According to legend, Fernie has not always been graced with the fine snow conditions we now enjoy on a regular basis. According to the legend, a baby boy was born mid winter in 1879 in a grizzly bear's cave high in the mountains. Sometime later the resident bear awoke ravenously hungry. A terrible battle occurred between the boy and the grizzly - one fighting for his life, the other for his dinner.

The people of Fernie went into the mountains the next day to find out where all of the noise was coming from the night before. When they looked up onto Snow Valley Mountain they noticed a young boy wearing a coat made of bear fir, leaping from rock to rock oalong the peaks.

A few years later some Fernie folks were out ski touring were ascending the peaks above the Snow Valley Ski area during a heavy snowstorm. While taking a break and taking in the scenery they noticed something on the summit. Of standard height, a man stood with shoulders six feet wide, carrying a huge musket around eight feet long. This impressive 300 pound man was augmented by a rugged grizzly coat. A bear hat was pulled down low, shadowing his eyes. As the skiers watched, he stood shooting the giant musket into the clouds luring snow to fall from the sky above. This made the skiers delighted, impressed with this different kind of powder snow – champagne powder!

They made their way through the powder, turning with powder flying into their faces and excited to get to town and let everyone know that the legend exists!

The town of Fernie holds a yearly celebration in recognition and admiration of the man who became known as the Griz. Sporting events, competitions, parades, and celebrations are held over the first weekend of March each year at the ski hill and in town. The most popular event, which spans the entire weekend, is the Extreme Griz competition where individuals are put to the test to see who embodies the most Griz like characteristics.

The Fernie Fix managed to track down the Griz for a few questions but when it came time for a photo he was a little shy. Visit the events section for the full schedule during Griz Days, 2010!

1. When did you arrive in Fernie and what brought you here? Well legend has it that the Griz has always lived here. Long before the days of chairlifts, twin tips or mogul smokers. The modern day Griz arrived in Fernie in 2003.

2. Where did you first live in Fernie? The traditional Griz home was a grizzly bear cave high on Mount Fernie, but in modern times this Griz called the garage of the Beaver Lodge Chalet the first Fernie home.

3. What was your first impression? This was the best ski town, mining town, party town, relax town, mountain town in Canada!

4. What keeps you in Fernie? Great people, great snow, great times.

5. Do you have a favourite Fernie memory? The 2006 Extreme Griz Comp. The energy, passion, and endurance that was displayed by the fellow Griz competitors was off the hook.

6. What is your favourite time of the year in Fernie and why? Seriously, who wrote that question...GRIZ DAYS! And of course the T-shirt cannon.

7. Where do you see Fernie in 5 to 10 years? The Griz will be keeping it real, real casual. Making it snow, skiing powder and perhaps settling down with a Grizette, and who knows? Maybe even with a couple little grizlings.

8. How do you start your day or what is one of your daily rituals? The Griz eases into the day around 4 am by shooting the gun, making some sweet powder turns. Of course a healthy portioned breakfast at Big Bang Bagels usually follows.

9. Tell us something people might be surprised to learn about you. The Griz Prefers the musical genius of Jimmy Buffet.

Quote to live by: "If it's cold and in your fridge, I'll drink it"