Last Call - Final Sweep

Police, firefighters, EMTs and Ski Patrollers have a "Last Call" ceremony to commemorate the loss of a member.

"Patrol to Dave Brown"

silence

"Patrol to Dave Brown"

silence

"Patrol to Dave Brown"

silence

"No contact - Patrol"

(At the end of each ski day, Patrollers "sweep" the mountain to make sure all skiers made it off the hill safely - that no one was left behind.)

The sled with Dave's vest, jacket and radio pack.

After the "Last Call", the ski patrol skis down an empty sled accompanied by patrollers sweeping the hill one last time.

The "Final Sweep".

The conditions were a near white-out blizzard. The 100+ of us on the lodge steps, waited somberly, seemingly forever, for the first sight of the sled. The silence was broken when I quipped that "Dave loved little more than coordinating a search and now he has the entire lost Patrol to look for." From then on Daveisms were widely shared.
Only when they neared the bottom of the run, did the procession come into sight.

I quit counting at 80 skiers - and they still kept coming. Snow and tears blurred my vision.

A semi-circle was formed in front of those of us on the steps. An incredibly moving eulogy was given...

and a beautifully engraved plaque was presented to me to hang in the patrol room as a memento of all Dave meant to the Patrol and Ski Area.

To cap off the ceremony, a two stage rocket blasted off to 10,000 feet before exploding and spreading Dave's ashes far and wide over a place that meant so much to him. The thrilling ride was fitting tribute to the guy who never missed running a major fireworks show in 48 years.

That evening one of the patrollers summarized the event: "I have never participated in a more fitting and powerful memorial service to a person than the Final Sweep for Dave Brown at Willamette Pass Ski Area yesterday. Following Dave off the mountain with a 100 or more ski patrollers slowly sweeping down By George in a single slalom curve was an experience that answers the question for me: "Why is life worth living?" From the bottom of the hill the line of patrollers stretched almost all the way back up to the Twilight lift. What is a more fitting image of ski patrolling than the unbroken line of skiers from the oldest associates of Dave to the newest stretching up the hill, lost to view in a blizzard, but following in a single track? I wish to express my thanks to the leadership and patrollers of Willamette Pass Ski Patrol, and to Kay Lee Brown for making this event happen. Thank you Dave Brown for your inspiring leadership for your lifetime."

The ski area owner not only ran the lift after the end of the ski day so patrollers could get up the hill for the final sweep, he generously opened the lodge for a banquet gathering. While the blizzard raged outside, every seat in the lodge was occupied by Dave's friends eating the potluck food that had covered 72 feet of table surface. Daveisms were recounted throughout the dinner and beyond. I was wrapped in the warmth and friendship of so many people who truly loved Dave. He may be gone but certainly is not forgotten.
(Photos by Ian Doremus)

More Snow!!!

Around midnight I sat in the hot tub with feet up on the edge. Invisible, cold snowflakes were soft kisses on my legs and feet while the rest of me relaxed in the hot water. Only after the ½" of snow accumulating on my head and soaking through my hair did I head back to bed.

This morning I awoke to about 4" of heavy, wet snow. We ended up with a total of about 5" before it stopped snowing and started shrinking under it's own warning weight. The dogs were as excited as I was.

Breakfast coffee view from my office. 

 Frozen pond with ice laden power lines. 

Start of the day's poses. I used up a LOT of dog treats. Chinook tag was way more enticing than sitting still on the snow.

Cedar is sure Koyuk must have treat remnants.

  mom Koyuk and son Trask

 mom Cedar and daughter Koyuk

"got more treats?"

 Beautiful Matriarch Cedar 

By mid morning it had stopped snowing and the sun came out. Pose in front of the buried Zen Frog.

Paradise yard

Koyuk and Cedar 

Nature's Sculpture Tree with woodpecker.

An accumulation of snow is not all fun and games. There are walks to shovel. The ornamental bushes need to be swept free of snow to prevent delicate branches from breaking. The 25 year old kennel roof needs to be cleared of snow. The roof is vulnerable to not only the weight of the snow on top of it but also snow sheeting off and crashing down from the metal roof 16' above. The one thing in my storm prep I had omitted was moving the 12' ladder and floor squeegee from the back of the house to the kennel. Guess I am way out of practice with my snow storm prep.

I can never get enough of seeing Chinooks in the snow.

Koyuk

Can't forget Vineman. His heart is nicely outlined with snow.

 The pond in the afternoon sun after the power-lines were freed of their weighty load.

Lucy's sun catcher heart adding a splash of color to the day.

Unfortunately there was not enough snow to make dog sledding possible. Maybe tomorrow?

Snow!!!

At 2245 last night, Jake awoke me by jumping up onto my face and shaking the snow off his body. I threw him off and ran to the outdoor light switch. It's Snowing!!!

Jake

A week ago the sun finally reached over the ridge and lit the back yard.

Today, the first snow of the winter covered the back yard.

My great niece Lucy, with her mom's help, made me a valentine sun catcher. I let her know that I was hanging it between the snow flakes Anna and Klara had made me because I was still hopeful that we might get snow this winter.

There are valid reasons I get nothing done on snow days.
1) I forget I am not 9 years old. 
2) The dogs instinctively know they are a sled dog breed and forget they are not 2 years old.

3) Growing up "no work time" was always declared whenever it was snowing. The family would park on the sofa in front of the window.
4) I own a digital SLR camera and can shoot a couple hundred pictures that catch my fancy.
5) I waste an inordinate amount of time sorting and posting the pictures.
The following pictures were taken during numerous outings.

Cedar

 Koyuk

 Trask

 Team Nookies

The woodpecker on my "Nature's Sculpture" tree is camouflaged by snow.

 "Mom, it is much more fun to play than pose."

 Trask during a brief sun break

 Cedar

 Koyuk

 Team Nookies

 Cedar

 Koyuk

 Trask

  "Are we finally done posing?"

Out-of-town company is coming. The house needs some serious cleaning. But - there is snow! I am declaring a "no work time" until it melts. Keeping traditions is important after all.
It is again snowing lightly as I finish this post. I actually did dust off the dog sled today but running on bare gravel spots causes sudden, unwanted stopping to say nothing of runner surface damage. Maybe tomorrow will bring enough snow to dog sled. One can only hope. The day most likely will involve many more pictures and no housekeeping.