Mammoth
Ski Patrol Memorial Stickers
June, 2006-- We were riding up Chair Three with
Walt and talking about what an incredible day it was. The sun
was shining and Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol, led by their snow
safety expert Walter Rosenthal, had done an incredible job in
getting the resort open, top to bottom, after yet another huge
2006 season High Sierra dump.
During a pause in the laughing
and joking around, I'll always remember having looked over at
Walt and seeing him smiling broadly, for no other particular
reason, it seemed, other than that it was a beautiful powder
day and a few thousand |
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enthusiastic skiers were
out reaping the rewards of all of his and the rest of the patrol
staff's hard work in getting the mountain fully open. Just minutes
later, Walt would heroically give his life trying to save 37
year-old John "Scott" McAndrews, and 35 year-old James
Juarez, two fellow patrollers. McAndrews and Juarez had been
moving the fencing back around the fumarole between Chair Three
and China Bowl.
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A Mammoth landmark, this
steam vent on the side of the volcanic mountain had been buried
by the recent big dumps, but a huge cavern had formed below.
When the snow below gave way, the two patrollers, along with
their fencing and signs, fell into a gas filled pit some twenty
feet deep.
I started to say something
to Walt near the end that final
chair ride....
I don't remember what, but it was probably just some lame, powder
inspired giddy comment... and he kind of waved me off as he listened
for a moment to the chatter on his chest-pack radio. I'm pretty
sure now that he was hearing the beginnings of the drama that
was already unfolding, yet gentleman that he was, Walt finished
his conversation with Urmas and me as he skied off the lift,
just moments before looking that bee-atch called destiny square
in the eye and jumping into that pit with an O-2 bottle in hand. |
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A few weeks ago I stopped
by the site of the tragedy and snapped these pics. The fencing,
the signs, it was a chilling scene. The snow had melted back
and someone had left a few flowers along with a simple, handmade
cross with words of appreciation. I thought about just how much
all of us owe the patrollers who do so much to make our home
mountains safe for the rest of us. With watering eyes, I thought
about the ski patrollers I have known through the years, pros
and volunteers alike, the dead and the living, core skiers every
one. And I thought of a special former patroller in my own life,
the mother of my now six year-old daughter, and how I fell so
in love with her one day while watching her excel in her job
on the hill. "What color are my eyes?" she had asked
the shocky, scared, and crying little girl with the compound
leg fracture. "Blue," the poor thing had guessed. "Most
people say they look green, but maybe they are reflecting the
sky" Laurie had said as she skilfully distracted the lonely
young girl from what was going on.
Respect, that's what these
people have always deserved. And now, thanks to the efforts of
regulars on the Mammtoth
Mountain website discussion board, all of us have the chance to pay our respects
to Walt, Scott, James, and to all of the other ski patrollers
who stand ready, prepared to give their all for all of us. Send
a few bucks to the Mammoth Patrollers Memorial Fund and get a
sticker to display proudly. Let all the patrollers everywhere
know that you appreciate their efforts, while contributing some
bucks that will go directly to the Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol.
--Mitch Weber
Make donation checks out
to Mammoth Mountain Ski Patrol. The suggested donation is $5.00,
but regardless of the amount, you will still get a sticker. Send
your check to:
MM Ski Patrol Memorial
Sticker
C/O Pat Woods
PO Box 1062
Bishop, CA 93514
More memorial sticker info
here.
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