Wednesday January 19th, 2022
The Atlin Whisper “Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world.” Margaret Mead
James Victor Logan Jim passed away Dec. 23, 2021. Jim was born Nov. 6, 1936 in Edmonton, Alberta the eldest son of Tom and Frances Logan. Jim married Patricia Fraser on Feb. 19, 1958 in Whitehorse, YK. That was the start of their 64 year adventure. Jim worked in transportation, both trucking and aviation, for most of his life. He managed the freight terminals in Dawson City and Watson Lake for White Pass then changed his career to aviation where he worked at the airports in Fort Nelson, BC and Fort St. John, BC. He then went on to manage the airports in Inuvik, Cambridge Bay, Abbotsford, BC and Whitehorse, YK. Jim was active in all the communities he lived in. He played hockey in Dawson City, fished in the Arctic Ocean, helped build the ski hill in Watson Lake, was a volunteer fire fighter and ambulance driver. He was active in his church and loved when the little children helped him ring the Church bells on Sunday morning. Jim loved cross country skiing, hiking, classical music, woodworking and his family. He retired to Atlin, BC in 1996 where he was able to enjoy his hobbies and his family for the next quarter century. Many grandchildren will carry memories of Papa into old age. Jim hiked the ChilkootTrail twice and walked with his buddies every day for many years. One of his favorite views was from the top of Monarch Mountain. His footprints will forever be engraved on the hills and trails of Atlin, BC. Jim was a truly lovely man who always saw the best in everything. Jim leaves to mourn, his loving wife Patricia, daughter Kim (Erin), son James (Mabel), daughter Kelly (Kelly), nine grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren, his brothers Tom (Rose), Dennis (Janet) and their families, sister Kathy, sister-in-law Shirley, and brothers-in-law, Doug Fraser and Mike Falconer and their families. He was preceded by his parents, Tom and Frances Logan, brother Gordon and his granddaughter Chrissy. Until we meet again Jimmy.
INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER II Helicopters, Tales of Derring Do and Perspective by Paul Lucas “Yep. I think this was the spot” “What spot Howie?” I shouted into the mic. “The place I had to put her down,” he replied in my headset. “Put down what, an old dog, a lame horse, a cheating wife ... what?” “The aircraft Luke, the aircraft.” Howard was my only pal who had settled on that nickname from my early band days. He was from the prairies. Maybe it’s a prairie thing. ”What happened?” I replied. “Well, my engine alarm went off, and when that happens you just have to shut it down.” “Shut the engine down?” “Yep.” “Then what?” “Well, the helicopter becomes a glider, the main rotor still rotates and it gives you lift. You don’t have the luxury of too much time though, so you need to start looking for a landing spot pretty quick.” “And how, pray tell, do you land?” “Oh, you just flare ’er up and dump it like a duck landing on the water.” “Yow!” “It’s not a big deal. You practice it when you are getting your helicopter rating … Boy, this is a nasty altitude! Our airspeed is 110 miles an hour and our groundspeed is minus something or other ... we’re actually flying backwards. I am going to try to find us some better air.” --We had been out much of the day, delivering drilling pipe and supplies to drill platforms in and around Tombstones - one of the more breath-taking ranges in the Yukon. While I had done plenty of flying since arriving in the North, this was the headiest of all. I was playing in Dawson City – home of the goldrush of 1898. The place hums with history. It’s Atlin on steroids. I’d played here several times at the Dawson City Music Festival, based in the early days at Gertie’s, the famous gambling saloon. This time around, I was playing a gig at the Downtown Hotel and, fortunately for me, my pal Howard Damron was down the road flying a Hughes
500 for a mineral exploration company. The upshot was, I got to play at night and fly with Howard during the day. It was not for the faint of heart, though. This was balls to the wall flying – flying with slings loaded with drilling pipe and supplies destined for platforms perched high on mountainsides. There is nothing quite like sitting beside a helicopter pilot at work - watching him plant a skid on a steep slope, in a high wind, while he maneuvers a sling over a drilling platform, is like watching ballet. Every limb is working – on the cyclic, collective and rudders - a juggler, keeping all the balls in the air. Then, when you think he can’t handle one more thing, he reaches for the sling release, lets the payload go and you shoot straight up. Great stuff! There is a well known saying: ‘Flying is long periods of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror.’ Well, I can’t say I have ever been bored in a small aircraft, but there are long periods of straight and level flight where it’s easy to just gaze at the landscape and let your mind wander. It also seems to be the time when the flying stories surface. The Tombstone range is a rugged mountain range in the Yukon that features a series of spectacular peaks separated by sweeping valleys. Flying down these valleys is like flying in heaven. On one of these trips, I found myself looking closely at a patch of what I knew to be tiny spruces growing on the valley floor. Turning to Howard, I said: “Take a look at those trees Howie. They are absolutely perfect miniatures of full size spruces. How can you get any sense of perspective from the air when you are looking at something like that?” “Without aids you can’t.” he replied. “There are lots of ways to sort it out though, one of which, believe it or not, is to drop something out of the window and watch it fall. But if you want to hear a hair raising tale about perspective, I’ve got a good one for ya.” “Last year we had a camp in a valley that serviced a couple of drilling platforms way up on either side.” A typical setup for an exploration camp is to have the base, with wall tents, cook shack, geology shack and so on, in a central location, and the various other activities, such as prospecting, mapping and drilling taking place in the hundreds of square miles surrounding it. The drilling locations are often up on the sides of mountains and are serviced from camps on the valley floor. At least one building, often the cook shack, is covered with an orange tarp, serving as a beacon for aircraft. Howard continued …. “I had just delivered a sling to a drilling platform way up on B mountain, and it had socked in by the time I was done. It happens all the time, so you’d better have an
alternate route for your return. In this case, I knew there was a deep gulley a quarter mile to the north that I could use to guide me down to the valley floor. All you need to do in a situation like that is hover, and gradually sink down the incline, keeping an eye on the bottom and sides.” “That sound pretty hairy” I said. “Well, you have to pay attention, but it’s no big deal.” “Anyway, this particular afternoon I was doing just that - gradually dropping through this gulley when, about half way down, I noticed a camp of some sort - a few tents, a stack of lumber and an orange tarped cook shack. I had no idea there was something going on half way up the mountain, but there it was.” “Back at home base, I asked around, but nobody seemed to know anything about a worksite half way up the gulley. I was puzzled, so the next day I figured I would come back down the same way and check it out.” “There was no wind and the visibility was great as I retraced my route from the day before. I kept my eyes skinned for the tell-tale orange tarp. Right about half way, I stopped and scanned for any sign of life. There was nothing. The whole thing was mighty peculiar.” “I decided to drop down to get a closer look, and I took the helicopter as close to the ground as I considered safe, and scanned again. Nothing. Was I going mad?” “I was just about to pack it in, when I suddenly caught a glint of orange. I carefully descended until I felt as if my main rotor was about to brush the sides of the gulley. Then I saw what had caught my eye minutes before, and the adrenaline made my hair on my neck stand straight up.” “There just below the skid was an orange lunch pail – a stupid orange lunch pail. I had somehow mistaken an orange lunch pail for a full size, tarp-covered cookshack; sandwich wrappings for a row of tents and bundle of twigs for a stack of lumber. It turns out, that as I was casually floating down the gulley the day before, I was literally inches from the canyon wall the whole time. That, my son, is what perspective can do to you if you are not careful.” Howard and I got to spend a lot of time together. We flew, drove in blizzards down the Alaska Highway, sang and played music, and spent many a long winter night beating the tar out of the best score on the Packman machine at the Atlin Inn. Howard Damron died in his helicopter in Dawson City. He left a wife and son. A son called Luke. Goodbye my friend.
A Tribute to Jerry Gulickson: Passed December 21st, 2021 Jerry was raised by his mother's parents. His grandfather had a truck farm, and raised produce which he sold primarily to resorts in a small town about 60 miles south of the Canadian border in Canton, Wisconsin. Canton was a small village of about 90 people if you included a 5-mile radius of town. They had five children of their own and at 50 took Jerry home from the hospital. Jerry's first job was weeding the vegetables for $ .05 an hour. His Grampa Tom was a go getter. If he didn't know how to do something he'd send for a government pamphlet. Apparently, Jerry grew out of his shoes faster than his own children did so he sent for a government pamphlet, bought the leather and necessary tools and repaired Jerry's shoes. The neighbors found out and he repaired their children's too. He had an uncle who loved to fish so once in a while he'd take Jerry fishing starting when Jerry was only about 5years old. His uncles idea of fishing consisted of his uncle fishing and Jerry rowing the boat. His uncle demanded perfection of Jerry rowing which resulted in Jerry being fantastic at rowing which saved our lives years later when we were the only people ever going down the Green River in an aluminum boat. Jerry grandparents lived across the street from the two-room school. When Jerry's youngest uncle attended the school 10 years before Jerry, it had one room down stairs for grades one through 8, and the second story one room was 4 years of high school, but when Jerry attended the down stairs, room was grades 1 through 4, and upstairs was grades 5 through 8. Progress! Jerry graduated high school June 1945 and the next day volunteered in the Navy. We were at war, and that's what boys did in those days. He went thru basic training, and radar school (in those days radar was so new he couldn't say what training he had) and was shipped off to San Francisco, boarded a ship and headed to the south Pacific. The storms were so bad that at times the ship was going full speed ahead and they were actually going backwards. As a kid who had never seen the ocean, he was sea sick before they went under the Golden Gate Bridge. The two atomic bombs were dropped so his ship was diverted directly into Tokyo Bay and he was stationed aboard ship for his first 5 or 6 months (it wasn't safe for them to go ashore) he then spent the first 3 years of the occupation on land in Japan. Jerry was released from the Navy and came to California to go to school to enter into the recording industry. When we met he worked for Radio Recorders. It was the largest independent recording studio west of the Mississippi. You oldsters will recognize some of these names Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Doris Day recorded there. Everyone at the studio loved Doris Day. One day at the studio she recorded a song Jerry loved and wanted to play at our wedding, but it hadn't been released. He asked her if she would allow it. She said she would, but she'd have to get Capital records to allow it, and a week or so later she came in and told him she'd gotten permission so we did. That song wasn't released until about 3 years before we celebrated out 50th reunion. One of our sons found out and it was played on our 50th when we renewed our vows as a surprise for me. We hadn't heard it in 50 years and of course I cried like a baby. While Jerry worked at the studio he did a few remote recordings at the homes of some people you might remember....Elsa Landcaster, Charles Laughton, Darleen Dahl, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Meanwhile he volunteered and joined the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department specializing in mountain rescue. He did that for 6 years. We had 3 sons in 4 years. Jerry meanwhile managed a small electronics corp., and started getting an ulcer so we began looking for a business of our own. In 1960 we moved to Brea, California and built an A & W Root Beer Stand. Jerry ran the stand and I taught school. Jerry joined our local Brea Police department and retired 18 years later as a lieutenant. In 1961 our daughter was born. Our family was now complete. Jerry was an avid fisherman and hunter all his life. His grandfather died when he was about 9, and he provided all the meat and fish he and his grandmother had until he joined the Navy. He successively hunted moose, deer, antelope, elk, bear, wild boar and javelina. It's only been the last 6 or 8 years that we've bought any meat. For over 30 years we did almost all our camping with Floyd and Elizabeth Goodell. One time we rented a cabin in Big Bear, and liked it so much the four of us bought a lot and we 4, physically built a cabin there and after they moved to Oregon, we sold it. Jerry always wanted to go to Alaska; after 3 trips of stopping back and forth we purchased 4 acres and he and I built a cabin in Atlin,. We've shared a wonderful life, and God has blessed us in so many ways. Sad as losing him is we are so thankful he is no longer in pain. God bless all of you who have shared in our lives. We are so grateful to have known each and everyone of you. Greta Gulickson
Atlin Mountain Inn wishes everyone a very Happy, Healthy and Safe 2022. Thank you all for your support since we opened this past June.
Atlin Mountain Inn Restaurant Hours (now licensed!) Breakfast 7:30 am-11:30 am every day (coffee & continental, self-serve) Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sat. Lunch 12:00 pm-2 pm Dinner 6:00 pm-8:00 pm Sunday Dinner 6:00-8:00 pm Friday Take Out Pizza Night 5:00 pm-8:00 pm Yukon Time (MST) Follow us on Facebook for deals and specials!
Free Book of the Month (January) Atlin: Where Everyone Knows Your Dog’s Name by Bradford Smith The story of a boy and the town that raised him Growing up in an isolated gold rush town surrounded by the rugged beauty of Northern Canada, Bradford Smith experienced a childhood marked by adventure, community and a fair share of dogs. With natural story-telling ease, Brad takes you on a journey back to a unique time and place where average people did extraordinary things, and in doing so, became anything but average.
Visit your local Atlin Library on Fridays from 2:00 - 4:00 to enter the draw. There will be 18 winners. Winners will be announced the end of January. Sponsored by Decoda Solutions (Literacy Now)
“Snowflakes” Our farm was set on the outskirts of town bordered by land owned by the Crown. Winter wore on with no hint of snow ’til clouds at night sailed in hangin’ low. With wave upon wave of bone chillin’ air even clouds were feelin’ a deep despair Snowflakes were convinced to leave their berth for the safety of a home on Earth. One by one they settled cozy and right. Thousands, then millions turned the land to white. For weeks on end it stayed that way ’til temperatures rose day by day. When snowflakes melted deep into the ground just patches of snow could be seen around. Moisture that seeped way down in the field would help the Spring crop produce its yield. Jeff Salmon
LANDFILL *WINTER DAYS* *Effective – Sunday, December 12, 2021*
SUNDAY & MONDAY 11 AM - 4 PM … PST CLOSED at temperatures -28 C & below ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CLOSED ON ALL BC STATUTORY HOLIDAYS Family Day - Closed Mon, Feb 21 Open Sun & Tues, Feb 20, 22 Easter - Open April 17, 18 Operated by the Atlin Community Improvement District
Please note that requests for same day water delivery must be received no later than 11 am of said day. Thank you! Water delivery and Sewer Removal are available Monday through Friday Did you know we sell and service Toyo Stoves? We offer competitive pricing on the latest models. Call the office for more information Phone 250-651-7463
Email grizzlyhomeservices@gmail.com Mailing address is Box 318, Atlin BC V0W 1A0 Summer Office hours – Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 8 am - noon With thanks, Dana and Mary Hammond
Mountain Shack Café Restaurant Fast Fancy Food Great Service 110 Discovery Avenue In Atlin, B.C.
EAT IN OR TAKE OUT 250-651-7789
WANTED Wanted smaller size office/computer desk. Maximum length 53 inches. Looking for quality construction, not particle board.
xkellywhitex@hotmail.com 867-332-0836
HELP WANTED Driver - Class 3 with Air Brakes To do Water Delivery and Septic Pump outs for the community. Monday – Friday hours Wage Negotiable Potential for Year Round Employment APPLY TO DANA OR MARY AT 250-651-7463 GRIZZLYHOMESERVICES@GMAIL.COM OR STOP BY THE SHOP
Fishing Charters
Custom Fish Art- Fiberglas and Wood GARY HILL’S FISH ART
Bob’s Contracting & Services
GARY HILL’S – CUSTOM, FISH REPRODUCTIONS PHONE 250 651 7553 EMAIL – garyphill59@gmail.com
We provide Concrete, Drain Rock, Screed gravel, Sand, Topsoil and Septic systems. We also provide Equipment Rentals, Excavations, Covered Storage, Firewood and Snow Removal. Please call (250) 651-2488 or email bobscontracting2020@ gmail.com
SVOP Licence, 24 ft. Boat, Transport Canada Commercial Registration – Insured Gary Hill, Atlin B.C. V0W 1A0 Licensed, B.C. Guide Call -250 651-7553 Email garyphill59@gmail.com
7 MONARCH Drive – ATLIN – BC. V0W 1A0
$850.00 per day - $550.00 per 1/2 day
WEB SITE – http://gary-hill.com
Atlin Pet Care 287 Tatlow Street
Your pets home away from home! Indoor/Outdoor Runs Heated Kennels Boarding-Grooming-Pet Supplies Emergency Care-Veterinarian Referrals SPCA AGENTS George Holman 250-651-7717 Marj Holman 250-651-7758
Sincerely Yours General Store & Canada Post Location OPEN
Monday to Friday 10am – 5pm Closed for lunch 12:30 – 1:30 CLOSED weekends and Statutory Holidays
COUNSELLOR KATIE ISRAEL @ BIG WATER SOCIETY Do you experience mental health challenges including depression, anxiety, substance use and addiction? Maybe you are at a crossroads and feel stuck? Come and let’s join hands in creating new pathways to increase wellness and inner peace.
CONTACT: bwscounsellor@bigwatersociety.org Office: (250)651-2189 Cell: (867) 334-9524 Mondays and Wednesdays
Atlin Lot for Sale Downtown Atlin Right beside The Gold Claim (Jessica’s café) On 6th street across from the Rec Centre • 50’wide x 100’deep • flat level gravel pad • Clear of any obstructions • Room for parking along 50’ frontage • Great site for business or home REDUCED from $90,000 to $75,000 Contact: Elissa Miskey atlinwellness@gmail.com Message: 604-265-5700
Atlin Christian Centre Affiliated with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Services Sunday 11 a.m. Come join us! (778) 721-0710
St. Martin’s Anglican Church 10 a.m. Sunday Everyone welcome! Covid 19 restrictions apply
As long as one can admire and love, then one is young
Sewing Machine Cleaning, Repair, & Setup Terry 250 651-7769
forever. Pablo Casals MOBILE WELDING SERVICE AVAILABLE Contact: Alain Vanier 250-651-0037
Reasonable Rates!
Atlin Community Library Open Every
Friday and Saturday 2-4p.m.
Everyone Welcome
The next Whisper is Wednesday February 2nd Submissions are due no later than Sunday 6pm Yukon time January 30th. Compiled and edited by Lynne Phipps. Paper for printing courtesy of Northern Homes Real Estate Printing courtesy of RCMP Atlin; Ink costs courtesy of Literacy Now. Classifieds, news, upcoming events Contact 1-250-651-7861 or lynnephippsatlin@gmail.com if you have, pictures or articles you would like to submit. Please note that submissions should be sent in either WORD or JPEG whenever possible. PDF must first be printed and then scanned back into the computer in order to format it into the paper. This costs in both paper and ink. We know that at times a PDF is the only way, which is okay when necessary, but otherwise, as the Whisper is a FREE community service we appreciate your support in helping to keep the costs down as much as possible. Thank You!