We, Corinne and Natascha are both are very pleased to announce that we're happily working away in the office in Fernie this summer! Besides planning your tours we have taken advantage of the recent lovely weather to get out into the Rocky Mountains!
Saturday of the long weekend was spent hiking up in the mountains in the Elk Valley, specifically up the wet and wild path of the Coal Creek Drainage. 12 of us outdoor enthusiasts left Fernie Alpine Resort to join our fearless leaders Sachia and Linda - the unofficial back country guides - on a hike to "The Ammonite".
An ammonite is an extinct type of cephalopod, related to cuttlefish and octopus. The spiral and ridged shape of the ancient sea creature was named after the horns of the Egyptian God Ammon, who legend states, had horns.
Our Coal Creek Ammonite is one of several smaller fossils found in the Fernie area. The size? This specimen measures about 1.5 metres across and was 35 centimeters thick, the body spiraling out from the center of the shell. The imprinted fossil in the rock is complimented by the lower half of the body which remains embedded, as the shell had once filled with sand. This big guy used to swim around in the Jurassic Sea some time ago, between 200 and 145 million years back, then with the formation of the mountains, was lifted up high, waiting to be discovered for as many years!
It was wonderful to hike with old and new friends, although this year's rainfall made the trek much more treacherous! Hikers, make sure you all have good footwear, and don't be afraid to get a bit muddy!
Happy trails... come out and join us next time! Life is too short not to have this much fun!
Natascha
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