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Hart Axley, Otto Ross, Jimmie Nunn, and John Bishop (from left to right), all members of the 1960 ski patrol during the Olympics at Squaw Valley.

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Do Tell!

What do you remember about the 1960 Olympic Games?

The Olympic spirit was alive and well on Friday, January 8, when Squaw Valley kicked off its Olympic Heritage Celebration commemorating athletes and participants from Games past and present. On hand to share memories of the 1960 Winter Olympics were four members of that year’s ski patrol — the first time ski patrol duties were handled by volunteers and not members of the Army.

These men remember the small details and behind-the-scenes stories that those who weren’t there may never have heard. They recall how homing pigeons released as part of the Opening Ceremonies couldn’t orient themselves due to bad weather, and ended up hiding in the rafters of the hockey arena to escape the fireworks. They also shared a story that didn’t get much press at the time: Did you know the Olympic torch was stolen in Soda Springs? Fortunately, it was quickly recovered and the Games went on.

Here are a few more tales from these four 1960 Games ski patrol members. Enjoy!

Hart Axley, Colorado
“One story I have to tell has to do with KT-22. We went up with avalanche patrol at 5 a.m. and were setting shells off. We got to the top of the lift and two guys from CBS were outside in their long johns absolutely hysterical. They’d been in the warming hut guarding CBS equipment and heard the shells getting closer and closer. One had caused two floor-to-ceiling plate glass windows to fracture. We had to roll [the CBS guys] up in blankets and take them down.”

Otto Ross, Washington
“In 1959 we had to prove to the Olympic Commission that volunteer patrol could handle it. We discovered on top of Squaw Peak a live sheep, which we put in an akias [metal bucket with two handles on either side that was carried by two ski patrollers] and brought down and saved its life.” 

Jimmie Nunn, Arizona
“Skiing down with the torch was the biggie. It was a horrible day; you couldn’t see 50 feet in front of you. But they told us it was sunny down at the bottom and we started skiing down and they were right.” 

John Bishop, California
“I was standing at the bottom of the jumping hill and a jumper from Japan who must have weighed about 120 pounds was in the air and got hit by a gust of wind that threw him over the fence.”