Owner and operator with his wife Louise of the Far Hills Inn in Val-Morin since 1971, David Pemberton-Smith was a visionary who introduced to the Laurentians a model for an integrated and complete cross-country resort. He was first in the region to mechanically groom and track-set trails as he added to the historical Maple Leaf, Gillespie and Wizard trails a network, totalling close to 150 kilomètres. He innovated also by introducing the cross-country ski week to skiers from Ontario and the US Eastern Seabord. His programs always featured good instruction as well as peripheral activities.