Bob Stowell never likes to take a day off from the job he's had for 43 years.
The pay is lousy, the work conditions are physically demanding, and it can be brutally cold, but the folks who run Purden Mountain Ski Resort can always count on Stowell to be there making the slopes safer.
As the longest-serving member of the Canadian Ski Patrol, he challenges himself to work at least one day for every year he's walked the face of the earth. For Stowell, that means he'll be on his boards patrolling at least 91 days before the snow melts.
"I ski every day it's open, I've only missed three days this season, when my wife was in the hospital," said Stowell.
Born in 1922 in St. Paul, Minn., the only time Stowell can remember not skiing was when he joined the U.S. Marine Corps at age 18 during the Second World War. He served in the South Pacific from 1942-45 and nobody was skiing there.
Stowell grew up playing hockey, football and baseball as a kid in Minnesota. After the war he moved to Whitefish, Mont., for forestry work and came to Canada in 1952 to work at a sawmill in Nelson. In 1962 he settled in Prince George and spent the rest of his working days with The Pas Lumber Company. His love of skiing, which started as a boy when he slid down the banks of the Mississippi River on a pair of barrel staves bound to his feet with inner tube rubber, brought him to Purden and he skied there on opening day in November 1968. He built a cabin at Purden and met legendary outdoorsman George Evanoff. In the fall of 1970, they teamed up to form the first group of patrollers.
"I just wanted to give a service back to the community," said Stowell. "I was a good friend of George, the original patrol leader there, and he thought I would enjoy it. and I have enjoyed it ever since. I never felt like it was a chore. I like the outdoors, I enjoy the exercise and the people I meet within the ski patrol. It's a great organization."
Patrollers have to be good intermediate skiers and they're required to take an advanced first aid course every year. Returning patrollers have a short refresher course and new patrollers go through a 60-hour course.
Advances in ski equipment over the past two decades, especially the bindings, have reduced the frequency and severity of injuries and Stowell sees fewer broken legs. The use of helmets makes the sport safer and the advent of ski brakes to replace safety straps cut the risk of falling skiers getting hit by their own skis. Still, injuries do happen and dislocated shoulders, twisted knees, broken wrists and thumbs are common. Stowell always follows up with a phone call to the hospital to check on an injured skier or snowboarder he's helped off the mountain.
Part of his job is to police the slopes. During the provincial alpine championships a couple weeks ago, the patrollers caught two of the racers who had jumped off the chair lift at a low spot and banned them from the competition.
Purden will be a prominent site for the alpine racing events at the Canada Winter Games next year. Stowell loves the wider runs and recontoured trails designed by fellow ski patroller David Kienzle, which earned rave reviews from the visiting clubs at the provincial event.
"His experience as a ski patroller really paid off," said Stowell. "The hill is perfect for what they require for the Canada Games. We're very lucky in town to have great facilities."
To stay active during the summer, Stowell swims regularly, enjoys canoeing on Purden Lake and makes improvements to his cabin. When he's skiing, he tries to avoid deep powder and moguls but can tackle any of the steep pitches on the slopes of Purden. "I try not to wipe out," he says. "It's a lot harder to get up now."
Asked if he ever will ski cross-country, Stowell quipped: "When I get old."
Stowell had two knee replacements two years ago and a new hip was installed a year ago. He's living proof medical science can offer patients a hearty drink from the fountain of youth. Although patrollers are required to serve every second weekend, Stowell is a mainstay at Purden, patrolling every weekend and during the Christmas and spring breaks.
"I'm retired and I go every weekend, I'm in a rut," laughed Stowell. "It's so much fun being outside and helping people. It's better than sitting on the front porch rocking, complaining about the weather."
Stowell's wife Nancy, 89, had a stroke, which took away her mobility and she lives in a extended care facility. His secret to a long life -- if don't use it, you lose it.
"I try to be as active as I can, you just can't sit," he said. "People ask me what I do out at the lake. Well if you talk to a dozen people who have cabins, they never get finished, and mine's the same. I'm always working on something."
Stowell also serves as the CSP Pacific North division president and he co-ordinates activities among the four northern zones -- Prince George, Dawson Creek, Smithers and Skeena Valley. The region has about 140 patrollers, 95 of which are based in Prince George to serve the area resorts -- Purden, Tabor Mountain, Powder King (Mackenzie), Troll (Wells), Murray Ridge (Fort St. James) and Mount Timothy (Williams Lake).
New patrollers are always needed and Stowell hopes to see some new faces at the annual CSP Easter Picnic fundraiser at Purden on Sunday, March 30. For more information on joining the Canadian Ski Patrol, contact Prince George zone president Vic Skaalid (250) 564-3682.
