Olympic blades-a-turnin''

[4961]

You're right the first time, the town and the hill are named after the marmot, when you get close to then they shreek (whistle). Originally the stop on the BC rail line was called Alta Lake where a lady named Mertle Philips ran the Alta lake lodge. The mountain was London mountain at the time (early 1900's) That all changed in the 60's when the Garibaldi lift co. started to develop the hill for skiing. Blackcomb didn't show up 'till the 80's.

Lots of helicopter work since then. Blackcomb was logged in part with the 214. Crashed one doing it too. Lift construction with the 214, 64 was in some years ago to set a motor for the 7'th heaven lift that died. Astars for slinging snowguns, medivacs, avalanch control, lift maintenance. One year we slung nets of snow to cover bare spots on the ski out. 212 for concrete footings and the like.

There has been some nay sayers for this olympic thing from the start, but as far as I can see it's going to be an economic shot in the arm for the whole area, including the flying gig.

As far as forcing breath through nearly closed lips, I think that there may hve been some of that too.