathan’s World Famous Hot Dog. Not free, but very reasonable and for a good cause.

Want some entertainment during your Free Day on the mountain? December 16th kicks off the annual Rail Sessions. Open to skiers and boarders, the competition’s format will be a Jam with prizes running from cold hard cash to Helly Hansen Bro 2 Pro sponsorships. The first of the year, this is a prime opportunity for up and coming skiers/boarders to showcase their talent before a panel of leading industry judges.

The other big “Do” in Fernie this weekend will be the very quiet and subdued opening of the Fernie Nordic Society’s prepared tracks on the Fernie Golf and Country Club grounds. With over 100 members, a Provincial grant for $20,000 and another $10,000 in local donations and membership fees, the Society promises to be a real factor this coming winter. Members will be available to guide you around the tracks and light refreshments will be served in the Country Club parking lot. With cooperation of Tembec, the Society will be setting more tracks once the initial loops are established and hopes to link the trails with Coal Creek, the Dikes and other popular skiing areas.

So that’s the upcoming weekend. Free, free, cheap for a good cause, jammin’ and loud music and a quiet ski across the hill and dale of the country club.

Sounds like something for just about anyone.

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!!

Happy New Year

Different cultures celebrate and mark the New Year at different times and in different fashions. The Gregorian Calendar celebrates the New Year on January 1. The Chinese use a lunar calendar and the New Year falls several weeks after the western New Year. For those of us in the ski biz, the New Year comes with the opening of The Mountain.

Happy New Year. The Mountain’s open.

During my years in the mountains, New Year ranged from mid-October to a late of Feb 14th. That last was one bad bad year.

This year the bell tolled at a little before 9 am on December 9th. Fernie Alpine Resort cranked up the lifts and we went skiing.

Riding the lifts was a hoot. If I didn’t say something by the first couple of towers, the question invariably would be, “So are you from Calgary?” “No. . .” It got so I’d count the towers to the “Question.” Everyone I rode with skied with a season pass. Everyone. It was “Locals” day on the mountain. Our mountain. Everyone was a local no matter where they hailed from originally. Brits, Kiwis, Aussies, a few Yanks and a bunch of BC folks. Even a smattering of Alberta folks coming over to avail themselves of our fine BC snow. All with passes.

Not snowing for eight days sometimes leads to rather ragged conditions, but in this case, the groomers were great and the off piste was so so. Sometimes a little less than so so. All in all, it was great. A little scratchy here and there from traffic, but nothing that won’t magically convert to corduroy overnight. The coverage was exceptional for early season.

And Lost Boys Café opened. It was Opening Day, but rumors swirled around town that it was far from opening. What a great place. The logs were cut on mountain in clearing operations. Built in a classic timber frame style, the logs were left round creating a distinct character and texture contrasting with the flat drywall between the posts. The wainscoting finishes off the details. And the VIEW. Perched on the edge, it’s a “Hey there’s my house” view of the valley.

The only complaint folks expressed, and will continue to blurt once in a while, concerns the size. It’s about half the size it needs to be. Yes? No. Then it would simply be another monster lodge/café/Timmy’s on the Mountain. I’ll take the closeness and intimate nature of the new Lost Boys where you feel like talking to the folks sitting next to you, not getting as far away as possible.

So let it be. It’s fine. The rest of the areas can build their monuments on the hill. I’ll take the Lost Boy’s any day.

As I write this, late Saturday evening, it is snowing. The flakes drift down lit by Christmas decorations, two giant candles resting in a garland crescent hung on a lamppost. The falling snow promises more skiing, days of knee deep or better, or days just like to day.

It’s all good.

It’s the New Year.

There’s an oft-quoted line from the movie Apocalypse Now, “I love the smell of napalm in the morning.”

Today, walking down Victoria to get a cup of coffee at Freshies, I heard to soft boom of control work up on the mountain. For me, there’s nothing like standing on a ridge at first light, pulling the “t”, tossing the bomb and relishing the fresh smell of cordite at the top of an unbroken powder run.

“There’s nothing like the smell of cordite in the morning.”

Walking up to the sound of bombs going off with first light sets the tone of any day. Even one a few days before the opening. We’ve had snow on the ground in town for well over a month. This year, FAR’s received over 240 cm and today carries over 120 cm of settled base. Saturday the mountain opens and the greetings on the street seem a little jauntier. I heard someone the other day, as they left, say, “I’ll see you in line this weekend.”

Now that’s a change. Everyone wants to be in line. And we will be soon enough. Until then, we’ll just have to settle for the soft boom of bombs and the sweet smell of cordite in the morning.

Last Tuesday was cold. Minus 27 below. Inside Freshies, the widows fogged and words ruled the night. The first of this winter’s “Spoken Word” nights at Freshies drew in poets, philosophers, a short piece of performance art and “book ending” the evening, the Bubba Tres. Over 40 folks gathered, literally filling every seat, for this winter’s inaugural night of music and open mike.

Leading out, Big Bubbu Cook with the Bubba Tres broke the evening chill and heated up the venue. With a little prompting--actually a lot on the part of Mr. Bubba--writers started sharing their work. From words about stars, to poems about stars, to poems about kids, the evening moved effortlessly once brusquely pushed down the slope by Bubba.

After the last poem was dragged out, the Tres played a couple more and folks bundled up for the chilly jaunt home.

For those who missed the first, the next Spoken Word will be held on Tuesday, January 23. A bit of a wait, but worth every bit. Polish those words. There’s an audience in waiting.

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!

Monday evening at 7, the hard core (and the not-so-hard core) gathered in the basement of the Anglican Church on Fifth Avenue to discuss the progress and plans for the Fernie Nordic Society. Without a doubt, everyone left the meeting impressed with the ground work laid by the officers.

Barbara Kosiec, the Society President, beat the bushes and generated thousands of dollars in donations and grant support. Her list of “still pending” grants is equally impressive.

Doug Werme, the Vice President discussed the new snowmobile the Society is buying and the grooming equipment, which was shipped early last week. The combination of the new snowmobile and the state of the art groomers will allow the Society to smooth, pack and set classic tracks in one sweep along the trails. In January, the Society will take delivery of a groomer that actually chops icy snow and then re-packs it in difficult trail maintenance situations --after a rain or a freezing rain. Or after an extra herd of skiers used the trail. Early in the fall, the Society discussed grooming the City trails, but the discussions did not pan out due to the required city schedule.

Cheryl Stomp stood to give the report on the finances and at that point the room knew the Society will fly. There is almost $10,000 in the society accounts and they have yet to set a track. This show a tremendous pent up support for Nordic skiing in the Elk River Valley. The tracks on the Fernie Golf Course will be directly behind the Best Western. The Schickedanz Company owners of the Best Western, showed their support in donating $2000. Fernie Lodging stepped up donating $1000. The new snowmobile will purchased from Ghostrider Motor Sports and Paul gave the group a break on the machine. The Fernie Golf and Country Club spent hours with Doug going over the facilities and the terrain to develop a comprehensive and interesting series of loops on their property. Tembec is allowing the Society to set some tracks on land adjacent to the Golf and Country Club possibly linking the trails to Coal Creek.

There was a lively discussion on bringing in school age kids to the program. The consensus of the group was this should be considered a critical task for the Society and a committee was established to liaison with area schools to develop a strong after school cross country ski program for the kids in the valley.

The night of the meeting there were just under 50 paid members. By this Wednesday, only two days following the meeting, the number built to over 70. The Society has over 120 folks on the “interested, email me” list to help the organization.

As if that isn’t enough--new groomers, a great layout on interesting terrain and a fun group of people--this winter Island Lake Lodge will offer free skiing on their tracks around the Lodge and the Lake to any Nordic Society.

If you have half an idea to get involved, call one of the names join up. If you are still on the fence, just leave your name and join the “interested, email me” list and help out when you can. This will keep you in the loop.

This will be a break out year for Nordic skiing in the valley. With FAR’s 15km, 15km at Island Lake Lodge, 15m set by the Nordic Society on and around the Fernie Golf and Country Club, and the 10km set by the City, there will be skiing galore for the skinny ski folks.

Fernie Nordic Society contacts:

Barbara Kosiec, bkosiec@telus.net, 423-6091
Doug Werme, dwerme@shaw.ca, 423-7324
Cheryl Stomps, castomps@shaw.ca, 423-7324
Bill Armstrong, sidco2001@yahoo.com, 423-6272

Not everyone in Fernie will be hiking for powder turns this weekend – Island Lake will be open for day skiing beginning Saturday. With over two meters of snow in the alpine and great tree-skiing right to the door of the lodge, conditions are perfect.

This past Summer 200 days were been spent glading ski runs at Island Lake including tune ups on many of the runs on the front of Mt Baldy (Beer Run, Ho Dad and the Enchanted Forest) and on Mt Fernie (White Tail and Teli Fun). The early skiing just keeps getting better and better. This year will be one of the best in history.

Fernie Nordic Society

Drop in. Join the kick and glide crew.

New to the Elk Valley skiing scene this year, the Fernie Nordic Society signed up almost 50 paid members and over 100 interested folks before the groomer even shipped. The first full-fledged organizational meeting is tonight, 7 PM at the Anglican Church, 561 4th Ave.

For the coming 2006-7 season, the Nordic Society has big plans. The group purchased a top end classic track setter, a snowmobile and is working on the purchase of a groomer that will set both classic and skate tracks. They will set just over 15 km of trails for classic skiing on the Fernie Golf Course. On occasion, the trail up Coal Creek will be groomed flat for skating and tracked on the side for classic.

The Nordic Society will offer lessons, ski clinics and organized group ski days for those not wanting to venture out on their own. There is something here for everyone.

Wander down at 7 and see what’s up.

Snowfall
24 Hour: 40cm (16in)
48 Hour: 60cm (24in)
7 Day: 75cm (30in)
Snow Pack: 140cm (55in)

Days like today entirely eliminate any cognitive dissonance regarding living in rural bliss. Descriptors such as epic, deep, face shots, the white room, Champaign pow, cold smoke, bottomless, light, dry, cherry cherry pow pow, sweet, ego snow.… come to mind. And the snow continues to fall with another 30cm forecast for tonight however the Fernie factor could deliver another 50cm.

If your capable of walking and here in town get your boards up there, otherwise we’ll see you on December 9th.

As today is the American Thanksgiving Day, the Fernie Meat Market seemed an appropriate subject.

Some Fernie businesses are new and you wonder how we survived without them. Others have been here so long they are like the streetlights. If they don’t go on, we notice, otherwise we take them for granted.

In the center of the Historic Downtown, the Fernie Meat Market is almost as old as downtown itself. Originally built in 1908 after the second fire, the two-story building sits across the street from the Library, sandwiched between the new Scotia Bank building and the original Salvation Army Hall. During the early years, several businesses occupied the first floor and in 1920 a meat market opened. The Brown family took over in 1926 and has kept the doors open ever since.

Walking in, you realize the fixtures and displays are authentic, not decorative. This is a meat market. This is what a meat market should look like. And they cut what you want. From fresh chicken to prime beef, the Brown’s don’t believe meat arrives in a clear wrapped plastic tray.

Pick a cut. Pick a Cornish game hen. Pick a roast. This is a meat market.

They are friendly. Happy to give you advice on cuts and what to choose for dinner, whether it’s a special occasion or just a Wednesday night with the family.

My usual reason to walk in the door is jerky. Great jerky. Traditional. Teriyaki. And Hot. All kinds—salmon, venison, beef and what ever strikes their fancy. A note of caution. If you choose hot, it will be hot. There is no cautionary warning. They figure if you want it hot, you can take it hot.

512 5th Street
250-423-4212

Snowfall
24 Hour: 20cm (8in)
48 Hour: 25cm (10in)
7 Day: 25cm (10in)
Snow Pack: 120cm (47in)

The latest snow cycle is blanketing town with soft light snow – the snow type that blows in your face and floats your boards.

Unfortunately I’m out of town for a couple of days and will have to wait until Sunday to sample the pow. Shoveling my deck does not count as a sampling.

I urge all of you to get out and enjoy the light stuff!

Snowfall
24 Hour: 5cm (2in)
48 Hour: 15cm (10in)
7 Day: 15cm (6in)
Snow Pack: 105cm (41in)

The skiing continues to get better as the base accumulates. The cycle has been the usual; rain – snow – rain – snow.

Corner Pocket and Easter Bowl provided some fine turns as always. The dead tree at the entrance to Corner Pocket has finally succumb to gravity, as did I when cart-wheeling down the chute.

Get out your wax – the season is getting closer.

Snowfall
24 Hour: 15cm (10in)
48 Hour: 15cm (10in)
7 Day: 65cm (25in)
Snow Pack: 90cm (35in)

It?s Jacks third consecutive day of skiing at FAR and he is anxious to climb
despite last nights rain. His stories of yesterday?s ego powder all the way
to the parking lot are just that, stories ? now the snow line is at the
bottom of White Pass.

FAR has a perfect base with dense powder on the upper half. The Saddle skied
well to Dancer and from there the snow was adventurous. The backcountry
will be excellent this weekend. Enjoy!

Today was one of those days you know there is no question, winter arrived. Crisp. Minus 9. Clear, bluebird skies. No wind.

And over 20 cm of fresh snow.

Going out to clear my car, still not in a winter mode, I thought I wouldn’t need gloves. Right. That took about two minutes to figure out. Back inside and out again to keep my fingers intact.

Coming downtown early morning was winter--like too. The snow piled in the middle of the street. The blower filling a succession of dump trucks with the piled debris from the sides of the roadway.

All day people talked about going on the hill. Who skied where. How much snow was on top and in the parking lot. 80 cm and 30 cm. And how it looked like we were in for a real winter again.

This is it folks.

Snowfall
24 Hour: 15cm (6in)
48 Hour: 25cm (10in)
7 Day: 40cm (15in)
Snow Pack: 40cm (15in)

The skiing's always great when it's better than expected! We skied from the top of Boom chair down Bear to Elk and to the parking lot - smiles were abound. This last snow cycle has placed Fernie firmly in Winter season - it's still snowing and forcast to snow for a few days. Now I'm finally not missing my mountain bike.

Text and photos by Dan Savage

Walking home in the rain last night, I wondered where the snow line sat. It had to be low. My thumb was cold, stiff, carrying a book. Halfway home, I switched hands carrying the book to warm that hand in my pocket. There’s a cold, hard edge to our rain this time of year. An edge only barely up from snow. Three hundred feet, sometimes a thousand feet above us, this rain is snow.

And that’s not bad.

Somewhere it’s snowing. The more is snows now, the better the base will be this winter. I’ll trade a little rain now for more base up high in a few weeks.

Then again, we seem to be doing the seasonal trade in spades right now. I would rather just have the snow.

Walking down the street, everyone is smiling. Grinning would be more like it. The sidewalks are a little icy. The air is cold, sharp cold. Walking, their hands in their pockets, people grin.

Why?

With the first real snow comes the promise of snow this winter. With snow this winter comes skiing, boarding, backcountry expeditions and a whole host of winter activities. Folks are grinning because the sand box is filling up and we’re all planning to play in the box.

It’s a little slick. Two days of sun and now light snow again. Warren Miller’s new movie will be here in ten days and with that we can all be totally jazzed after that.

And smiling. There’s snow on the ground and the full force of winter is not far behind.

n the mountains, some years the transition from fall to winter slides by imperceptibly, moving ever so gradually. Fall leaving a little and winter becoming a little closer, filling up the space until one day it is winter. One day it is snowing, making perfect sense in the order of the seasons. And there are years the transition from fall to winter is like a switch turning on (or off) a light or like walking from one room to another. One day it is fall. And the next it is winter. Yesterday was fall. Today is winter.

The streets were wet this morning. A falling temperature changed the rain to gropple, the little tiny popcorn snow. Within an hour, light snow fell, blown a little by a sharp northeast wind. Over the course of the day it snowed a couple cm an hour.

Outside my office window a mountain ash holds remnant leaves and full season of its distinctive red berries. This morning they were wet. Now they sit stacked with snow. Light snow, not bending the braches. Stacked with the snow that if you walked out you could blow off with a single puff. On the alley, the fence tops have disappeared behind stacked snow on the upper rail and the compost bin lies buried in a drift. Snow drifted into the window corners softening their square nature.

It is winter. Now. Today in Fernie.