The 'Meat Hook' & more

So life in Fernie is treating us both well. We're experiancing a bit of a cold snap right now with temperatures reacing -40 or -50 with wind chill. So with frostbite warnings we have both been wearing out neopreme face masks. Sexy.
Occasionally we find ourselves yearning for life when we first rocked up in Fernie - the days when we ate fruit, tried to stick to our budget and went to bed early. Those were the days before we made any friends. Now it appears we have chosen a life of too many 'cheeky beers', late nights and a blown budget. However our new friends also live in proper houses. Houses with baths, sofas and ceramic plates. So needless to say they will find it hard to get rid of us.
As for the snowboarding we're both having great fun and touch wood with no serious injuries. We're both practising little jumps and kickers and Patricks 180's are looking sweet. Last week we decided to attempt the ski-lift nicknamed the 'Meat Hook' (It's the only way to get to the highest point in the resort and is only opened occasionally). It's basically a nasty contraption consisting of lots of hooks that drag along the ground. The preferred method of mounting the hooks is to grab the wire early and gradually lower yourself on to the hook so it cups your back. Both Patrick and I managed to manouvre ourselves onto the hooks successfully and problems only arose when we got to the top. Patrick was first - He dismounted no problem. Then it was my turn but the hook just didn't want to let me go. Instead it lodged itself up under the shoulder strap of my bag, and to my dismay I found myself being dragged along the ground in a very undignified fashion. That is until I broke the barrier at the top and stopped the lift. Fair play to Patrick though he did come and unhook me with the straightest of faces and he took my mishap very seriously until he saw me laughing. Emma joined us at the top after three 'meat hook' attempts and we all had an awsome run down.

Patrick adds...The funniest thing about the whole event was hearing Hannah calling my name with a rather desperate edge to her voice, I turn round only to see Hannah being dragged up the hill. Hannah's looking at me with a rather astonished 'do something' look on her face. I can't do a thing as she's 10ft away and i'm so suprised i can't move. As H says she broke the emergency barrier which automatically stops the lift, I go over and help untangle Hannah from a mess of wires, 'meat hook', rucksacs and snowboards. Oh how we chuckled! That picure will always be etched into my memory.