BANFF – He can tell captivating stories about flying some of the first people in the world to use a helicopter as a ski lift in B.C.’s Bugaboos with Canadian Mountains Holidays in early 1960s-model helicopters.
He can tell entertaining accounts about flying amidst the humungous mountains of the Yukon, ferrying climbers to and from the historic Alpine Club of Canada’s Yukon Alpine Centennial Expedition in celebration of the nation’s 100th birthday in 1967.
He can share tales of flying captured grizzly bears around the Canadian Rockies, and of dropping Parks Canada mountain rescue wardens high on cliff faces to retrieve stranded climbers.
Those stories, said author, historian and first-rate storyteller himself, Chic Scott, are just a few of the reasons why he chose to welcome pioneer Rockies pilot Jim Davies to sit across from him at the next of his Fireside Chat series of live interviews at the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies.
“I chose Jim because he has some of the best stories in Banff,” Scott said.
A Banff native, Davies grew up a keen and talented skier during his youth. Equally enthusiastic about aviation, Davies flew some of the earliest helicopters to make their appearance in the Rockies and other mountain ranges in B.C. and Canada’s north. Using his well-developed skills and sharp intuition, he worked with legendary mountain guide Hans Gmoser to help develop the sport of heli-skiing. Davies was also instrumental in working with Parks Canada’s public safety specialists to develop and hone helicopter rescue techniques in Banff, Canada’s busiest
national park.
Over the course of his long and fascinating career which spanned several decades and saw the evolution of multiple generations of helicopter technology, Davies earned a reputation of being highly skilled, extremely knowledgeable about the region’s geography and exceptionally capable during the most challenging – and potentially terrifying – of times.
“I think people could learn a lot about being cool, calm and collected in dangerous situations from Jim, and about being modest afterwards,” Scott said.
Chic Scott’s Fireside Chat with Rockies pilot Jim Davies takes place at the Whyte Museum next Wednesday (Nov. 21), at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 and available at www.whyte.org/events. Admission is free for Whyte Museum members.
