There is plenty of good news to report at Mica Heli!  Fall has recently arrived, bringing fresh snow on the mountain tops and beautiful fall colors surrounding the lodge.  With overnight temperatures now consistently below freezing, another season of powder skiing is in the air!

Mica has been a buzz all summer with many projects. Most importantly we’ve opened more new ski terrain!  In total we’ve cut nine new helicopter landings in Molson, Harvey, Dawson and the Wood Arm drainages.  These new landings will add a wide variety of new ski terrain, including some beautiful, steep, north facing tree runs in Harvey!

I’m definitely looking forward to the first turns ever on the “Drive Thru”, only a two minute flight from the lodge!

After a very successful first season of our new Private Program, we’ve made the ultimate ski experience even better!  New for the 2009 season, the Mica Heli Private Program will be flying with the Bell 407 helicopter.  The Bell 407 has one more seat than the A-Star, which allows room for a second guide, giving our private groups the ability to safely explore the far reaches of our terrain.  This helicopter has incredible power and excellent fuel capacity which means more time skiing!

Although Mica Heli has quickly become known for consistent weather and quality snow, on those rare days when the snow is deep, but flying isn’t a safe option; we have an exciting new alternative!  As I write this we are putting the finishing touches on a new trail for our Pisten Bully Snow Cat. This will allow us to access the tree skiing directly above the lodge while we wait for the flying conditions to improve.

Returning guests will be sure to notice the renovations made to Mica Lodge including a full kitchen reno (complete with a sassy wall colour, new appliances and a wine cooler) fresh paint, new furniture and creature comforts. The next thing you’ll notice is the brand new beds and linens – if the skiing wasn’t so amazing you might not want to get out of bed! With a new roof and exterior stain Mica Lodge has never looked better!

Best of all your favorite team is back this year with Matt and Trevor flying, Shane, Rob, Ian, Rich, Terry, Eric and me guiding, and three new faces to Mica, but veterans to heliski guiding - Michael Cater, Cliff Umpleby and Mark Bender.  Nicole and Julie are back cooking up a storm in their new kitchen and Barbara, Val, Jonathan, Sam, Jen and Cathy are also back to make sure everyone has the perfect trip!

This winter the program at Mica Heliskiing is going to be the best ever! We have only a few seats left in Jan, Feb and March so give Val a call at 1.877.837.6191 to book your spot today. We all look forward to seeing you and skiing with you soon!

Best Regards,
Paul Norrie
President

Darryn Shewchuk
Director, Sales & Marketing
www.micaheli.com | www.powdercowboy.com | www.islandlakecatskiing.com
1.888.CATHELI (228-4354) x2002
Mobile 250.814.1950

Experience the POWDER of the Canadian Rockies www.DeepPow.com

It’s that time of year again! The snow is on the mountains and the ski shows have started. Island Lake Catskiing, Powder Cowboy Catskiing and Mica Heliskiing will have a booth at some of the bigger shows this year. Drop by and get a free DVD, posters and cool stickers!

Vancouver Oct 4 & 5
Toronto Oct 17-19
London England Oct 22-26
Calgary Nov 7-9
Denver Nov 7-9
Portland Nov 14-16

Hope to see you there!

Back by popular demand, Island Lake Lodge organizes specially designed day hikes throughout the summer.

Anyone who has ever visited or who lives in Fernie will agree that it is a beautiful valley framed by stunning peaks. From the iconic Three Sisters, to the folded layers of geological history of Mt Hosmer, to the lush heavily vegetated slopes of Mt. Fernie, there are many exciting places to discover and explore.

Mountain Pursuits and Island Lake Lodge are pleased to present specially designed day hikes for this summer’s Hiking Series. Back by popular demand – and in its 6th summer – the Hiking Series runs a number of group hikes throughout the summer. These are fully guided educational hikes offering everything the Elk Valley has to offer from vibrant alpine wildflowers to incredible mountain views.

Every season Mountain Pursuits puts on a Hiking Series to encourage locals and those visiting to become a little more intimate with our mountain environment. They do this by offering group hikes with local guides and experts taking you to neighboring peaks and points of interest.

Jennifer Coulter, guide and hiking program manager of Mountain Pursuits and Island Lake Lodge explains “This series has something for every one. From summiting Fernie’s rugged peaks, to a casual hike exploring the flora and fauna of the alpine environment, there is an adventure for all ability levels. Joining a guided hiking series hike is a great way to get off the beaten path and let our guides lead you to places you may not have visited on your own. ”

For more information about Hiking and Mountain Spa in Fernie, check out the Mountain Pursuits and Island Lake Lodge websites:
Mountainpursuits.com
Islandlakeresorts.com

Christa Moffat
Island Lake Resort Group
(250) 423 3700 ext 3002
christa@islandlakeresorts.com
www.islandlakelodge.com

Welcome to the official Deep Pow Blog! Here you will find current news, happenings and press releases for the Hiking and Mountain Spa at Island Lake Lodge, Heli Skiing at MicaHeli and catskiing at Powder Cowboy. Please bookmark our blog, and check back periodically. Our blog will feature ski, hiking, fishing, and a few out of the box off-topic news buzz.