December 11, 2003
Lifts/Runs
Lifts Open: 5/10
Runs open: 50/107
Snowfall
24 Hour: 0cm (0in)
48 Hour: 0cm (0in)
7 Day: 30cm (12in)
Year to date: 228cm (90in)
Snow Pack: 141cm (56in)
Photos and text by Gerry George
Brrrrr. Isn't there an old sailor's saying, "Blue sky in the morning, sailors stay inside snuggled up under a down comforter till evening." Is that how it goes?
 Well, chilly it was this morning. -20 degrees Celsius under bluebird skies. That makes for two very beautiful days in a row. I almost stayed home today but I had just finished sharpening the edges on my carving snowboard and had to try them out. Wow. What a difference. Sure feels good to set the edge and feel it stick to the carve without fear of skipping out. I was feeling like a super hero for a couple of runs till I did skip out and went skipping down the mountainside on my behind.
Grooming is fabulous right now. Check out that shot of the Bear just loaded with carve happy skiers. If you have some new shaped skiis for ripping hardpack get out early while the corduroy is still smooth. Almost as good as powder.
And speaking of powder, the 'new' side opens up tomorrow. That would be the Timber and White Pass chairs. It has been what, five years since the new side opened? I still call it the new side. Anyhow, it will be operational on Friday and will be soft. I was talking with a friend yesterday who skinned up into Currie Bowl and he said it was very sweet indeed.
 Something new you will see this year at Fernie is a few more snow guns scattered about the mountain. I gotta tell ya, they sure are doing a number on those areas that used to be littered with rocks year round because of all the traffic (below the Bear's Den for example). It is nice to boast about a mountain not needing snowmaking but I don't look at us as needing it. It simply enhances it, makes it that much better. If you hit a rock now, you must be trying incredibly hard.
Forecast for the weekend is looking somewhat promising with warmer temperatures and a snowy weather pattern rolling through. Environment Canada is talking flurries but Spokane weather is preaching snow. We seem to get what Spokane gets only more so of so I'm going to lean towards that forecast.
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