On a mission: Fernie man skis every day of season to prove a point

What began as a joke to show off the ski-friendly lifestyle of B.C. soon morphed into a mission for Fernie local Jay Carter to go skiing every single day of the 2021-2022 ski season 鈥� and that mission is almost accomplished.

鈥淚 started on the ski hill in December, and so far I鈥檝e skied every day of the season,鈥� said Carter, who owns and operates the Guide鈥檚 Hut in downtown Fernie.

The motivation to log at least one turn every single day for Fernie Alpine Resort鈥檚 127-day winter season was an injury a few winters ago, and the pandemic鈥檚 dampener on the seasons since.

鈥淚t really cramped my style,鈥� he said. So really he鈥檚 just making up lost time.

鈥淚t began as a joke aimed at encouraging friends from Ontario to sell everything they had and move to B.C. where you can go skiing every day of winter, and it became a thing sometime over winter.鈥�

Not every day is an expedition on the mountain, with many days consisting of a few quick runs down from Bear Chair when the hill opens at 9am, but that doesn鈥檛 stop him. 鈥淚鈥檓 still out on the hill.鈥�

鈥淚 know I can get up Bear, do two laps, and still be here at 10 to open the store.鈥�

With only 10 days to go to the last day of the season (Apr. 17), Carter said he鈥檚 feeling pretty good about reaching the finish line.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 see any reason that it鈥檚 not going to happen.鈥�

You can follow Carter鈥檚 鈥榙aily chairlift updates鈥� on the Guide鈥檚 Hut Facebook page 鈥� something he said has become a thing of it鈥檚 own.

鈥淚f I don鈥檛 post it, people will phone me at 2 o鈥檆lock to ask if I鈥檓 okay.鈥�

Carter said the season had been great so far, but that comes from his grateful attitude towards any skiing at all.

鈥淗ow do you complain about skiing, it鈥檚 the greatest thing in the world.鈥�

Asked whether skiing every day of every season would become a regular 鈥榯hing鈥�, Carter said 鈥渋t remains to be seen.鈥�

鈥淣ext week I am going to sleep in.鈥�

READ MORE: 鈥楾he time of year to stay off the trails鈥�: Mountain bikers head out of the Elk Valley for riding