Why Loon – why name it Loon – was it the captivating call (which I can imitate by blowing into my cupped hands), or that they mate for life, or is it the serene image that this peaceful bird evokes?  Maybe we are called to this mountain of diverse skiing challenges to take in the slopes and serenity and become hooked for life – maybe that is what those slick PF folks thought.  However they came to this name I do confess it is as captivating as this mountain is to ski.

The crowds seemed to have worn out the cheer of the men at guest services and the lift operations but I did find some warmth when chatting with Brenda in group sales.  Brenda was one of the longest serving employees and somewhat reluctantly agreed to have her picture taken with me in the maintenance shop right next to this cool lathe.  Why the machine shop – well my other mission is to see the insides of mountain operations and to meet the people that make mountain operations work.  Mountains need machine shops with lathes, drill presses and workbenches loaded with wrenches to keep the ski lifts and snow cats operating.  Machine shops allow ski areas to make repairs right on site as hard to find parts for broken equipment take time ship in – and ski areas can not afford down time.

My last discovery at Loon was Jim and Ryan operating the wood fired steam locomotive that was ferrying people between two adjacent ski hills – real friendly guys who were real excited about my Ski Odyssey.  It always seems to be the young guys that get pumped up about skiing 50 areas in a winter – my hats off to you two and thanks for the photo.