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)