Some writers take everyday events and make a great story out of them. Others are merely at the right place at the right time to capture a great story before it is too late. As the author of this book, I fell into the latter category. Throughout the writing I was frequently struck with the feeling that my role was that of a porter assigned the task of carrying this story to the world. The story already existed, a legend across Western Canada, full of wild tales passed by word of mouth on ski lifts from Gstaad to Bariloche. As with any legend, the tale changed with each telling, and I was fortunate to be able to talk to many people who were part of the story from the beginning. I stumbled into this story at the twilight of its living history and am grateful to have had the opportunity to delve into such a project while most of the protagonists are still telling stories.
First, I would like to thank Hans and Margaret Gmoser and Leo and Lynne Grillmair. Were it not for the Gmosers’ enthusiasm for my idea of gathering the stories of many people involved, I would have merely thought about it and let it pass like many other ideas. Were it not for the Grillmairs’ hospitality and several evenings of good food and conversation in their home, I would have never understood the depth of the story I was endeavouring to write.
My deepest appreciation goes out to the guides with whom I had the opportunity to ski, hike, climb or at least share stories over a bottle of wine: Alison Andrews, Steve Chambers, Roger Laurilla, Thia Klebaur, Robert “Roko” Koell, Paul Vidalin, Erich Unterberger, Bernhard Ehmann, Rudi Gertsch, Peter Schlunegger, Rob Whalen, Stefan Blochum, Ken France, Thierry Cardon, Rudi Kranabitter, Lloyd “Kiwi” Gallagher, Kitt Redhead, Merrie-Beth Board, John Mellis, Ernst Buehler, Daniel Zimmerman, Peter Harvey, Martin Vogt, Brett Lawrence, Derek Marcinyshyn Pete Harvey, Bernie Wiatzka, Pete Arbic, Mike Welch, Duncan Brown, Roger Atkins, Diny Harrison, Claude Duchesne, Bob Geber, Gery Unterasinger, Carl Trescher, Marc Hammer, Tom Raudaschl, Bruce Howatt, Marc Piché, Tim Poochay, Kobi Wyss, Kirk Mauthner, Pierre Lemire, Buck Corrigan, Lilla Molnar, Kevin Christakos, Dean Walton, Dave Cochrane, Paul Langevin, Luke Griffith, JF Lacombe, Dave Gauley, Robson Gmoser, Brian Keefer, Otto Klimmer, Bob Sawyer, Anjan Truffer, Danny Stoffel, James Vickers, Karl Wieser, Jorg Wilz, Mike Wiegele, Jim Markin, Willy Trinker, Brad White, Sepp Renner, Hermann Frank, Martin Heuberger, HP Stettler and anyone else I may have inadvertently overlooked. You all have my utmost respect for how well you manage people in the harsh workplace of the mountains.
Thanks also to the helicopter pilots I watched fly, including Rob Askin, Rocky Cooper, Steve Stier, Alex Holliday, Doug Pascuzzo, Derek Robinson, Brian MacPherson, Matt Conant, Lyle Ledoux, Brian Wyatt, Dave Schwan, Don Wederfort, Simon Miederna, Gordon Grice, Steve Cote, Jeff Gotta and Roger Hoogendoorn for their almost unfathomable ability to fly helicopters in some of the snowiest mountains on earth and for explaining many of the intricacies of their craft; and to Jim Davies for showing it could be done.
For arranging the complicated logistics of the research and travel for this project, and helping sort through the vast archives in the basement of the CMH building in Banff, I thank Maggie Sterchi, Tyler Toohey, Laura Newsome, Nicole Koester and Nancy DaDalt. Thanks to Marion Kingsbury, Rob Rohn, Walter Bruns, Colani Bezzola, Lynda Murdock, Pat Aldous and Marty Von Neudegg for their advice and honesty in discussing the business of heli-sport. Special thanks to Connie MacDonald for her guidance throughout this project – and for having the confidence to let me run with the story and write it as I saw fit.
Everywhere I went to research this book, the hospitality was overwhelming. For that I thank Lianne Marquis, Chantal Gainer, Bruce Rainer, Brady and Fred Beruschi, Mike and Bonnie Wiegele, Carlee Hughes, Cheryl Cunningham, Marnie Frackleton, Vicki Hemmingson, Erin Teunissen, René Clark, Heidi Israelson, Cheryl White, Kelly Nadeau, Marie Hamm, Angelika Weder, Sheri McEwen and Adrienne Daniel.
Thanks to all the skiers, hikers and climbers who shared the powder, rock, tundra and stories, including Joe and Anne Jones, Betty MacRae, Enga Thompson, Don and Barbara Guild, Peter Lustenberger, Michel Dufresne, Kyle and Cindy Lefkoff, Maya Geber, Art Patterson, Roy and Barb Ostberg, Ethan Compton, Fran Gallagher, Brooks Dodge, Ken and Patti Ferrin, Junko Takashima, Dieter Von Hennig, Viet Erben, Freddy Weiss, Miguel Arias, Steve Komito, Cliff Milleman, Hank Brandtjen, Diane Soucheray, Olav Rudd, Alan Green, Hannelore Achenbach and Ary Dedet.
Of everyone I talked to during the writing of this book, nobody deserves more credit than the families of the guides and staff. I was fortunate to speak with a number of the children who grew up in the shadow of Canadian Mountain Holidays. For their insights, and for honesty and intelligence in discussing the business that took so much of their parents’ time and energy, I thank Conrad and Robson Gmoser, Luke Griffith, Aita Bezzola, Tess Keefer and Troy, Abigail and Lydia Kingsbury.
I would also like to pass on a word of thanks from Hans and Margaret Gmoser to some of the other people who helped make it all happen: Alfred B. Saroni, Andy Epstein, Art Dion, Lloyd Nixon, Arthur Tauck, Mark Aubrey, Bernadette McDonald, Marty Flug, Bob Sutherland, Carolyn Damon, Cory Pollack, Charles Barlow, Chris Stetham, Dave Whyte, Dave Zemke, David and Tessa Brooksbank, Debbie Cooper, Dick Schrader, Don and Jean Stuart, Eric and Judy Disbrow, Evelyn Mathews, Franz Dopf, Fred Noble, Mary Walsh, Monique Luscher, Morton (Morty) Gurrentz, Pat Lever, Pauline Carr Gaines, Pepi Erben, Peter Fischer, Ralph Bogan, Rene Duss, Richard (Dick) Wright, Richard Verenneau, Roger Vernon, Tom Schrecker, Grant Statham, Herman and Myrna Frank, Jack White, Jeff Boyd, Jim Dalton, King Juan Carlos, Tony Noichl, Vic Van Isle and Willy Bogner.
For expertise in helicopters, guiding, photography and avalanches – and proofreading these technical aspects – I thank Marc Piché, Roger Atkins, Martin Heuberger, Pascal Hägeli, Lloyd “Kiwi” Gallagher, Rob Rohn, Chic Scott, Paul Lazarski and Dave Gubbels.
Thanks to Urs and Gerda Kallen, Don Gorman and the staff at Rocky Mountain Books and The Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.
And finally, I would like to profusely thank my wife, Vera, for not only accommodating and enduring the writing of this book but also encouraging, advising and editing throughout our first chaotic year as parents of twins; my stepmother, Sorako Schulte-Pelkum, and her endless energy and good food; my mother, Peggy Donahue and her enduring youth; and my son and daughter, Keahi and Aya, for the motivation they inspire that only parents can understand.