nwt. Lakelse' Lake,” 118-1 centimetres fell,

ae snowfall tecord for. Terrace;

a Jan. 18 and 22 at the-Terrace. airport. :
oe = close. to. eight. feet:

“have been a third higher: ‘than’in Terrace. =
7 “Rising - temperatures: and’ ‘moderate winds
- ‘also helped: trigger: the: ‘Slide. cel
coe 5)

“- tnade ‘the: “highway. treacherous, ‘but it didn’t

fet early morning hours-of Jan:22: -

mail truck:

ickup. truck,';
~The. “group... ‘then: ‘formed a “Convoy, “and
headed west for, another - 10 kilometres, where

snow’ plow. driver they. ‘engountered trie
to pinch ‘a'hole through: the ‘slide, but the, n ma-
‘chine ‘Bot stuck when: the: snow. ‘shifted.

‘there: “were digging. out from, their: own. “ava

he ‘plow. driver, abandoned. thé. ruck’ and”
the: entire’ group turned east ‘and headed back.
to the. North Route: ~ :
Tt-would Prove to: be a ‘fateful decision.

d woke ' up Charlie Daumont,. who. told. them’

fee hile: they’ waited for the storm. to pass.”

‘his home ‘in: ‘Edmonton;- remembers - ‘hearing the:
snowpack:: settle, ominously once they arrived, _

" i” ae

‘ a slept. :
: he the: Siandd motorists. ‘rested, some-
thing“ Of an'omen came. hundreds of- kilometres: ~
to. the. south at Ocean. Falls. ‘The roof’ of the.
village’ 's near-new. high ‘school collapsed, No.
one. was hurt becaiise Students would’ t arrive,”
for. another 90 minutes:

Route Service Station, - the. Snowpack’: was s los
ing: ‘its: stip. on, the mountainsidé, ” :

mo oF SE '
“AL 7:30 a.m. “Bill Zobel rejoined. the. plow.
truck’ ‘driver, the two businessirien: and: the.
North. ‘Route’s cook’in the cafe.”

‘ “daighter: Denise and brother-in-law: Steve Min-
tenko,”

: plow: driver: challenged. Zobel to as
~ game: of cribbage: ° ss
: “We played maybe: two or three: hinds then
I heard it = just like ‘a cannon: shot,” ‘he: Says.

‘T stood, up. and turned around ar and said [Oh my -
;an avalanche.” me

mbling through, snow::

ing at ‘108: kilometres per hour. -when it hit the’
North: ‘Route buildings j just. after 8a.m,

feet beyond...

as possible,” he ‘says...
"<The avalanche ‘covered the highway: and. ran’:
“out on the Ice of the Skeena: River, its. tip 450...
metres beyond the cafe.’

darkness and didn’t. know which way’ was UP Or:

“down. ©
rae | figured. ity was a million to one hat Id be :
~ found,” he: says. °T “Fesigned: myself § to. death.
And I prayed, Mee

_ He jet" ‘out: one scream, that | no. one: could”

Orting ‘99 centimetres aes
anadian one-day record that would ~~ [
for 25: ‘years, {The racers weren t sur”
- January: 1974 would: aso set. a new. v monthly oe
“Another 83. centimetrés would ‘fall: between

. - Total: snow for: an? 11- day’ period. leading: ups
"0: the: disaster : was 237. centimetres in ‘Terrace =

me : And: ‘réports : ‘estimate. ‘the. stiowfall further f
fee west at the’ ‘North’ Route Service: Station’ would

-40-ceniimetre ‘overnight. snow/all. had

cen stop: a:number: ‘of motorists from: attempting the 2
_ Terrace-Prince: Rupert joutney in the, dark

~ Canada Post. mail - “‘ttuck, driver’ Volkmar: :
, (Bill), Zobel, began his run at 1:30 am: and ~~
overtook a Prince Rupert busitiess- man’ who ~’
andoned: his vehicle and continued on inthe
hey reached the: ‘North Route Service Sta “

i nat kilometre’ 45: where’ they met.a- second - : : -
Rt ert: busiriessman. with , a four. Wheel drive ee

Toad : “maintenance camp,: but crews

“The :¢ convoy: ‘reached ‘the. cafe at5:30 ome

ilF ‘Zobel, in-an- ‘interview ‘last: week. from:

“We: “heard: -a.bunich--of “noise” -rattling -
outside,”. ‘he ‘said. “They! said’ don’ t worry. ips. 7.
ay up. in-the hills. . You. don’ have: to e worry me

" -Meanwhile, - 1,500 ‘feet . “above: ‘the Neth:

‘At the: ‘back! ofthe. ‘building were - North. i

Route. Owner, Charlie : Daumont, ‘his: sleeping" : 4 could feel. the | warm. : hande a

of the Lord around my heart. -

‘No. one: “had a ‘chance to move- a | muscle. to" a: foot anda a half j in diamigter and buried: Ver:

The | building came: ‘apart. and. everyone “was: hl

‘Experts’ estimate. the wall of § sriow. Was’ thov-”

~sj]t pushed. Zobel out’ through the. wall: and: 50.

“When the: ‘snow. hit ] just curled’ inyself :
into-a fetal position, and: made. myself as imal

“Underthe snow, Zobel. wias “enveloped’i in

“RESCUERS PULL Bill Zobel from the avalanche more than seven hours after it hit the ,

“North Route Service Station : on Jan. 22, 1974, TERRACE HERALD PHOTO |

to. ‘make’ ‘themseélveés’ at. homme -in “the. coffee"),
‘They’ napped, ‘played. cards: and: drain :

me ‘progressively: a, alc es oe
mt)

“Tt wasn’ t until 9550: am, that: any’ ‘itside

Le witness. realized “something: was: “amiss.-That’s: ~
when. a- helicopter: ‘pilot ’ checking | for downed .
a ‘phone’ lines: ‘dong ‘the: ‘Skeena: River. Spotted .

othe: avalaiiche. debris. ae *

‘The pilot.radioed: ‘Terrace’ RCMP, informing

“them. there were ‘no. immediate. signs of lifé.:
Searchers. were swiftly organized: “and. ithe

‘dispatched. at 10:30. °

* Initial ‘searches. using. the’ ‘dog found : no one.”

= -By".1:30 ° p.m. 20.‘mén’ were- on: ‘the: site.
“searching: ‘with probes - ‘and: shovels,’ and ‘that.

And A went to sleep.” mm:

fed.

_ further slides,

~ taken: out. the motel. -

! “bank
‘Fecalls,

~ on Haugland St. ;
Her mother Anne was waiting there. -

{could fee! the warm hands of the. i

“first rescue: party,. including. a search dog, was. :

"Reports describe thé avalanche snow as: ong":
“to. eight. metres deep. Under.the blanket. of.
snow: was'a jumble: of building débris,.trees: up”

“All the: vihite: rescuers: Rap an ay te he
“slopes: above; alert against, thé ‘Possibility, of.

ew “standing. on ‘top of: her Ter” 2
“race. trailer,‘ shovelling. snow off: the’ roof: when’
a’ néighbour™ ‘Opened. a door and yelled:to her:
- that the: radio. was reporting, an avalanche: had

OMT jumped off-the Wailer right into the Siow:
‘that's: how, high | the: snow. was," Pipe ce,

“said ‘Don’t-you éver‘do that to-me.again’"
: But when’ the faiily reached. Terrace, barri- ”
‘cades were down across. the road.

Thirty | years ago. this: ‘week an avalanche
wiped out a. motel, ‘cafe. and gas. station west of.
<Tetrace. ‘Seven died. One man. ‘Survived. a

“ VOLKMAR (Bl). Zobel. rests in’ hospital -

after Surviving the slide. TERRACE HERALD «

x

Pipe. says: “Otherwise. she. ‘would shave been :
: ‘caught in.it as well.’ °° :

Hours ticked by while’ watchers d dug.

hours’ under® 1.5. metres of snow...

When: they pulled him’ ‘out. we ‘still, had -
7 3 hope for the rest of our family,” Pipe said. | -~
~: “But then- they just, started pulling: out body
after body? : oo
Tt would” ‘take. unit 3 30 - ‘am, “that: night”
~ ‘nearly: 20 hours* ‘after the slide — before the *-
“' last “bodies” were “found,” including . ‘those: of J

Charlie Daument and his daughter Denise. -

he only, lasted until spring. *

. <2: Driving’ past the.Mile 28: avalanche. site.
".. spooked him, and: he’ brought: the Pastor. of his, :

~ church along on. ‘the first rum. cap
“Every: timie I ‘got. close I Just floored it eae

said.

He continued: to find the drive. long thes o

then narrow highway. ‘stressful,

The. final’ straw, ‘he said, was a’ ‘difficult .
drive one-night:through. impenetrable fog. that: a3

left him feeling. Irapped, .

.. He tumed invhis:keys, to the relief: of hid fae -_
mily, arid gave up his driving job to sell build-
: ing supplies in Prince Rupert... : at
: When. the’ family moved: away. to ‘Fort Mc:. 7
: Murray’ a few-years later, he drove along: the:
” Skeena‘Riyer for. the last ‘time in a U-Haul, .
_: The children ‘had ‘their. eyes: ‘glued :to the. x
“mountains, and “Zobel's. eldest: Son | ‘suddenly 2
yelled “Dad, an avalanche!” -.. -

om ( couldn't. see: anything;” - Zobel says.

“They were closing: the highway. ‘because? an an

‘Length?

. Europe ‘and
weigh 450,000: ‘pounds, °.. eos
The last ‘statement in 1 the article made » by. sinpoit vee
.. ‘society: president, ‘Fraser ‘Mackie is. also. hard -to.* :
: comprehend. He: states Terrace. could be ‘a‘logical
a ‘stopover: point for large Cargo-carrying - -aircraft. flying...

“2 between: ‘Europe. and: Asia. Why any. operator ; ‘would . oh
“want to 0 SLOP ‘in, | Terrace completely. ‘confuses’ me

ae _, Maybe. to fill “Up. with Jet: ve

“Edmonton. -
- Anchorage: are’ far
-|. better situated for:

refuelling. ‘stops:
cand ~have™
“runways.
“ more. than ‘one.
-) instrument landing

o approach." ms

“A second team with? “probes, shovels; radios” Tt was ; just! a fluke that she was “home,” oS

: and: ‘Snowshoes left. 15 ‘minutes ‘later. :

Pipe says: her: untle, ~ Steve. “Mintenko. = .
number: would Erow fo. 65 as, the. effort intensi-.° was the first body to;be found. It was at 2:45
* Pay. nearly | seven hours after the: avalanche, Q
 He'was face-down tinder 3.6 metres of snow.
“Then it was reality,” she said. “We always’ _
thought | the ‘café. was. built teal: skookiim so: if: -
there: was, slide’ they’ d find: everybody alive, *
-° But it. was- not: the case.” ==. oe
“Bill: Zobel,’ the +30:year-old ‘tnail truck’ dts:
pe ver, “was the” ‘second: victim® rescuers: | found
«= atid -he: would be, the only survivor, a

; :Reports, ssay-hé was found: him:i in’a. sitting .
“position; still clive, - ‘after: more ‘than, seven:

:, Zobel. spent: four: days in Mills ‘Memorial s
“Hospital where he was: “treated for: exposure Lo
. and. ‘shock: | ”

The ‘only. “atlier: survivor “of the: avalanche © ;
ne “was ‘a-husky.- “The ‘dog. was’ under the: aaa an ie
“rand crawled gut a couple: of, days later.

Bill Zobel rebtirméd to his route driving the os

She tried phoning the motel: but an: ‘Gporator : mail through:the. mountains, a month later. But. a

cut in and tald ‘her. to go to her Parents’ house :

~The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, Janvary 21, 2004 “AS

_ CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD’

~ The Mail Bag

_ Runway work doubted

' Dear Sir: - oe

1 would “like to respond lo “your: ‘article. in The. vs
Terracé Standard of Dec. 1, - 2003, “Runway work ae
nudging close to. $3 imillion.”: ” :

An extension of 1,500. feet to the maiti-

day. in ‘the: fuiure’ is: ‘planning ahea
Kitimat: International Airport.
Airport ‘officials State.

that’,

in addition to any. anticipated. domestic increase,

Altracting flights from: overseas’ as: ‘one justification a
for the runway: exténsion: “is, hard‘ to: ‘comprehend. AS 2s.
there will have ‘to.be ‘a lot “more ° money. spent on. . a
‘expensive ‘infrastructure to handle wide-body jets... 00). > ©

A Bocing: -767 for example. landing’ at ‘the: Terrace/ “oe
Kitimat airport. direct: ‘from: the. U:K‘or Germany needs.” coal
‘| /a lot.of room ‘with:a wing, span of 170°feet and ‘overall ee
~willrequire overs.”
_ 90,000 litres of jet. fuel for. dts’ flight: ‘back to

will ee

of 200 “feet It”

loading” 300 — passengers, “1

-fuel.

*" one- way.

aircraft" 0 erators, Has: ©
Jong: P

~ with

writing from: potential: nS
customers’.- “that.”

using ;

oe

. Airport © manager ; Laurie.

.i Brown hag explained it in + detail how. important it is “for ot
| aircraft to-circle around and land ‘into: the: wind . dine

af inclement - weather. “with” vonly. a_ one-way. ILS. Bt
;-Tunway. (The. Terrace Standard Dee. Pay 2003. “Wind. Cee
Vand. ice affect landings. ae

‘000 foot ea
_tunway: is ”.a- positive” move’ ‘in:, -the: name. of
: safety and-a. further. anticipaied , longer. tunway ‘SOME. ©

d for, the: Tecrave. we

“a runway Me
extension could mean ‘attracting: flights, from: overseas;

Mr Mackie any: proof i in’) *- S,

AS’ “Terrace ‘has ‘only: ae
instrument.) cad
“landing. system" (ILS).
into. the. airport: from: the. °
south; that’ would: be-too*."-
‘scary . for... most. large oe
cat g-o- carry i ng

angen “he ae

they 0s
would: even ‘consider!

- Terrace apes 0
a logical stopover. poitit? ae

Another. example of the type of nireralt ‘Mackie. is Se 7
hoping -will drop in for maybe ,a fill:up could. bea:

manoeuvre its 211-foot wing span. onto the: ramp: It.

- will have to be checked’ for strength and substantially. -..

-increased.in size just’ in. case more than’one large,

~ ¢argo-carrying. aircraft. just. happens to be’ stopping : for 4

| fuel at- the same: time. A extended. range.:747: will a

’ heed. to’ take on over 200, 000 litres of Jet fuel: to: ‘gel cs

sailor its way to'Asia, 2) ae

 “Ferrace is out of the way. of, any ‘citele route 5 irda vet

° -. Europe. Winnipeg, Edmonton: Jand ‘Anchorage. ‘are. far: *

~ |” better“'situated-for “refuelling stops’. and- ‘have, long: me
-Funways: with more: ‘than.onée ILS approach. a

Tt would ‘be. a. big boost for: the: Terrace/, Kitimat 7

- econoinies to have: big. jets: ‘coming heré but at what: ©

| cost: After the-federal and provincial. ‘graits have been’

exhausted who «will be first in. Aitie to’ “pick: Up _

; the remaining. debt? We will. ;

Boeing 747 freighter- But" before: that-can: happen He
will need a 11,000 foot : runway: and = taxiways : will 7° >

have to. be checked. to see’. if - they: are: adequate . tore
take the maximum: weight. ofa 747: extended: range ee
t freighter at over 900,000. pounds. ee
- Also, ‘the width ‘of the: taxiway. ‘will ‘have: ‘to. ‘be ve
: taken ioconicdnsidération to. enable: ithe 747Ito mh

. FedEx Express, one’ ‘of: the, ‘biggest Jarge cargo- wa 2

~ carrying aircraft, operators “that -have.'a. regular: Europe -\.
id.Asia schedule have ‘announced. they: will bé using es

Almaty,. Kazakhstan, as a refuelling stop “for: ‘their

“ MDils. So they will’be, going the wrong way to stop -
“for. fuel i in Terrace... “Also. the: ‘Airbus ‘A380F, when. in. yo
service, will be‘able.to ‘fly:Europe to. ‘Asia non stop. |. 2) >.
So, Mr Mackie, can: you, support. your “logical: stop” G
"cover. point” st statement with:supportable: stats? 70
* Paul Hawkins,. Lakelse Lake, B. C. m

- The: sneed for laws”

“Dear Sirs): eh SU ee
2 “Governments’ were created. some” ‘time. ‘ago: ‘to a
distinguish between. separate: classes, ‘Two. ‘of the::fi rs
“"¢lasses fecognized | that. needed government. were he: pe
. Jews: and the Gentiles, ° 7
qo? The Jewish people, ‘subjected themselves: within’ the, ws
. Jaw: ‘to“end_ their own ‘selfish: desires:"The: gentiles’
subjected, their nature within the law: to: ‘make, law: to
* themselves... ; moe
; "Government was then forme “to define ‘purpose ing
"between: to; separate :classes,, which used the Same ae
Jaw. to, measure: themselves. of
“conscience. was: “separale. “yeu frost Ma
: government, ‘and law. ‘Life-and: hature was’ ‘the ‘good of
vSrman's *
. conscience being the: work: acknowledged i in his life. a
"Creating: a ‘government: ‘that: gives. law. to"something | -
‘other than the natural use of « conscience, creates a
‘power that no: longer has. a conformity between entity _
and? gender, 07>: _
=. ‘Homosexuals’ ‘thoutd thot. be ‘digériminated against a
“and the: values ‘they’ wish: to. Proclaim we ‘should: be a
L held responsible | to. OO ——
+ No“man-is- righteous: and, laws cainnot be made in mAs,
where’ -conscience: cannot: be dispensed 0 or, rhe Jaw oa
“cf would 'apply. to individual power. >." ‘
“~~ A government. that does:.not-provide a, ‘purpose, aS ;
“ between. self and*gender lacks provision to.maintain «°°
‘Fe -and. care for. the. people. The’ traditional definition. cOfh =
. marriage, is good.

Man’ 5.

man's. dominion. over<‘all creatures

* George’ ‘Halpert,

“About the Mail Bag .

“The Terrace Standard. welcomes. laitars. Our ooo
- address is: 3210 Clinton St., Terrace,.B:C. VEG .
5R2. You can fax.us at 250-638- -8432 oF 6- ‘mail’

avalanche had come down,” Zobel says. “The Pusat! newsroom @terracestandard. com: No: |

mountain ‘tried -to: ‘get me one more time.”
“Now 60, years . old, he: lives ‘far from the I~
‘fe Skeena | mountains — in. Edmonton “ Where. he: :
a works a as a’ self-employed carpenter. _

fy allachments, please...We -need | your ‘name, --
address and. phone. number for. varifi¢ation. Our’.
: deadline is noon Friday or: noon ‘Thursday. i its: a
. tong weekend. pales os

Beg ee Ag Ma aa at Soa gin apy at nad etna att tor Ba

Terrace, B. c = : ve

Bi ne