Fernie Distillers have donated $1,000 to the Coal Creek Heritage Society (CCHS) as thanks for allowing them to pick spruce tips from around the Montane trails for a limited-edition gin.
The ‘Forager, spruce-tip’ gin was very popular, and is well and truly already sold out.
Pat Gilmar and Rick Wiess, who are directors and volunteer trail managers with the CCHS said the funds would go straight into materials for the trails.
“It’s 100 percent for the trails - boards for bridges, chainsaw upkeep, supplies - the lot,” said Gilmar.
Wiess said that the local support for the CCHS was well appreciated, and kept them going.
“A lot of time and effort goes into what we do,” he said. “Everything is done by a group of volunteers, but there’s a cost to doing it.”
The CCHS maintains public-access multi-use, all-season trails in the Ridgemont and Montane areas of Fernie.
Andrew Hayden of Fernie Distillers said that supporting the CCHS and trail building was a no-brainer, as a local and a business owner that depended on visitors to Fernie giving patronage to his business.
“A successful trail network is a draw for Fernie, and they come to my business,” he said.
“It’s a connected entity that I personally feel I have to support.”
Fernie Distillers will be doing another run of the spruce tip gin in the future.
READ MORE: Cheers to the Elk River: Fernie Distillers make festive liqueur with local berry flavour
scott.tibballs@thefreepress.ca
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