Saving Big Mountain

The evolution of Winter Sports Inc. quietly started a new chapter when Charles Abell left the board last week.

Winter Sports has been saved by the "Bells" — the Abells, that is — too many times to remember.

When "Big Ed" Schenck could not make the payroll, and this happened occasionally for many years, he called local shareholders to help the fledgling organization. Louise and Rusty Abell were always there to help.

When the lodge burned to the ground many years ago, who had paid the insurance premium so Big Mountain was able to rebuild it? Louise Abell.

When the credit rating of Winter Sports had been questionable, who has personally helped to bolster it? Charles Abell.

These and many anonymous favors have boosted the success of Winter Sports. Thank you, Charles. We salute you and your family for your steadfast loyalty and support in other ways, too.

There have been many intangible interests that Whitefish has used to help Big Mountain: Winter Carnival, the promotion of national ski events, the integration of summer activities.

Through our schools, skiing has promoted the industry locally. There is no doubt it has been a symbiotic affair, but when problems have occurred, the citizens of Whitefish have definitely helped.

Of course, the weather was, and is, a major factor. Ed once lamented, "When the weather and snow are good, we could probably give our guests grits and hash and they would return for more the next season. But when the snow and weather conditions are poor, we could give them pheasant under glass, and they would not return for any part of it."

And now that we have entered a new era whereas the majority of the stock is owned by Fidelity National Financial, we wish them well and hope they will become integrated into the fiber of Whitefish and the valley, that they will see the need to retain Mike Muldown and Mike Jenson on the board, to use the talents of Charles Abell, Norm Kurtz and Mike Collins.

Who knows how global warming will alter long-term plans for the ski industry? Winter Sports may morph into "Summer Sports."

Fred Jones and his administration will need our help more than they now realize here in Whitefish. We must be prepared to continue to be a part of the endeavor.

Gene McIntyre is a long-time skier and shareholder in Winter Sports Inc.