I left my cheat sheet paper with all my events to write about at home.... oops.. but I'm gonna try to recollect (which shouldn't be too difficult because it's the best part of the trip) the events that took place for the big ski trip....

one of my purposes for the trip was to go into the mountains.. originally I had plans for visiting Kimberly (the place where my grandmother lived) but it was a bit out of the way... Kimberly is a small town that has been modeled after a European town (I forget the place) it's very quaint (that I remember) but extremly nice place to visit... I will get there over the summer I am sure...

now one of my favorite places to be ever is in the mountains.... it's absolutely gorgeous for scenery and I find it peacefull to be among them... and of course my whole purpose for being there.... the skiing... recently I've been introduced to boarding but for the mountain experience I wanted to be comfortable so I went back to skiing.... especially for the mountains because they can be intimidating if you make a wrong turn.... I shall come back to this because I'm getting ahead of myself...

the trip started off with some business so that it would be possible to spend a few days away from the farm but it was all driving after that.... we were going to visit with my aunt dorothy and along the way it was suitable to stop at a place called Fernie to enjoy the mountain snow... along the way there were some sites to see... first that I recall was going through Crowsnest pass.... basicly this area is the path you can take through the mountains without having to climb them lol... there is probably some history about this but I really didn't get into any of it... we stopped at a local pub along the way... was set in a very old style barn type building... had cute waitresses... the one waiting on us gave the best service I've ever seen from any waitress.... I made sure she got a decent tip.....

another place that we passed through was actually under a mountain... there was a town (I forget the name) that was located at the bottom of the mountain ... one year the mountain collapsed on it... whiping out the entire town.... the only thing that remains is the rubble... the town completely covered... the pictures show the mountain and the mound of rocks in the forground is where the town used to be... the road we are on was built overtop all of this...

we stopped at a resaurant called amazon something or other.... the places was very nice and had very good cheesecake... we had the buffet but while we were eating the cute waitress came over to make sure we saved room for the cheesecake... I'm very glad I did... it was delicious.. anyway the reason I mention this place is because it was decorated like a jungle.. including parrots and monkeys hanging from the ceiling.... some of them decorated in holiday gear (santa hats n such) the walls were painted with jungle creatures as well...

it got dark as we were driving to Fernie (the ski hill town) and out come the animals... as I mentioned before it's not uncommon for deer and such to be wandering along the roads.... especially in winter because salt is thrown down on the roads..... as we were driving along there were some goats on the side of the road.... I couldn't get my camera out quick enough though.... a while later we came across some deer.... now at first it looked as though there were two.... but as we got closer there were at least 5 that I saw.... it was neat to watch them bolt up the hill... they are very fast creatures..

we got to Fernie late and decided to pull into a hotel... of course the one with the hot tub and swimming pool.... adventure sets in and we explore the hotel... we find the hot tub and then the pool... then our room... the first priority... hot tub.... we change our clothes and grab some towels then off to the hot tub we go... my feet are cold so stepping in feels like my feet are on fire... I want to get out of it imediately but force myself to get in.... then relaxation sets in.... I've been in hot tubs before but not after being cramped in a car for hours.... it was great... we took turns turning on the jets as it turns off by itself after a few minutes.... after we got our fill of the hot tub we go down to the pool.... picture 3 grown people walking through a carpeted hotel hallway half naked and completely soaked dripping all over the place.... it was quite funny... the pool was quite nice as well.... after splashing around for a bit we have a cannonball competition... I do believe I got the most water on the ceiling.... how proud I am....

after a good nights sleep breakfast was on the agenda... I went out to the restaurant in the hotel we ate in that night... it was closed.... I took a look at some of the brochures by the front desk as I decided where I would go..... (this is important for the story) I asked the lady at the lobby desk where a good place to eat wass.... she mentions a place next door and the restaurant in the hotel accross the street...... (nice way to keep business I think) I go outside look around ... I decide upon the restaurant next door... (it's closer) I tried the door.. it's locked... I notice the neon Open sign in the doorway..... I notice the hours posted on the door... it's 15 minutes after opening time.... interesting.... I decide to cross the street to the local 7-eleven... as I'm walking away I hear the door being unlocked..... great someone was playing a joke on me..... I got myself a sprite at the 7-eleven and make my way back to the restaurant..... I sit by the big screen tv and watch football highlights as I eat my pancakes and scrambled eggs... (both of which suck I should have gone to the hotel retaurant accross the street) I get up to pay for the meal and find out that my ski pants have lost the money ...... thankfully I have my wallet in my jacket so I pay with debit.... I get outside and wonder where I should go first.... I have to try to locate the missing money.... after all it's 20 bux.... I concider going to 7-eleven but notice some dood was walking towards the hotel along the path I had used to get to the restaurant.. I figure he probably already picked up the money ..... so I make my way back to the hotel room.... as I checked out my surroundings I noticed a fantastic photo opertunity behind the hotel.... as you can see by the picture it was a very nice place to be..... the town is located in a valley surrounded by mountains... I didn't know it at the time but I would soon be looking down on the town from the top of the ski hill....... anyway after I took the picture of the mountain I turned back to the hotel...... as I walk in the lobby door I notice on the floor...... two folded up bills by the brochure racks..... I pick up the money thanking no one in perticular....

we get to the ski hill and I'm becoming excited... I haven't been on a really big ski hill in a supremely long time ... as we walked towards the lodge ya couldn't help but look up... I was in awe the whole time..... we get in the lodge and proceed to obtain our rentals (sadly the car is a bit small to be fitting ski gear in without a rack) the rental guys are mostly from away.... the guys that helped us out were from austrailia.... neat fellas..... dad and emily got basic passes... I got the super pass so I could go to the top of the mountain...... I put my skis on and proceeded to "skate" around..... form of moving on skis kinda like cross country but on downhill skis.... takes some getting used to but it's quite easy once you learn... I haven't been on skis in over 8 years or so.... I was nervous.. but it came back instantly like I never took them off.... it was time to split up... I took a look at the bunny hill and instantly said no way..... upon looking the bunny hill had a kewl contraption... instead of the roap toe I'm normally accustomed to they have a track.... kinda like an escalator.. you stand on it and it drags you up the hill.... very nice invention... (saves on gloves from being ripped apart)

this reminds me of part of the story before we got to the hill.... I needed a hat to cover my ears and everyone else needed mitts...... we stopped in town to get some but since it's sunday our options were limited... the first place we stop in seems to be name brand gear..... we took a look at the mitts... very nice mitts but the price tag was a bit shocking.... $100..... the cheapest pair the store had was 50 bux..... nutz..... we go to another store.... same deal... are these people smoking crack??? we find a discount store down the road.... yes 9 bux for a pair of mits.... more reasonable... anyway back to the story....

we split up.... dad and emily go to the bunny hill because emily is a bit lacking in the skiing knowledge..... I proceed to the chair lift... excitement sets in again.... I'm being lifted up the hill.... I checked out the map before I got on... (yes they need a map because the place is huge) I discover that I need to take three lifts to make it to the top.... while I am on the chair I like to turn around and look backwards as I go up.... the view is usually spectacular.... this time it was truely breathtaking..... I was in awe as I went up... the excitement just continued to increase...... when I was to the top of the first chair I looked down... the view was fantastic right there... but I could go higher..... and I did..... I skiied down the hill a bit to obtain access to the next lift.... as I went along I was like a tourist in a museum ... I stopped every few minutes to take pictures.... I have a few of the pictures posted here but the rest can be found on the webshots link on the left at the top of the page..... I took the next lift and then proceeded to the third lift..... it was unbelievable...... 3 things came over me.... amazement.... excitement... and sadly loss..... I was truely thankfull to be where I was doing one of my all time favorite things..... but I was doing it alone.... I wished I could have shared this experience with someone else........

I got off the chair lift and the first thing that hit me (besides the amazing view) was the smell of the pine trees..... I looked around and then had the difficult task in deciding where to go first.... I decided to take it easy first.... (as pictured to the right) I took the groomed trail along the mountains taking in the view and the amazing slopes .... it took aproximately an hour or more to get to the top.... it took about 20 minutes to get to the bottom but again that was a relaxed run to the bottom.... I spose if I had put a full tuck on the go I would have been down in 10 minutes or less... but seeing as how the mountain is quite intimidating it's wise to take it easy... after the first run I got comfortable enough to be a bit more adventurous.... I had taken the easy route to the top and after consulting the map again I found that there was another way up that went higher..... I proceeded to the express quad chair..... they aren't kidding when they say express..... it zips up the hill faster than any chair lift I've ever been on... it also climbed much longer or higher than any lift I've ever been on.... it was fantastic.... I must mention that before I got on the lift as I was heading over to it I saw something interesting..... there was a ski patrol special unit.... a dog..... the patrol and the dog were on their way to the lift.... the dog hopped up on the girls lap and they got on the chair in front of me.... it was quite kewl..... when I got off the lift I took a picture of the dog.... as you can see.... I spose it's in case of avalanche... (yes they have avalanche warning signs all over the mountain because of possible avalanche) after being on the mountain I would agree that it is quite possible for this to occur.... after marvelling at the dog I proceeded to the next lift that would take me to the absolute highest part of the mountain they would allow us to go (you know so we dont cause an avalanche).... this is where my adventure technicaly begins..... now the picture to the right will show the final lift to the top... what it doesn't show is the tree cover on the other side of the mountain..... I should have come down the side that you see but since I had already come up that I wanted to see what was on the other side..... it was a mistake.... I followed a few skiiers down the hill and it looked reasonable.... then the trees started.... it still looked ok... I had always liked skiing through trees.. it was more challenging and usually there is a path to follow...... that isn't the case on a real mountain...... I ended up in the middle of a supposed forrest with a very steep decline...... I was a bit out of my league on this section of the hill..... I coped though.... but started to get nervous.... it is not a good combination espcially where I was..... I continued to do my S turns down the hill when all of a sudden my ski hooked a branch and came off..... I did a face plant in the snow and miraculously prevented myself from tumbling down the steep decline into a tree.... however I did twist my knee..... it was not pleasant.... but I was alive and pumping with adrenaline..... I brushed off my scare of the century and continued down the cliff.... my near death experience behind me and more caution ahead of me.... the steepness go the better of me and I decided to play it safe... I strapped the skis together hooked the poles on my wrist and slid down the hill.... slowly... my butt began to freeze but I was not going to die on the mountain.... I slid down to a safe point put the skis back on and began my decent again..... from the point I put my skiis back on to the bottom of the hill went by much faster than the dreaded slide on my buttocks through trees to safety..... possibly because I was freaked out but more than likely because the skiis are much faster in general.... when I got to the bottom I met up with dad and emily and it was pretty much time to go..... it was exhilerating.... I can't wait to do it again.... but next time ... I will be taking someone with me to share my delight... and I'll be staying out of the trees...

next up the hot springs and any loose ends I have missed.... oh and the ride home in my awesome vehicle