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Show ig 3 iti ee ae a er eral “A | PM EE =. Page 8-Wasatch Canyon Reporter, April - Mid-May 1995 Wasatch Powderbird Guides Build a New Nest by Dave Peck with Elizabeth Wise Free beer, wine and food made it a decent party already, and that was before Square feet of pre-cast concrete, with two heli-pads of reinforced earth. The forty- will be both more efficient and more convenient. “It used to be torturous, waiting to fly the guests started arriving by helicopter. The Wasatch Powderbird Guides’ open house soiree last Thursday made public the vastly improved and long-awaited new heliport which opened just in time for the spring corn (and vintage-Wasatch storms to To twenty-one years. ; requisite; fat powder skis have «new Chuck Krauss landing on the new pad brought the minimum skill level much lower. Twenty-five to forty percent of Powderbird Photo by Brent Taylor clients now use fat skis, while seven foot atrium is construct- in the old spot,” said Greg some of the Canadian helicopter operations claim a ed of special heat mirror glass, offering a panoramic Smith, Powderbird owner and © the, driver and a sand wedge up from the Cliff Lodge. The site is tailor-made for flying and landing helicopters: its raised elevation allows for clean airflow, and the nearby Superior and Blackjack slide paths will keep the facility clear of new development. Droves of clients (or party guests) can also be accommodated by the available parking, carpool activists or not. | The building itself comprises three thousand Once restricted to a select few who possessed the dinero and the cajones, helicopter skiing is now within the realm of most competent skiers. vista of Cottonwood kitchen offices, and lounge and a small area, retail space. Formerly, guides and guests were fed by oftenoverburdened Room Service and Atrium facilities in the Cliff Lodge; on-site dining Full Tune- Up For $25 Day minor. The upstairs is devoted to guest services, featuring a Sales e« Service e Rental 90 Days Same As Cash Next Service — host of the open house. “Now skiers can drink java and take in a terrific view. It should make the whole experience more enjoyable.” All of the aspects of guide operations are handled downstairs, including garage storage space, the radio room, a meeting room, locker room, and a ski room. It is not Grand Opening for New Location “Olympus Hills” is on ot. April 17-24. All Repairs Draper/Sandy SS Olympus Hills 1138 E. Draper Parkway Blvd 3969 South Wasatch Blvd. 516-8844 218-1500 RACING SPETIALIZED. Ot Sa nae Dinero is still a pre- ing also offers sleeping space, clientele almost exclusively adequate for the extremely riding them. Besides opening weary or the extremely sedated. The perverse pride in the the intermediate segment, fat skis also conserve skiers’ guide’s voice as he displayed their new sleeping quarters energy for more runs, and make marginal conditions made one wonder about the more enjoyable. Snowboards prior accommodations, elicitare also growing in populariing images of pits and penduty, reflecting the industrylums. Of sterner stuff are the wide explosion: over onePowderbird guides made. quarter of this year’s A new nest fosters Powderbird customers were new fledglings, and this year boarders. ! | the Powderbirds leased a new Equipment aside, A-Star B-2 helicopter from a sightseeing company in skiing backcountry powder by helicopter is probably easier Anchorage, Alaska. The $1.3 than skiing it on the mounmillion ship carries a bigger payload and climbs twice as tain. Less traffic means no ruts or moguls, and smoother fast as the older model, allowsailing. More often than not, ing more ski runs in a day. rookie helicopter skiers usualHaving two helicopters and ly underestimate their ability the space to store and land level. This is the opposite of them both facilitates custom the norm in the ski industry. tours. The second helicopter can mix groups of different Many people are intimidated by the helicopter image they ability skiers, accommodate have seen in magazines or family groups, or carry film movies. “The first thing they crews on movie projects. think of is people jumping out The guides themof a helicopter with skis on,’ selves combine over one hunsaid Chuck Krauss, the firstdred years of experience guidstring Powderbird pilot. The ing backcountry skiing in the average Joe or Jane can relax, Wasatch. This fanciful statishowever: Chuck hardly ever tic does not describe two makes his passengers do this octogenarians with walkers unless they really annoy him and fifty years’ guiding each; Most canyon resithere are six full-time and six part-time guides who wear Continued some- the Powderbird logo. Guides SRN to hire me.” y+ BICYCLES sa for their skiing, mountaineering, first-aid, and night at work; the new build- _ people skills; most come from a ski-patrol background, and some still keep their patrol jobs as well. Thinking of applying for that dream job? Don’t quit your own just yet. As one Alta patrolman (tall, athletic, Scandinavian) pre- . sent at the open house put it, “T’ve been a patroller here for ten years, and I’m still waiting for them[Powderbirds] Enter a Ba are chosen While the old heli-shanty was quaint, and endeared itself to some like Cindy Crawford’s mole, the operation was in dire need of a facelift. Ask any of the guides forced to take turns for a seat in those cramped confines for the past Powderbird base, located on the Alta bypass road just a ore for Rage April storms, as it turned out). a uncommon — force the guides to spend the where else... en TE TREES 1) IEE” ARNT ae oli anes |
