THE CARLYLE CREW.
We’re so tight , folks say we make beautiful music together !
below are bio’s on The Carlyle “Crew”, all Keen Prospectors of our BC Powder (White Gold)
Brian (Bomber) Cross:
Powder Sinner/Mount Carlyle Playground Supervisor
“Bomber”/”Bald Bomber”,or ” Da Bomb” for short (NOT Mr Bomber), is a born and bred British Columbia boy. Born in 58′ into an avid ski family with ski Instructors as parents. All the boys in the family doing their time as racers. Bombers mom was skiing with him into her 2nd trimester . Maybe why he seems so at ease on skis?.
“Da Bomb” has been Prospecting for White gold for over 62 of his 64 yrs . He started backcountry touring in 76′, and he ain’t ready to slow down any time soon. Especially since he got that new knee! Now folks call him “The Bionic Bomber”. His passion is skiing, having a good time, work’n hard and skiing… IT’S A WAY OF LIFE!
Back in school he was always allowed to have the “15cm flu” on Powder days. Some say he was (is?) a “sick lad”. After graduating he bought an old school bus , fixed it up and headed to Rossland’s Red Mtn where he worked one day a week and skied the other six. What an Awesome time that was!
TIME TO GROW UP AND GET A JOB ??? .
After working each field season as a Hard rock Mineral Prospector (25yrs), he was able to save enough coin to spend the winters ski bumming in the koot’s.
Bomber’s Happy Spot is in the mtns either at Mount Carlyle , or his first venture Valhalla Mountain Lodge . He Started in the backcountry ski industry in 82′( 40 yrs ago), as a winter custodian at Kokanee Glacier Park (a stones throw from Carlyle).
In the early 80’s he noticed there was a lack of backcountry lodges for the growing amount of backcountry “Powder Prospectors”, he and 2 other keeners started Valhalla Mountain Lodge in 86′(over 36yrs now !) . Bomber is an active 50% owner in Valhalla Lodge and regularly splits his time between Carlyle and Valhalla , for an average of 12-14wks a winter.
In 2010 he purchased Mt Carlyle lodge, which just happens to have THE BEST view of Kokanee Glacier anywhere in the Koots…Kokanee Glacier “where it all started”. Full Circle.
recently retired from the the B.O.D. of the Backcountry Lodges of BC (BLBCA), after 12 yrs as the “President of Vice“……er maybe that’s “Vice-President?“
He and his wife Penny (of 38yrs) live in the Slocan valley, on a 110 acre sheep farm . Among other jobs in “The Bush” he’s been a Wildlands Firefighter and a Fire Warden for The BC forest service.
“Bomber” has even been involved in the “Ski Porn” Industry (no surprise)..Bill Heath’s Iconic “Sinners” Dave Heath’s “Groovy little slideshow” and “Schuss”, throw in a few pics and articles in numerous ski mags and there ya have it , but his real claim to fame is being one of the most hard-working and accommodating Backcountry lodge hosts around.
Like he says “It’s been 40yrs of great experiences, skiing BC Pow, meeting ,hosting, and laughing with folks from all walks of lives. What a Blast! “ A fun lovin’ outdoors person who doesn’t take himself serious. “Life is way too short for that kinda sh#t.”
Eryn (“Pro-Pro”)Prospero
1st Carlyle Cook, Baker, “Mud thrower”
“ProPro” ( now Ma-ma Pro-Pro), has been with Mount Carlyle since 2010 , she’s proven herself over many times. Hard-working , Great energy- Greater smile, even better laugh. Eryn has been a great asset to Carlyle
The roots of her cook’n skills were honed in her Italian Grama’s kitchen; her baking as THE baker in the renowned Whitewater Kitchen (rumour has it she had the “best buns” ever at Whitewater).
When she’s not cookin’ up a storm at Carlyle , she’s in her pottery studio.
In the last 3yrs she’s been a new mom, so a new meaning of “potty”- ery for her.
“Pro-pro” is an accomplished Professional Potter . A member of the Famous “Craft Connection” in Nelson B.C. where her pottery flies off the shelves.
Her two great loves (well now three, she’s got a little 3 yr old boy. An up and coming Carlyle custodian?) , are Cookin’ and “throwin’ mud” (it’s a pottery term!).
She loves Carlyle and skiing “the Pow”, but her cooking comes first. Yer in good hands with her in the kitchen.
But what’s up wit dat “Hippity-Hoppity” music she plays???
Leah ( “Slapchop” or “Lil Ripper”) Brown:
Custodian , Carlyle Summer hiking Guide.
Leah has been with us since 2012. Another fantastic ,hard-working Custodian. She’s big on keep’n that Sauna and outhouse Clean,Clean,Clean. Hard-work’n, fun-lovin, and a wicked shredder. Our token, Split-board’n , “Powder lov’n , Pillow-Popp’n Princess”. You can hear her magic call all the way from “the lumberyard”. Scooby-doo?!
Leah can also school ya in Mexican food and tequila .
Besides Working at Mount Carlyle Leah has her own summer Adventure tourism business. www.Footstepsecoadventures.com .
Leah also organizes womens Yoga reteats out of Carlyle in the summer.
it’s obvious why we call her “Lil Ripper”, but YOU ask her why folks call her “Slap Chop”
Relevant Cert’s :
*Carlyle dance party facilitator, mtn biker and cat lover.
*Yoga teacher (500hr+), meditation and wellness coach
*CAA Lv 1
*Advanced Level 3 Wilderness first Aid (Certified for over 10yrs)
*AST Level 1 & 2
*Hiking guide for over 20yrs
*snowboard Instructor
Janelle ( Excep-Janelle) , Langford :
When Janelle cooks everyone shows up !
Food for Janelle is about sharing, ambience, flavour, ingredients, conversation, wine, laughter and of course recipes.
Her culinary career started 15 yrs ago at a retreat on Salt Spring island.
2009 she started her own catering company
2010 her first cookbook was a sold out hit. “Bluewater Adventures presents recipes from a Galley Goddess”
A recipient of the National Capital Sommelier Guild scholarship
Gold Medal award for food and wine pairing competition (Algonquin College, Ottawa)
2014 Joined the Carlyle Crew.
2019 Invited to be a judge at the Guild of fine foods “The Great Taste food Awards” in the UK .
Everyone agrees as a cook Janelle is “Excep-Janelle” !
Spring and Summers find Janelle cooking on an Eco tour boat along the Pristine coast of BC and Alaska
Janelle loves to tell the tale of her parents meeting on a ski touring trip . Something about her dad asking her mom if he could “wax her skis”, wink, wink, nod , nod.
Janelle has led a varied , adventurous life with many stories to tell . I’d best save them for her to tell.
Our Galley Goddess is as happy cooking as skiing fresh pow, or sailing.
Glad to have ya board Mate !
( not the Carlyle kitchen)
Brad (Tippsy) Steele.
2nd winter as a Carlyle employee , but certainly not a “newbie” to Carlyle and the local backcountry.
Ya’d never know from the photo , but Brad is super Solid. A great communicator, friendly and a multi faceted , competent custodian .
Brad is a Passionate skier who couldn’t wait to move west to a true ski town
Started his business /website Backcountry Skiing Canada out of a need to help inform and keep others safe in the mountains (and get free gear), he says its part of his business but he’s really a bit of gear nerd.
Was on Nelson SAR for ten years
Each of his birthdays at the start of a new decade he celebrates by climbing Mt. Rainier, last one was a few years ago at 50 with his son for his 16th.
Loves to get high,… (not that kind), the elevation kind. If there is a mountain he likes to see what’s on the other side. The tallest being 20,000ft in Nepal
He loves to nurture his inner clown, he can: juggle, while riding a unicycle, wiggling his ears and tying a cherry stem with his tongue…well sort of.
Brad likes to say Long johns are for the weak, but I figure he just couldn’t find a clothing sponsor. If he did he’d be able to spend time hanging at the top of a run or summit with the rest of us enjoying the vibe. Well, I guess he doesn’t like heated outhouse toilet seats either, eh?.
Brendan and Melissa (Mel), 2 of the hardest working , happiest folks around. No slouches when coming to making powder turns.
What to say about this Dynamic Duo???… we’ll they’re now business partners in Carlyle and in the not too distant future Carlyle will be their “Baby” ( I’ll still hang’n about being, I guess ole Grampa?). Me and Carl are the Carlyle Mascots after all.
Brendan is another one of those “Ontario born- then head West for good Powder” types .
Brendan has taken over the Lead Custodian role and is in charge of anything that breaks, or leaks , or what have you. He also acts as office support for Mel. And learning fast that being a lodge owner you do whatever it takes ….
Brendan worked for many years as A BC Wildlands fire fighter. Numerous yrs on the Ski patrol at Fernie Alpine resort. He’s an ACMG Ski Guide, OFA Lv3 and An AST instructor. plus many more talents.
Mel is the Office and Lodge manager ,bookkeeper, reservation manager and Swag master.
Mel , like Bomber is BC (British Columbia) Homegrown. She comes from a strong ski lineage starting with her grandparents operating a “Mom & Pop” ski hill on their ranch outside of Vernon BC .
Both her Mom, Dad and Uncle are Celeb’s in the ski world – her mom a past Canadian free style champion, her dad a past Tele-racing champion ,accomplished and well known photographer . Her Uncle, A gold medal Downhill ski champion and member of the “Crazy Canucks” mens ski team .
I’d say A SOLID SKI LINEAGE.
Mel’s cred’s and cert’s are , past ski patrol at Fernie B.C. Also worked as a BC wildlands fire fighter, (where she and Brendan met)
Current Level First aid
An AST instructor and ACMG Ski Guide
Her and Brendan have their own business as AST course instructors (VitaminSki.ca). Carlyle , what a great place to take an AST course.
Brendan and Mel bought land in Kaslo a few yrs back and built their own cabin on it. They are respected, loved and active members in their new community.
Whew…. all this and more in a little over 30yrs !
Good Job Mel , Brendan and the rest of The invaluable “Carlyle Crew“, our volunteer support team and tradespeople , couldn’t do it without all of ya’s.
And in memory to most important members of the crew who started it all Happening….
Bomber’s Mom- 1942?
Bomber’s Dad-1940-ish.
If you get no joy from snow you’ll have less joy in yer life , and still the same amount of snow !
