December 1, 2003
Lifts/Runs
Lifts Open: 3/10
Runs open: 47/107
Snowfall
24 Hour: 0cm (0in)
48 Hour: 2cm (1in)
7 Day: 84cm (33in)
Year to date: 182cm (72in)
Snow Pack: 124cm (49in)
Photos and text by Gerry George
 Well it is official. The ski season has begun. Fernie Alpine Resort opened its lifts on Friday to a flurry of anxious skiers and snowboarders. It was rather chaotic as everyone seemed a bit over amped and excited creating some rather sketchy skiing from my point of view. Nothing quite like watching a group of guys flying down the mountain and knowing that none of them are anywhere near in control.
My advice, steer clear when you see the crazys!
Friday had some pretty good snow but it was kind of freaky because I was never sure what was underneath. Rocks, ice twigs and logs were all serious concerns if you weren't careful. Add to that the fact that my legs were punched by noon from following Sean through the alders and moguls on Boomerang and I was ready to call it a day.
Bring on the rain.
 Usually a very bad thing in the ski season but you have to remember that it is still November (well not anymore I guess) and any sorta wet sloppy goop we get will only make the base all that much more bomb proof. I never went up on Saturday but from what I heard, it was pretty good up top, pretty wet down below.
The sun shone brightly on Sunday and I ventured up to the hill to be pleasantly surprised by the snow conditions. The top was nice and soft with some dense snow. It was quite fun actually. Quite a different feel from Friday. Even areas like Arrow seemed to be less aldery than just a day earlier.
Of course, the massive avalanche that came down the bowls might have something to do with that. It went all the way down the main bowl and stopped in the flat depression just above the Ballet. Pretty darned far. It did a good job of mowing over some of the brush, filled in some of the early season hollows and took out the haul back shack. That poor building gets all the abuse.
The lower half of the mountain is boilerplate if I ever saw it. It is days like this when you wish the Bear T-Bar was still in place because nine times out of ten, the rain line is at the bottom of the Bear. Ah, but like I said earlier it'll definitely help with the base.
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