THE LIFTLINE CMCA NEWSLETTER Issue Q4 2018 THE LIFTLINE CMCA Newsletter REBECCA NEELS 2018/2019 EVENTS Every single year on the last day of the WondersIssue of Winter Date Dec 7 season, I am an emotional wreck. It’s always Kickoff Party so bittersweet. I didn’t think this was Opening Day (weather UNTETHERED possible, but each year, my love and passion Dec 14 for the program, its mission and those who permitting) are involved continues to grow. Even with all Full Moon Snowshoe & AT HEART Dec 21 the health challenges I have dealt with Fine Dining Experience recently, the thought of being able to get by Rebecca Neels Ski with Santa (11 am – back in my bucket soon and ski my freaking Dec 25 4 pm) CADS Alberta Vice-President heart out feels incredible. Upon reflection, there was something different about it this Powder Stagecoach Cat As I sit down to write this, my mind goes Dec 27 year. I felt freer, more euphoric and more Skiing begins back to where I am the happiest. My happy appreciative. In the past, I was so consumed place is sitting at the top of a Huckleberry CMCA Community with becoming the best possible skier and Dec 27 and anticipating the feeling of euphoria that achieving my ultimate goal of skiing Potluck Night 5:45pm floods through my insides like a giant tidal untethered. Even though my goal of skiing Night Skiing on Green Dec 29 – 31 wave as I soar down the mountain. I crave the untethered didn’t happen this season, I am Chair moment when my soul’s beast is unleashed not upset or frustrated with myself. It doesn’t from a body that doesn’t match. I am a sit mean that I am going to stop striving to New Year’s Eve Parties Dec 31 skier. make this goal a reality. However, because of Canadian National Jan 4 – 6 this, I have learned something really SkiMo Championships For the past eight or so years now, I have important. I have learned that even though been involved with an amazing program at there are some days where the pain is Alpenland Demo Day Jan 5 Castle Mountain Resort called, Canadian unbearable; days where Cerebral Palsy Full Moon Snowshoe & Adaptive Snow Sports or CADS; a volunteer- Jan 18 makes me feel like a prisoner- a prisoner Fine Dining Experience based initiative that gifts people who live locked inside of a body with no key, I am with different abilities the opportunity to untethered in my heart and soul. Untethered World Snow Day Jan 20 learn how to ski or snowboard, regardless of and free to hope, free to dream and free to CMCA Community their abilities. Being a participant has also fly. Whatever life holds, I am ready to do it to Jan 26 Potluck Night 5:45pm given me the opportunity to become a CADS the best of my ability. Alberta board member and take on a Vice U14 Slalom Races Feb 8 – 10 President role, which has allowed me to There are not enough words to express the further express my passion for the program Night Skiing on Green gratitude I have for the CADS program. It has Feb 15 – 17 from a participant perspective and advocate changed my life. I am especially grateful for Chair for the organization and its mission. all the inspiring participants who motivate Full Moon Snowshoe & Feb 22 me to keep going, and the amazing Fine Dining Experience THE LIFTLINE CMCA NEWSLETTER | Issue Q4 2018 2 volunteers who dedicate their time to I must admit that it gave me pleasure when crossing trails, no lift lines & the powder days ensuring that me and countless other the Province of Alberta came to us three- and were unmatched by anything he’d individuals get to experience this one-half years ago and said, “your experienced. During his two seasons as a lift indescribable feeling. The feeling of being community is special and we want it to be at operator, he was eager to get on with unrestricted. the heart of two new parks.” I knew that Mountain Safety, so he sharpened up his being at the heart of the Castle Parks meant skiing skills and was hired by Timber (Tom Interested in getting involved, contact Darryl solutions to the major problems that have Ross) as part of ProPatrol. For years, Nick at [email protected] threatened our community from the start. was our only telemarking ProPatroller but But I also knew this meant more visitors, alpine bindings eventually won him over. more attention, more influences and new Thirteen seasons later, Nick now knows the Castle Mountain Community problems. terrain at Castle intimately and every work Association day his commitment is to open to the public I see the Community Association as a President’s Message in a quick & safe manner. The public may mechanism for helping to manage these occasionally chirp that the hill doesn’t open by Kevin Finn forces, so Castle remains our happy place. early enough We will provide the forum for you to share on snow days, your vision and concerns for the community but Nick, Winter is coming fast, and the Community and we will represent your interests to CMR, Dave and Association is preparing for another busy the MD of Pincher Creek plus Parks, Tourism, their staff’s season. Last weekend we had our Municipal Affairs, Education and other first concern organizational meeting and I was elected departments of the Province of Alberta. is making President. Tara Garratt was elected Vice sure you can President, Judy Clark stepped up to be Looking ahead, I expect the MD to finalize a board & ski Treasurer and Monica Stewart is continuing new Area Structure Plan in the coming freely and as Secretary. And after eons of leadership, months, following consultation with the safely Fraser Stewart is moving on to the role of community. With this behind us, CMCA between the Past President and wise councilor. Other together with CMR can begin the process of ski members of the executive are Glen building a comprehensive plan for our boundaries Armstrong, Pearl Murphy, Julie Heinrich and community, reflecting the vision and reality based on the Ray Bussey. of the updated master development plan and avalanche & ski industries standards. If an our partnerships with Parks and Tourism. I accident ever happens, they take One of our goals is to expand participation in am really excited about this and look forward responsibility & must answer to CMR, the the Association. So, at the AGM we created a to a plan that preserves Castle as a happy public as well as the CAA (Canadian “Member-at-Large” role. As a member-at- place for me and my family, and my friends Avalanche Association). large you have no official role. But you will be and neighbours -- old and new. invited to executive and committee Nick is one of the many Skiing Professionals meetings, your input will be solicited and Contact me at [email protected] or we have on this mountain: We have 15 full- valued and occasionally you may be asked to castlemountaincommunity.org for more time returning staff this season with 4 new help on a totally voluntary basis – no information about CMCA. staff joining them. They invest in upgrading expectations or requirements. So, if you are courses & equipment & professional dues to interested in keeping current on what’s keep abreast of all new avalanche research & happening at CMCA, let me or any of the ON PATROL AT CASTLE development. Every day begins at 7a.m. executive know and we will gratefully add MOUNTAIN with a Forecast team to determine the you to the list. weather and the hazards that have arisen or by Caralee Marriott may arise on the snowpack on the mountain. Those of you who know me know that Castle The team then breaks into teams of two to Mountain is my “happy place” and has been ski out and remove those hazards. The for 20 years this year. To me, Castle is a excitement of the day may be setting off the unique place in this world providing ready Nick is one of CMR’s Mountain Safety Managers, a job he shares with Dave explosions to release the snow pack, but it access to one of the most spectacular Stimson. This means he works to ensure that also involves ski cutting, digging out fences, wildernesses in this country and the kinship liberating buried tower pads, flagging danger of a like-minded community of devoted the mountain is ready for the public to ski each day that we are open. He also oversees areas as well as attending to injured skiers. adventurers. the work involved in opening and closing the This year Castle has added a 2-person Trail Crew, to help with fencing, signage and other The Community Association has contributed hill. duties. Thankfully, Canadian Ski Patrol (CSP) greatly to Castle’s special identity and spirit Volunteers deal with many of the First Aid through projects and events like potlucks, Nick has spent the past 13 years as an integral part of our community. He landed incidents particularly on weekends. Huckfest, night skiing, torchlight parade, hiking, cross country and snowshoe trail here from his hometown of Montreal and started as a Liftie with a snowboard. Castle One of the biggest challenges of the development, signage and maintenance, mountain is the Peak above the Red Chair. It community cleanup and beautification, Mountain came with a great recommendation from his cousin, Brian is one of the largest and most important start street signage, house numbers and, of Cusack who was the GM at the time.