Fernie Nordic Society

Members and friends of the Fernie Nordic Society are invited to attend a special “Happy Trails” Pot Luck Dinner on Friday March 14th @ 6:00pm at the Anglican Church in Fernie (561 4th Ave)
We will be gathering to share some stories of the 2007 ski season and to update you on the current and future events.
As some of you may already know, Doug Werme and Cheryl Stomps who have worked so diligently in getting our organization set up are moving away from Fernie this month. I would encourage you to attend this event and join us In wishing Doug and Cheryl many “Happy Trails”.

For those of you who have not yet registered as members, or for those that need a membership button, this evening event will be your perfect opportunity to tidy up these loose ends. Our membership declined slightly this year, although our trails were much busier (Hmmmmm). Please encourage any friends or family that have not yet joined to do so quickly. As you may know, much of our funding hinges on the number of members our organization holds.

Please bring some food to share (with any necessary serving utensils) as well as a drink for yourself. The kitchen in the basement of the Church is available to keep food warm.

If you have any questions or comments please contact me at any time, otherwise, see you all at 6:00pm on March 14.

Thanks

Todd Fyfe
423-8989
President
Fernie Nordic Society


Back by popular demand˜Saturday ski tour & lunch at Birch Meadows.

Here are the particulars:

Date: Saturday, February 23

Time: Departure: 10:30, Lunch at 12:30

Meeting Place: Fernie Alpine Resort-Silk Trail above the  Maintenance Buildings

Reservations: Contact Linda Socher at: 423-6494

Distance: Approximately 12 km round trip

To reserve a spot, make your reservation early˜last time the tour filled up quickly.  The cost should be somewhere around $10 per person.

Have fun and enjoy the wonderful sunshine!!

Fernie Nordic Society presents Family Fun Day

Members and Non-members are welcome to come out–just be sure to sign in. A few members will be meeting at the Golf Course Club House at 10 am this Saturday January 5 for a casual ski. We thought it would be fun if more people would join us

So grab a friend, your partner, or the whole family for a fun morning out cross country skiing.

Hope to see you there, no formal sign up or notification required. Grab your skis and make use of these great trails in our own backyard. A loop can be as short as 20 minutes or you could add on more and make it an hour ski if you like.

A group of Fernie Nordic Society volunteers spent today hacking, shoveling, and stomping in the backcountry trail which runs from near the end of the dike to a beautiful loop along the banks of the Elk River. In the end we were able to bring the roller and track setter to the end of the trail for the first time ever.

To find this trail, ski out the dike to the monstrous pile of slash, turn left, and follow the tracks to the turnaround along the river. The distance out and back from the dike is about 2.5 km. The trail is not really ready for skating but the classic track is suitable for racing skis.

Thanks to Cheryl, Dave M, Ian, Dave S, Doug and Todd for beating all the new snow into submission. The skiing should be great!

Saturday, December 22: Dave & Doug groomed all the trails at the golf course, the dike and most of rodeo grounds (jimcana) for classic and skating. By day’s end, the skating had deteriorated and classic tracks were getting filled in by blowing snow, but you could still find them.

Sunday, December 23: Big Blue being repaired—THANKS Ray and Rob!! If all works out, plans are to groom Monday morning.

Fernie Alpine Resort

Saturday, December 22: Trails about the same as the golf course—by afternoon, skating had deteriorated but you could still find the classic track.

Sunday, December 23: Big Blue HAS BEEN REPAIRED ˜THANKS to Ray and Rob for coming in at 7:00 AM, doing a massive weld job and then GROOMING the trails on the golf course too!!

Rodeo Grounds (Jimcana) and the dike will be groomed this afternoon.

Monday, December 17
Doug groomed the dike adjacent to the Rodeo Grounds for skating and classic.  He groomed some of the trails on the Rodeo Grounds for classic only.

Tuesday, December 18
Ray is supposed to set the first track on the golf course and Doug will groom some more–should be set for skating and classic by tomorrow afternoon, barring unforseen circumstances.

FAR
No groomed trails yet, but the skiing is pretty good with total coverage on the Silk Trail 5 km loop

Coal Creek
As of 2 days ago, still lots of rocks

Hi Nordic Skiers,

It’s time for our Fernie Nordic Society kick off (or kick and glide!!) POTLUCK Dinner. Here are the particulars:

We’ll meet at the Clubhouse of the Fernie Golf and Country Club

Thursday, December 6

6:00PM

Bring a dish to share and something to drink and bring any friends who might be interested in Nordic skiing—you don’t have to be an FNS member. If we still have snow and you want to ski around on the trails before or after dinner, don’t forget your headlamp!

It will be the perfect time for you to renew your membership and/or pick up your 2007-2008 FNS button. Todd Fyfe is planning some sort of door prize—your guess is as good as mine!!

Hope to see you there!!

ps WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!!

Cheryl Stomps
13 Park Crescent
Fernie BC V0B 1M3
Canada
Phone: (250) 423-7324
Other email: castomps@aol.com <mailto:castomps@aol.com>

Grooming:

The golf course and rodeo grounds have been closed for the season. The trails at Island Lake Lodge are still being groomed and are still in great shape. The trails at Fernie Alpine Resort are in good shape except for that BIG hill at the parking lot. You might want to walk that one unless we get a lot more snow˜dirt is showing at the bottom.

St. Patrick’s Day:

If you want to attend the St. Patrick’s Day Pot Luck festivities at the Senior Center (across from City Hall - next to Mugshots) but haven’t signed up yet, just show up at the door with $10 and a hot dish or dessert. We will be selling wine and beer, playing games and doing some potentially dreadful singing.

This is a last call for volunteers to attend the CCC/CCBC/ICC Clinic.

The dates for the CCC/CCBC Introductory to Community Coaching Clinic will be March 30 and 31. The clinic will be held here in Fernie. If you plan to attend but have not yet confirmed this please contact Megan Walsh at your earliest convenience at: 423-7212, walsh.megan@gmail.com <mailto:walsh.megan@gmail.com> and THANKS to everyone for participating.

Happy Skiing!!

BIG BLUE’S DAY OFF

Big Blue had a heck of a time Wednesday night and Thursday as well. He escaped from the maintenance shop (with the help of a couple of young thieves) and went for a joy ride –all over the place. He spent the night hidden in the barn up Coal Creek – future home of the Blackstone Golf Course—I guess Big Blue was overly anxious to start grooming there and didn’t want to wait for next season.

Anyway, he went for another joy ride on Thursday morning and by this time was being tracked by Doug (not Dog) the Bounty Hunter—well, not really a bounty hunter—just trying to save FNS the $1000 deductible for a stolen snowmobile. With Ray and Patrick on the radio and Doug (not Dog) hot on his tracks, suddenly Big Blue appeared on the Coal Discovery Trail up near the dump and just sort of buzzed Doug—then he went to hide in the barn, but Doug found him and he was taken back to the Golf Course by Patrick on his nice trailer and told to STAY THERE UNTIL NEXT SEASON!!

We are really glad to have Big Blue back safely and are super grateful to Doug for tracking him down. Here is Doug’s description of the day:

“Ray called me and said the RCMP had traced the Big Blue’s tracks for awhile but thought I should try tracking him on skis. We found we could tell our machine’s tracks by width and the fact that they kept running it on gravel, something you would avoid if you had actually paid for the snowmobile. I ended up tracking it for three hours and eventually, wrapped back towards town thinking, “I must be crazy, but I swear I’m still on it�?. Then some kids came along riding the thing.

I tried to block the trail with my poles but they gunned the engine and got away. I followed that track to the barn and called the RCMP. Kids ran off. Snowmobile safe.�?

Island Lake Lodge is offering a ski-lunch special to members of the Fernie Nordic Society on Saturday, February 10th. You can either ski up to the lodge or take the shuttle (one way or both ways).

To reach the Island Lake Lodge Trails, drive up the Cedar Valley Road towards Island Lake Lodge (off Hwy. 3, south west side of town) past Mount Fernie Provincial Park and continue to the gate and the Island Lake Lodge parking lot. The lower loop offers approximately 5 kilometers of gentle, beautifully groomed trails (both classic and skating). Continue up the road to Island Lake Lodge through old growth forest for more of a workout. The 16 km round trip ski is a steep climb on the way up to the lodge (and a steep descent on the way back). Once at the lodge, there are another 5 km of groomed trails around the lake with breathtaking views.

Here are the Particulars:
Date: Saturday, February 10th
Meeting Place: Island Lake Lodge Parking Lot
Meeting Time for Skiers: 9:45 AM
Meeting Time for Shuttle Riders: 11:00 AM
MAXIMUM 13 People for the Shuttle Up
MAXIMUM 30 people total, so sign up soon
Cost for Lunch $20 + TAX
Cost for Shuttle One Way: $15 ($30 round trip)
Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate if you take the shuttle; Advanced if� you ski up to the Lodge and back down.
To sign up, email Deanna at deanna_peake@yahoo.com . If you have any questions, give Cheryl a call at 423-7324.

Hi Nordic Skiers,

We are contemplating having a Valentine’s Day Do in one of the ballrooms at the Fernie Best Western on Wednesday, the 14th. Here are the particulars:

• The cost will be $45 per person PLUS any booze you want to drink.
• Drink Prices: (Bottle of wine….$25.95, Hi-Ball/Beer/Glass of Wine….$3.75; Premium Beverage…..$4.75)
• Menu: Buffet Style so you can have some of everything
  • Entrees include Chicken Cordon Bleu, Baron of Beef and Baked Salmon
  • Side dishes: Stuffed Potatoes, Rice Pilaf, Steamed Fresh Vegetables and Salads
  • Desserts: Tortes & Cheese Cake
• We will try to have a DJ so we can have some “music for all ages”.

Best Western requires at least 25 people for a banquet. If you are interested, please respond to this email or call Cheryl at 423-7324. If we get enough interested people, we’ll proceed. If not, you will just have to figure out what to do with your sweetie on your own.

Skating at the Golf Course is really icy right now but the classic tracks are really good thanks to Doug. The parking lot is particularly hazardous, so be careful walking around!! The latest word on our ice munching grooming equipment is that it will be shipped on January 30, so we should have it pretty soon after that.

If anyone knows exactly how the hydro line on the east side of Highway 3 connects to the bar in Hosmer, please respond to this email or call Cheryl at 423-7324. We’re trying to put a ski tour together.

There are still lots of people who haven’t signed the CCBC Waiver and picked up their buttons. You can get them at Doug & Cheryl’s house (13 Park Crescent, 423-7324) or from Patrick Burke (Old Nurses Residence B & B, 423-3091).

Please send me your response to Valentine’s Day as soon as you can. Thanks.

Happy Skiing!!