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Today we woke up early and after the usual coffee and breakfast, we headed over to the ski hill to get an early start.
The morning started out chilly about -12, but warmed up to a balmy -2 C later in the day. The sun burned through the clouds and the conditions on the hill were great.
Fairmont is not a large mountain compared to the others in the area, but this year it worked to their advantage. Due of the shorter and lower number of runs, Fairmont Ski Resort staff are able to groom all the runs daily.
We were told by several people that all the other ski hills had icy conditions because of the lack of snow recently and a thaw that had created a base of ice that continues to make skiing at the other places not so great.
Julie and Will were ready to ski today, having sat it out yesterday. Will had a brand new set of atomic skis that he was trying out for the first time.
We got our lift tickets and were ready to go.
Since it was only my second day, I started off slow on the beginner’s hill, but after a couple runs I felt confident to venture to the top of the mountain on the chair lift. (No more evil poma lift)
Julie and Will had already hit the runs when Sue and I ventured to the chair lift for the first time post bunny hill.
Boarding the chair lift was much easier and less work than using the poma lift and before I knew it I was standing atop the mountain looking graced with a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains.
My first run down the easiest of the two greens was somewhat harry. I had to learn to turn up hill more to control my speed. It was exhilarating for a first run from the top, but the second time I was able to control my speed better. Sue was looking like a pro all the time.
After two runs down that green I was ready to try the green that Sue had been down the day before and said was more challenging.
This other run was a bit steeper in spots, but having learned how to control my decent better I was able to reduce my number of falls to only a couple.
We met up with Julie and Will at the bottom and they convinced me to try a blue run. I started on the green then branched off to the blue part way down, fell a couple times, but made it.
A few more blue runs and Julie managed to get me to try the black diamond run. I say “the” black diamond run because there is only one at Fairmont with a couple branches here and there.
This one was much more challenging for a novice like me and for a part of it I made it down before my skis. I slid on my butt for a couple hundred metres. I was reminded of tobogganing on McCauley Mountain in Picton as a child.
We stopped for a break around 1:00pm and enjoyed the relaxing chairs in front of the fire in the chalet, a couple pitchers of beer and some munchies before heading back out.
I did a few more blue runs and fell a few more times and by about 3:00pm my legs were giving out on me and I was sore from falling.
I decided to call it a day and Sue had had enough too, so we waited at the chalet while Will and Julie did a couple more runs.
The hill closes at 4:00pm although someone told us 5:00pm so we met back at the chalet and then ventured to the condo to recant our experiences and for me to take Tylenol and try to put left foot before right and get my legs to work.
We waited an hour and changed out of our ski clothes, then ventured to the hot springs for a soothing soak in the healing waters. A dip in the hot springs comes included in the $37.00 per day lift ticket fee. Without the lift ticket it would be a $10.00 charge. Julie and Will had to pickup bathing suits having forgotten theirs, but not long after we soaked for about an hour and it felt awesome. My muscles thanked me profusely.
We came back to the condo and had a delicious dinner of fillet mignon with Julie’s version of scallop potatoes and beans.
We decided we would take Tuesday off to give me time to heal. We’re to venture into Invermere and checkout panorama to see if it’s a skating rink like everyone has been saying.
After dinner I was beat and went to bed about 9:30pm. Everyone else was tired too, so that was the end of the evening.
That’s it for today, peace, and rest.

Woke up about 9:15 this morning. We were all a littlie groggy after our evening of wine and card/board games. The smell of Julie’s Tim Horton’s coffee was a welcome one. A fresh mug of warm coffee on the patio gave way to the beautiful sight of Sunshine on the mountains. John Denver’s song was playing through my head as I soaked up the scenery and the atmosphere.
Sue made us an awesome brunch of Bacon and eggs then it was time to get ready for the trip to the ski hill.
A couple of coffees later and we were all showered, packed, and ready to rock. We hopped in the Ford Explorer and headed up to Fairmont Ski Resort.
Conditions were pretty good. Nice and warm, hovering around 0 to -2 C, Sunny and Bright. No New snow unfortunately, but the sun melted the top layer of snow to give us a decent surface.
First stop was to the ski school to sign the newbie (me) up for a lesson. It ended up being a private lesson, so that worked out well.
After getting the lesson booked for 2:45 we headed to the ski shack to get our rentals. We decided to rent for 3 days instead of having to do this every day and the prices were great. $77.00 for 3 days then $22.00 per day after that if we kept them longer. Just bring them back when we’re done and pay whatever balance isn’t paid for. Great arrangement.
I was outfitted with a set of 160cm Rossingnol skis, a pair of boots and a grey helmet to match my grey and orange borrowed ski suit (thanks Will, the other Will, I’m not talking to myself.)
Since we had an hour and a half to kill before my lesson, we ventured up to the beginners hill and started at the first level, no 2. My introduction to the Poma Lift was interesting. I somehow managed to get my skis crossed and took a header into the ditch between the lift and the hill. This was good amusement for Susanne, Julie, and Will. Since it happened right near level one on the hill I decided to start there and get my legs. I could tell that Susanne had been skiing before since she was stable and knew how to walk with skis on. I on the other hand not so much. I managed to get down the hill from there with only one wipe out (not including the Poma Lift).
After that, it was back on the lift to level no. 2 this time, to scare myself further. After a “successful tow” I made it down the hill with only one fall. (Stopping was fun) Getting up was even more fun, but I figured it out with Sue nagging me to get my skis across the hill before standing up. (Good advice)
A few more runs from the second level and a few falls later, I ventured to level 3. 3 runs down from level 3 and only one fall, I was ready to go to the top of the bunny hill (I’m so brave). I found out this was called the cowboy run when I got to the top. (Yippy Kay Yi Yay)
A couple successful runs (no falls) and it was time for my lesson.
I met my instructor David at the designated place, and as I had been successful in making it from the top level a few times, we started there.
I found out that I was paralleling (if that’s a word) and not snow plowing and that that was pretty good for a newbie.
David watched make a couple turns then gave me some excellent advice on turning and instructed me in the benefits of a really wide snow plow on steep slopes or when you really need to shed some speed/be careful. I learned the right way to turn and how to use the ski edge etc and in no time I was shooshing down from level 4 quite comfortably and feeling much more stable.
I had one more run in with the evil poma lift when one of my skis decided it wanted off and I had to do a wide snow plow down the side of the poma lift area without killing anyone. It started out a littly scary and out of control but I recovered and continued from level 3 down.
So endeth my lesson and my introduction around 4. David told me I would be ok for one of the other green runs tomorrow after practicing on the beginner’s hill for bit again.
I found Julie, Will, and Sue back at the chalet on the deck and found out that Sue went down one of the other green runs and loved it. She took the chair lift. After that it was back to the condo for a break and a Guinness.
Its about 7:00pm Mountain time as I right this and we’re just thinking about rustling up some grub, then we’ll likely play some cards or a board game again.
More to follow in tomorrow’s blog entry.

Its 9:52am Calgary time and we’re sitting at Julie and Will’s kitchen table talking about skiing and catching up. Sue and I woke up at 8:15 because it was after 10:00am according to our systems. A fresh pot of Tim Horton’s coffee (would expect nothing less from Julie) and a slow morning is in order.
We’ll be heading out later today for B.C. Check-in late afternoon at the time share at Fairmont Hot Springs.
After coffee and a nice relaxing morning we packed Julie’s and Will’s Ford Explorer and loaded our bags into our rented 2009 Honda Civic, then it was off to get supplies for the week. 3 short stops later we were on the road to Fairmont. (2:20pm)
The sun was peeking through the clouds and the temperature was around zero Celsius while we wound our way through the foothills toward the mountains.
About 45 minutes later the mountains revealed their majesty and we began the trek through Banff National Park. We stopped in Banff National Park at the halfway point for a “Bio Break” then headed out of Banff national park toward Radium Hot Springs.
Radium is a small town that looks like it’s carved out of the rock and the buildings blend in with the surroundings lending itself to the look of a quaint mountain village like those seen in stories set in the Alps. The spring which gives Radium its name flows under the road into several beautifully maintained pools where people collect to bath in the radiance of natural energy. You could feel the humidity in the air and a slight temperature decrease mostly due to the absence of the sun being blocked by the mountains.
There is a spa at Radium that offers to pamper anyone needing a relaxing break from their daily stresses.
When we left radium we were graced with a breathtaking view of the sun beaming through a 70 foot high rock cut where the road winds its way out of radium towards Windermere.
Just past Radium a bighorn ewe and lamb stood munching pine needles posing for all passers by.
We continued on through Windermere and Invermere then to Fairmont Hot Springs our final destination for the day. The check in at Fairmont Vacation Villas was painless and not long after we were unpacked and enjoying a glass of wine to end our day of travel.
We continued enjoying wine and beer into the evening playing board games and euchre till the wee hours of the morning. What a perfect day!
Tomorrow it’s off to the ski hill for lessons as the adventure continues…