How many places in the world offer spectacular mountain ranges, amazing wildlife-viewing opportunities and the chance to snowmobile, surf and golf all in the same day? Not many, I'm sure, but I am now certain this is possible in one area in particular—the B.C. Kootenays. And although Mel Dies of Fernie, B.C., had every intention of combining all three of these outdoor activities into one day, he only managed to get through two of them. Next year, however, he vows to do all three.

Developing a taste for mountain sledding

Dies wasn't always an avid snowmobiler—in fact, he started out not liking sleds at all. He grew up in a small town in Saskatchewan and his parents encouraged him to give snowmobiling a shot.

"My parents took me out when I was real young, but I really didn't like it very much," Dies said. "I couldn't stand the noise of the old machines." 

Once he was deemed old enough to ride at the age of eight, however, Dies became addicted to the adrenalin rush he got from riding snowmobiles.

"That was in Saskatchewan, though," he said. "When a friend took me to the mountains in the mid-'90s—that was it. I was hooked on mountain riding from then on."

A day of summer adventure

On July 2, 2011, Dies and three of his close friends had a full day of outdoor activity—snowmobiling in the morning and surfing in the afternoon.

"It's going to become an annual thing," said Dies. "We got up early; it was a perfect day, no wind or clouds and a forecast of 27 degrees. What a great country."

Three of Dies' friends came out to enjoy the day: Tyler Scheers from Fort McMurray, Alberta; Mike Sotski of Jaffray, B.C.; and—believe it or not—James Bond from Dies' native Saskatchewan. They woke up early, loaded up their machines and gear and headed up to the mountain at around 8 a.m. It was a half-hour drive to Harvey's Pass near Fernie, B.C. After bashing some willows in on a rough trail in the truck, he said, they found a spot to unload.

"Within a couple hundred metres there was snow," laughed Dies, amazed that he was able to snowmobile in the summer sunshine. "It was beautiful. It didn't take long to shed the jackets and long pants and lather on the sunscreen.

"We were able to climb some good hills, but you have to be careful on the way down because it is fast in the summer." 

After a wonderful morning of basking in the sun on their sleds, the four friends were back at their trucks in the early afternoon. By 3:30 p.m. of that same day, they were surfing behind a boat on a nearby lake.

Long-lasting friendships

Dies said he wouldn't have it any other way or with any other people.

"I usually ride with the same three guys, as well as some members of the local clubs in Fernie and Cranbrook," Dies said. "Marty Garret from Fernie got me into the summer thing when he took me out last June to the same place (we went to July 2)."

Dies is a snowmobiling fanatic, claiming that it is his number 1 passion. He is extremely pleased with the power behind his Arctic Cat HCR M-8 Turbo. Whether it is in the summer or the winter, Dies cannot get enough of sledding.

"The main difference between snowmobiling in the summer and winter is the snow conditions," he said. "There is less avalanche danger in the summer, which is nice. And the temperature is a bonus—shorts and sunscreen while sledding."

Although Dies finds summer snowmobiling fantastic, he is most fond of the winter snow. In the winter months, he goes wherever the powder is. One of his most memorable riding experiences was in Cranbrook.

"Dropping off a cornice beside Fisher Peak is something else," said Dies.

Passionate about sports

The Kootenay region offers perfect opportunities for Dies. He loves most recreational activities, including any and all water sports and skiing. A lot of the solid friendships Dies has formed have been due to bonding over sledding and his other favourite sports.

"I grew up on a motorcycle as well, but mostly ride one to work and back now," Dies said.

Dies is a member of both the Cranbrook Snowmobile Club and the Fernie Snowmobile Association. He said he would love to be a board member, but he lacks the time to commit—he is also the general manager and CPGA head professional the Fernie Golf & Country Club.