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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1983-03-09, Page 16Serving over Wingham Mount Forest, Milverton, Elmira, Palmerston, Harnston, Brussels, Atwood, MonkYon, Millbank, Newton, Clifford, WallensYein, Drayton, Moorefield and Arthur. Wednesday, March 9, 1983. homes in Listowel,._..__.. _.....__......_ Haven for ski addicts Collin For those who have been bitten by the downhill ski bug, gracefully descending a snowy slope in the crisp winter air can become the quintessential sport in their lives. The addictive power of downhill skiing should not be underestimated. There is a freedom to be attained in downhill skiing that cannot be obtained in other sports. To cut a path through freshly fallen snow at breath -taking speeds can give a person a euphoric feeling of escape and there is no better place to get that feeling than on Blue Mountain in Collingwood. Not a ponderous, brooding mountain by those accustomed to the Rockies or even the Arirondacks, but the exposed remnants of the Niagara Escarpment offer the most ex- tensive selections of ski runs and facilities anywhere in Ontario. With 30 different runs on Blue Mountain it beckons Ontario's ski enthusiasts to its slopes. The various runs range from simple enough for the beginner to being able to challenge even seasoned skiers. Blue Mountain is not however, just wood calls another slope to be skied and forgotten. It is situated in one of Ontario's most beautiful locations on Georgian Bay. The rolling hills' are decorated with woodlots which in turn are blanketed in a cover of snow, all giving a pleasing esthetic value to what can be a memorable ski trip. Blue Mountain is centrally located for Ontario's ski "bums". it is situated 13 kilometres west of Collingwood just off Highway 26 on Blue Mountain Road. A scant two hours from the heartland of midwestern Ontario, Blue Mountain's famous slopes become even more attractive because of their accessability. Lift tickets at the resort are $18 for adults on weekends and during the Christmas break and $16 through the week. Adults are considered 13 years old and up. Children are $14 on weekends and during the Christmas break and $12 through the week. That lift ticket entitles the skier the use of the 12 chairlifts, six pomas and five rope tows from 9:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Afternoon lift tickets are available for $14 on weekends and during the Christmas break and at $12 through the week with skiing from 1:00 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Night skiing is also available at Blue Mountain with costs ranging from $12.50 at peak weekend times to just $5 for students during midweek. A simple rope tow lift can also be obtained for $4. While some of those prices may seem a trifle expensive, in respect to the variety of slopes offered the skier is actually getting good value for his money. There are 30 different runs on Blue Mountain all interconnected. The Peaks, which are located four miles away from Blue Mountain proper can be reached by a complimentary bus shuttle service, and one lift ticket is all that is required for any of the slopes. The Peaks offer the skier.a vertical drop of 820 feet and a ski run of more than a mile and a half. - Blue Mountain is not just for expert or veteran skiers. Beginners are welcomed on the slopes and the beginner can obtain lessons if they wish to have the benefit of some instruction before they tackle the slopes. Skiers can take either group or private lessons with classes at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and two p.m. A one-hour group lesson costs $8.50, a one- hour private lesson costs $21. With two people the cost of the lesson is $28 and with three people the cost of the lesson is $36. Accommodations at Blue Mountain are plentiful, but during the peak season rooms are still hard to come by, it is advisable to book ahead. The Blue Mountain Inn, located at the foot of Blue Mountain offers a wide range of activities when you're through skiing. The Inn has indoor swimming, squash, raquetball, a whirlpool, sauna and an ex- cercise room. Packages for the Inn are available ranging from a midweek package .at $135 to a five-day ski experience for $335. On particularly cold days the- skier need not worry about being left out to freeze at the base of the mountain when the elements finally take their toll. There are five base lodges all with food and refreshments available. Dancing and music enhance the apres-ski scene and round out the Moun- tainside atmosphere of Blue Mountain. Just a few minutes away in Collingwood there are many fine restuarants and shops. There are also night spots to take in, such as the Arlington Hotel, the "in" place for the apres-ski crowd. Motel -hotel accommodation can be booked through the Georgian Bay Triangle Lodging Association which is open from 9:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the ski season. Motels can range from the very economical located up to 20 miles from the mountain to the Blue Mountain Inn. The range in price is $29 to $96 at the Blue Mountain Inn based on double occupancy. For the beginning skier who is not likely to have their own equipment, rentals are available from the base lodges at the mountain. There is no need to worry about the lodge not being able to outfit you with skis, Blue qh. qk' Mountain carries more than 1,000 pairs of brand name skis in five different lengths. The shops are staffed • with skilled technicians who are capable of handling most problems skiers can -encounter on the slopes. Skis, boots and poles cost $12.50 to rent for an entire day and $47.50 for rental from Monday to Friday. Anyone renting equip- ment must leave their driver's licence and a $100 deposit to guarantee the return of the equipment. The rental cost also includes Provincial sales tax and breakage in- surance. Skiers must be conscientious on the slopes and aware at all times of the skiers around them. It is imperative that skiers stay in control at all times to avoid serious collisions. Skiing can become an integral part of your winter activity and is an excellent form of winter excercise. Skiing can be costly, but is a unique form of winter sports. Try downhill skiing, Collingwood calls. '4. by Shawn Denstedt 9,C ti • 9n' THRILL-SEEKER—Skiers can make their own thrills on miniature jumps that add to the fun and excitement on Blue Mountain. Mike Campbell from Milverton executes a lump over one of the many small "ski ramps. LIFT TO THE TOP—There are over 30 different ski runs on Blue Mountain accessible TRAILS AT THE TOP—Skiers can reach the surrounding slopes• by a series of trails by 12 chair lifts, six pomas and five tow ropes. This lift is a triple chair lift taking skiers at the top of the mountain. These trails lead to adjoining ski runs and skiers can run to the top of the main slope, Big Baby. the garput of Blue Mountain travelling across the slopes this way. 9y : • VERNON CLEMME , a retired farmer, has found the perfect hobby in raising canaries. The birds greet each morning with 44 cheerful song providing entertainment and company for their owner. Elmira household a chorus of song Vernon Clemmer raises, breeds and sells canaries As the first light of dawn finds its way through the basement window of the Vernon Clemmer home in Elmira. a chorus of song alerts the household that another day has begun. The cheerful, melodious morning salute comes from the male canaries which Mr. Clemmer raises, breeds and sells as a hobby. A retired farmer,, who needed a town hobby, Mr. Clemmer found the perfect answer in canaries. Canaries are livestock which require ntion and care but an added bonus is the song which rewards an owner's althy canary chirps, sings and providing entertainment atte beautifu ,efforts. A he plays in its cage, and company for its owner. Mr. Clemmer first becam canaries in 1975 when he and his thought the canaries would provide a teresting diversion for residents in a hom where they worked near London. The idea wasn't successful but their daughter took the canaries until they retired from the home and about four years ago Mr. Clem - mer took over the job again. Today he finds the canaries a very inter- esting hobby but admits that at first he knew little about them. He recalls with a laugh when the first egg was hatched: "i thought the first one was a worm. I thought it would never live," Baring little resemblance at birth to the parents, the baby canary grows quickly, however, and in six to eight weeks is almost full feathered. Mating begins in early spring, although depending on the climate, some breeders begin mating on Valentine's Day. The birds' e interested in wife Mary n in- habits will tell a breeder when they are ready. Besides a mating call, the male canary will feed the female and a nest should be provided when the female begins to pick up paper and feathers in preparation for a nest. Mr, Clemmer provides the female with a plastic form of a net lined with cloth. The expectant motheroes the rest with shredded burlap Mr. Clemmer puts in the cage for her use. The mother lays from four to six tiny blue eggs, about 12 inch in length which hatch in two weeks. Mrs. Clemmer jokes that the canary parents are "modern" the father shares in the waiting and caringfor the young. Although uncommon, Mr. Clemmer has even seen one male sit on the nest while the mother late. Most often the male will feed the female while she is nesting. And he helps ,feed the young when they arrive, The adults are fed seed but they also enjoy lettuce, sweet apple and endive. The young are fed a special mixture of hard boiled egg, baby hablum and powdered milk which Mr. Clemmer mixes and provides for the parents. There are many different br canaries. The most popular color is ye but white, green and red have been de- veloped over the years by breeders. The ori- ginal wild canary was a small, brown hued bird which was shipped from what is today the Canary Islands and entered Europe in large numbers in the early 1600s. Breeding became popular and while the Germans concentrated on developing exceptional singers. the English bred for color and eds of ow variety. Mr. Clemmer raises yellow and white Chopper and Roller Cross canaries. While the most popular color is yellow, the male is also popular because it is the male who sings. The female chirps but does not sing. Mr. Clemmer has had no trouble with sickness or disease in his canaries and says that keeping the birds and their cages clean is important. He changes the water daily and keeps perches and the floor of the cages clean as well. The canaries bath and keep_ them- selves clean. Fluctuations in room tetnpera- ture can be fatal to a canary. Stories of canaries which die when left alone are not uncommon but Mr. Clemmer feels a canary should be trained from the time it is young. Leaving the radio on for company when you leave can help. Female canaries may not live more than five or six years because of breeding. Young females should only be bred once a year but mature females can be bred more often. Males live longer, some have been known to live as long as 16 years. Mr. Clemmer keeps the birds as a hobby and says his operation is "small scale". After hatching he may have as many as 24 birds before selling them privately. bout two months after the hatching the males begin to exercise their vocal Chords and after four months, they have a mature singing voice. And for awhile, the morning chorus at the Clemmer house is embellished with more voices until peach finds a new home, taking a cheerful song to brighten an- other's morning. 0a 9