Content about January 2010

02.27.10
Vanashing and Other Stories

Short stories are an under-appreciated art form. Agents encourage their writers to craft novels instead. Novels sell better. Publishers will even slap “A NOVEL” across the cover of a collection of connected short stories in an attempt to increase the book’s chances in a competitive market. The preference baffles me. In this age of overfull day-timers and compromised attention spans, in a society that insists upon immediate gratification, shouldn’t short stories be the genre of choice? The best of short fiction delivers the same impact as a novel – but gives it to readers in a single sitting.

12.30.09
Once in a Blue Moon

2010 started under the lunar shadows of an auspicious occurrence, a blue moon on New Year’s Eve, not to be repeated again until August 2012. This unusual celestial event, a second full moon in a calendar month, got me thinking about some of the exceptional local nature experiences that happen “once in a blue moon”. Sometimes perceived as commonplace to us, these are truly rare for many people around the world.

12.30.09
Uncharted Territory

It was a clear powder day mid season in 1993. We had taken the Face Lift and saw a boot pack leading to a nice pocket of snow below the rocks of Lizard Bowl, took off our skis and started the quick ascent. Just 13 at the time, consequences were never considered mostly because we didn’t realize what they were. Hiking the saddle into Curry Bowl, it was the same thought process. “Wow, someone put in a boot pack, let’s drop in too!” Transceivers? Nope. Shovels? They’re too heavy! Probes? What are those? Knowledge of the terrain? Not a clue.

12.29.09
January Remark

Another holiday season has passed and many shiny new memories were born out of the annual Salvation Army fundraising gala. This year $7664 was raised. Ticket sales, bar proceeds, raffle tickets, all the Clubhouse staff’s tips, and a small handful of volunteers pulled off this success. Huge thanks to everyone who attended. Big ups to the volunteers. You can be sure next year will be even more enchanting.

11.26.09
Grooming the Hill

It’s 11pm at night and as I am getting ready to go check out Fernie’s bar scene Blair Craig is hitting the snooze button on his alarm clock.