Quote:
Originally Posted by nfotiu
Fortress brings back memories I haven't thought about in a long time. I was on their Skimeisters team for a few years. That lodge was great. Just walk out the door and put on your skis. I remember waxing up the cafeteria trays and taking them out on the ski runs at night!
I thought it was a great mountain for good skiers too. The runs off the Canadian chair were great mogul runs. Perfect fall line, and a good length to do it in one shot with a good leg burn by the end and no lines. I always felt like I got more hours of hard skiing in, in a day than anywhere else. There was a good OB hike up area as well, that if I remember right wasn't prohibited, just ski at your own risk.
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Funny, neat story.
I too grew up at Fortress. So many memories; the wall, devils gulch, jumping off the far side chair.. etc; The tragic loss of life, of those 4 Western Canada high kids..
Anyway, as I've gotten older, I've been frequenting Japan annually. Of note, was a trip in '17 where me and some buddies stayed at Moiwa Lodge, near Niseko. So one evening, me and a my pals, are having pints in the lil pub within the lodge. We're chatting up the owners, a husband & wife. We start chatting more with the husband, who perks up hearing I grew up in Calgary. (my pals were from MB, and moved in their 20's). Turns out, he spent a season or two at Fortress, as part of some ski team he was on. Reminisced some with him.
He loved skiing then, and he shares it's what he returned to after his career, and bought this lodge. I ask what he did, and he shares he played cricket professionally, which was somewhat lost on us Canadian lads.
https://twitter.com/dirk_nannes
One of my other buds makes pow-sticks, and if you visit his lodge, will find one as a memento, right in the middle of the main timber wall.