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DITION 8

IHN TALBOT - DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY
ERVICES

thn is responsible for coordinating the
gcial Services in Tumbler Ridge, includ-
ng Health Services, staffing the Diagnos-
ic and Treatment Centre, dealing with the
man Resources agencies, i.e. Mental
alth, Parks and Recreation Programme.
is assisted by Juri Peepre, Recreation
sultant, who is preparing an outdoor
creation plan including hiking trails,
yssible sites for ski hills, parks, golf
jurseS, camping etc. Future social
Janning for the community includes co-
essential services i.e.
emergency health = services,
lanning for cooperative housing.

ohn's office is located in the Community
entre and he may be reached at 242-4246,

SKIING IN TUMBLER RIDGE

Ny son Bobby really likes downhill skiing
but he considers cross-country skiing
"boring". I never knew why but I guess it
is because he had too little opportunity
to learn it well. When he spent ten days
in Tumbler Ridge during Easter, we were
skiing almost every day. He then became
quite good and even reluctantly had to
admit that it was sort of fun. The best
vay to promote his speed was to plan the
trip so that, making it or not making it
back for lunch, was a function of how fast
we skied. There is nothing more frightful
to a twelve year old boy than the risk of
nissing lunch at the 1000 man camp cafe-
teria!

Well, although Tumbler Ridge is blessed
with mountains suitable for downhill ski
development, we still have no facilities
and may not have any for the next few
years. But the opportunities for cross-
country skiing are literally unlimited.
Although the past winter featured less
than average snowfall, it was still poss-
ible to ski any time between mid November
and the end of April.

One of my favourite areas is the upper
alpine region on Babcock Mountain. The
mountain is quite large and flat and
depending on where you stand you can enjoy
breathtaking views of the Plantsite and
Murray River to the north or endless
Rockies to the west. Mount Roman, which
at 2022 meters, towers highest in the
Quintette range, lies straight to the
south of Babcock, separated by the Babcock
Creek and Falls. I used to travel around
quite unconcerned in the area until I read
in a recent issue of the Tumbler Times,
that grizzley bears choose the upper
regions as their habitat. Since then I
have a tendency to keep one eye open for
climbable trees. I have also considered
whether to hit the bear on the head with
the edge of the ski or to fend if off with
the ski pole. Suggestions anyone?

THE TUMBLER TIMES - PAGE 8

SKIING IN TUMBLER RIDGE, cont'd

Another nice place to go skiing is along
the public Forestry Road leading south
from the Quintette Plantsite to the Murray
River. Five kilometers up and down some
fairly steep hills, the road adjoins the
river. The next four kilometers follow
the river past a couple of lakes with
inhabited beaver lodges. If you make it
to the waterfall, about two kilometers
further up, it will probably be time to
turn around and head back.

Next season, my family is moving up and we
will be living in the town. We are really
looking forward to discovering and devel-
Oping new cross-country ski trails. Hope-
fully there will be a lot of like-minded
people pitching in clearing trails and
building facilities. Perhaps we will even
be able to get a lit ski trail for night
Skiing! How about a ski-jump on the slope
of Tumbler Ridge? Another thing we need
to do is to form a ski club as soon as
possible. After all, the suggestion has
already been made that Tumbler’ Ridge
Should host the 1986 B.C. Winter Games.
What is next - I understand that Calgary
has a tough time finding a suitable area
for the skiing events in the 1988 Winter
Olympics...

H. Lillquist

768- 2358 PO. Box 284

CHIMO
Vi LLAGE GALLERY

Picture Framing of All Kinds
Art And Craft Gallery

~Dania Down Quilts

SuUue Access Rd-
Ch elwynd, B.C.

Voc \J0 “Stews Rita Rex’

WANTED -
Sheepdog.

Someone to shear

Phone 242-3560.

English