LOOKING BACK FOR JAN. 29

A weekly look at past Whitefish Pilot articles, compiled by Daniel McKay.

10 years ago

Jan. 21, 2010

The new beacon park opened on the summit of Big Mountain. The beacon park is used to practice avalanche rescue skills, where hidden signal beacons can be triggered and found with a skier’s personal avalanche equipment.

20 years ago

Jan. 20, 2000

Anita Welch made Whitefish history as the first female prime minister in the history of Winter Carnival. Welch was the 41st prime minister.

30 years ago

Jan. 18, 1990

It was a bit too cold to be golfing, but that didn’t stop a single mom and her child. Neighbors to the Whitefish Lake Golf Club had started noticing a cow and calf moose frequenting the course and weaving in and out of traffic between rounds.

40 years ago

Jan. 17, 1980

It was a tragic week in Whitefish after a plane crash killed local developer Rudi Hoecker and three others. On Big Mountain Road, two charter busses got in minor crashes on their way down from the mountain, and two cross-country skiers had to be rescued via helicopter in the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

50 years ago

Jan. 22, 1970

Four lost skiers were rescued from the Hellroaring Basin after getting separated from their group. The skiers came as a 66-person group from the St. George School in Spokane and were looking for “just one more run.” All were OK and warmed up quickly with food and hot beverages.