The death of winter...

..came on the 18th January 2005 at about 11:00pm local time. What had been a beautiful snowy day (it had been snowing all day and all evening) shops had posted notes on their doors at closing saying they would be opening late the following day as everyone was expecting an amazing powder day. Even when it began to rain in Fernie itself there was still hope, it could still be snowing on the mountain! It rained all night and only let up in the morning. Still everyone raced up the hill in the morning only to find that it had been raining on the hill all night. the rain had gone right up to 2000+m essentially ruining the days skiing. It was a mad rush up followed by a mad rush down. By about 1:00pm the hill was deserted everyone had gone home in disgust. The rain continued for the next three days almost constantly, the temperature went from about -30C to +4C in those four days. A huge weather system originating out in Hawaii normally called a 'pineapple express' had moved in. This normally brings warm air and rain which can deliver snow if Fernie is lucky or a bit of rain if not. This time the weather channel called it a 'Tropical Punch' due to the severity of the rain and the air temps. There were huge avalanches in the reosrt due to free running water in the snow layers. Deep winter turned to spring turned to summer over the last two weeks. It's about +12C outside right now, great for wondering around and going biking but useless for snowboarding. The whole of the Canadian rockies got the rain so there are few resorts in good shape and they are all currently experiencing the same great spring temperatures.

For the first week we drank heavily hoping the rain would stop and the snow start. Then we got ill, I got it a lot worse than Hannah. The doctor said Flu (nothing i can do for you, more like.) Lots of fluid and ibuprofen for the body aches. Sudafed works a charm. We drove to Lake Lousie in a desperate attempt to get away from the rain, they still had good snow coverage but LL is not Fernie and the joy just wasn't there. We came home after about four days. The snow boarding is at an end. Fernie has had it's worst season in 30yrs already. It's taken me 30yrs to get here and it craps on us! Bitter, i should say so. Ho hum here's to thoughts of mexican beaches!!

Check out the state of Fernie resort