By Philip Peterson II
Special to the Turnagain Times
Cell phones, they’re everywhere. Sometimes I get off the lift at the top of chair six and there are so many people jabbering away on their phones it looks like Alyeska is hosting some sort of mountainside fundraising telethon. People use them as Walky-Talkies to find other people on the mountain. They use them to call their friends at work and brag about the fresh turns they’re making. I’ve even seen Pro-Patrol using them to relay secret safety information back to dispatch. Cell phones have become as much a part of our lifestyle as ditching out of work on a powder day.
My favorite cell phone experience happened on a beautiful powder day on the North Face. There we were at the top of the Knuckles looking down into untracked bliss when my buddy’s pocket started ringing with one of those crazy techno songs. I laughed and teased him about not being able to unplug. To my surprise he proceeded to answer the phone and pay his next six months of car insurance before dropping in for a magnificent run. He’d been meaning to do it for a week, but there had just been too many powder days of late. Technology is changing everything.
Gyro and Smith have gone so far as to build helmets that are Blue Tooth compatible. You can plug both your MP3 player and cell phone (blue tooth compatible only) into your helmet. You can then switch between devices on the fly. The phone will ring through the music to let you know when you have a call. A small microphone on the cord allows hands free communication. In affect, you could be knee deep in the powder panting into the microphone while explaining to your parents that you are serious about finding a job and have no plans to continue this ski bum lifestyle. Keep in mind that face shots will impede the performance of the microphone.
I guess there are two schools of thought on the subject of mountainside cell phones. One school leaves their phones on the counter of the condo before heading to the mountain. Skiing is a time away from work and outside of the day-to-day, secretarial affairs of life. The other group makes sure their phones are charged up before heading out the door. Multitasking allows us to get more done in a single day, and chairlift time is like car time… we’re just sitting there, why not reach out and touch someone.
I am not sure on which side of the fence I fall. On the one hand some things are sacred and should stay separate from the ever shrinking world. On the other hand, if you can run your business from the mountain this would free up an amazing amount of time for skiing. What if we simply considered chair six the office? There would be great views, proper ventilation, and no boss breathing down our necks. We could tell how much people were making by whether they had a secretary skiing down behind them. It can’t be too far in the future when helmets will be equipped with solar panels to charge up our electronic gadgets, or better yet, little wind turbines could be mounted on top of our heads like Tweedle D. or perhaps that would be Tweedle Dumb.
For the purist who takes issue with the tidal wave of cellular communication sweeping our fair mountain, it should be pointed out that Turnagain Pass is still primarily a “no reception” zone. You can hike, ski, and yodel in peace without the possibility of your pocket vibrating…that is until you upgrade to that super cool satellite phone you’ve been wishing for.
To wrap it up, I’ll leave you with the edifying words of Girdwood resident and Drift Away Fly Fishing Guide, Nick Ohlrich, “Cell phones…yah they’re great. I am currently working on skiing switch while booking fishing clients by text messaging behind my back.”
Photo courtesy of Kate Mohatt
Jeff Hoke and C.J. Center use their cell phones to talk to each other at the top of Chair Six on Mt. Alyeska.
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| Girdwood resident Claudia Mark Feathergill, 56, died peacefully Dec. 6, 2007, in her husband’s arms at Providence Alaska Medical Center after a long and courageous fight with cancer. A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Friday in the Kahiltna Room of the Alyeska Resort in Girdwood. Claudia was born Aug. 4, 1951, in Montreal, Canada, to Michael and Mary Marchitiello. She graduated from Holy Name High School in 1968 in Montreal. She then attended McGill University, obtaining a bachelor’s degree in art history with first class honors in 1972. At Princeton University, she pursued her graduate studies in fine arts, receiving a master’s degree and a scholarship in 1975. Her research in Europe included being a special guest at the Vatican Library in 1976. She worked in the library at Princeton as a resource librarian and a teaching assistant to several professors. Claudia was then appointed as research assistant at the Institute of Advanced Studies. She was granted her doctor of philosophy in fine arts in 1991 from Princeton. Claudia was then appointed to a position in archive management at Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore. She spoke several languages including French, English, Latin, Spanish and German. Claudia was co-founder of a pharmaceutical research corporation. Their goal was to try to find medicines from Alaska plants. “Her love of knowledge and history was immeasurable,” her family wrote. “In August 1996, after a day of picking blue berries, Claudia went to Max’s Bar and Grill in Girdwood for a glass of wine. There, she met manager Steve Feathergill. The next day, she brought him a basket of homemade blueberry muffins. A few days later, their official first date was a romantic motorcycle ride to Portage. They have been together and in love ever since. Claudia and Steve were married 12 years later in Bird Creek by close family friend Sharon Whitlock. Cooking and reading were Claudia’s passions. She loved our 12-by-20 ‘Hippie Cabin,’ with wood heat and no running water. It was our ‘Cracker-box Palace.’ Claudia set the best example with her never-ending love and kindness for others. She will be missed and loved, always.” Claudia is survived by her husband, Steve Feathergill of Girdwood; parents, Michael and Mary Marchitiello of Montreal; sister, Debbie Marchitiello of Montreal; and many aunts, uncles and cousins, all of Montreal. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Claudia’s memory to LIFE Alaska, 235 E. Eighth Ave., Suite 100, Anchorage 99501. |
By Jacky Graham
Special to the Turnagain Times
After a hectic day of Christmas preparations, I left the house bundled up against the cold. Ice crystals were covering every branch and twig. Sunset was already here. It seemed too late to venture out onto Moose Meadow, but I went anyway, my footsteps crunching on the frozen ground. Last light of the day fading on distant mountains across Turnagain Arm. Completely enveloped in the stillness of nature, enjoying my daily exercise.
It became too dark to walk so I climbed onto the lighted bike path along the edge of Moose Meadow. Soon arriving at the place where the mothers await. On the Great Wall, Mother Mary’s statue stands in stone. Her story is one we all know. Near her, another mother stands; Nina, the ballerina. Her sculptured arms reach up to the sky, perhaps receiving blessings from the ultimate mother—Mother Nature.
I pause to take my gift, a sweet reminder that life is short, and so we should make the most of it.
I just discovered the online edition of the Turnagain Times. Thank you!
I grew up in Girdwood but have been transplanted to Fairbanks and don’t get back too often. It’s great to have this opportunity to catch up on the Girdwood happenings. Keep up the good work.
Thanks,
Louis Knapp
Fairbanks, AK