Treasures. Back in 1966, I was stationed in the Sierra Nevadas, a paradise known as the U.S. Marine Mountain Warfare Training Center at Pickle Meadows. It was 46,000 acres of beautiful mountains twenty-one miles northwest of Bridgeport, California.
Anyhoo, in the winter it snowed and snowed! Sixty inches on the mountain or more! So the Marine Corps, in its wisdom, taught us how to ski. Now the Marines never do anything “half ass”- they taught us more than how to ski. We learned to snowshoe, we learned how to survive in the snow, how to carry out the wounded. If you watch the Military Channel you have seen it.
As most of our class would become instructors, our training was a month longer than normal. Six weeks of ten-to-twelve hour days we were on the mountain. After a week, if you couldn't ski, you had a two-hour walk down to base camp. We trained at 11,000 feet of elevation. Our base camp was at 6,000 feet above sea level. At that elevation oxygen is thin and it's hard to breathe for the first 21 days or so. After that you are in the best shape of your 20 year old life.
I had driven from Minneapolis to Bridgeport in a '61 Pontiac Bubble top, 389 cubic inch, with three Deuces, and a 4 speed. Getting up in elevation ,it ran like a dog! At 6,000 feet it was unable to get the oxygen needed to burn the 37 cent a gallon gas, so it dogged. I had all three carbs rejetted, after which it was a fast ass “PONCHO” and it got good mileage again, and I was happy!!!
Two things you should never do at this elevation: 1) Never get drunk! You're gonna have the worst hangover ever. I had learned this while in the Colorado Rockies, 2) Don't get high. Remember- lack of oxygen!!! It's 21 days to get acclimated- now party!!
South of us was a High Buck Ski Resort called Mammoth Mountain Inn. A bunch of Marines were hired for weekends, when Mammoth was packed. After seeing our skills on the slopes, most of us worked on the Mountain patrol or gave beginners lessons. I worked the patrol and most nights helped out in the lounge. Mammoth attracted a lot of young Hollywood types, many who purchased or had built private chalets.
Anyhoo in the early '60s there was a TV show called The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. Two of my favorites were
“like man” Maynard G. Krebbs, who would tremble at the mere mention of the word “WORK”. Maynard would squeak out the word “WORK”. He had fuzz on his chin, played bongo drums, recited poetry and wore a scuzzy old sweatshirt with holes in it- a “Beatnik”. Maynard was played by Bob Denver who would go on to play Gilligan on Gilligan's Island. My other favorite was a sweetie- Dobie's girlfriend, Thalia Menninger, an aristocrat- played by Tuesday Weld.
Tuesday's personal Life was fucked up after her Dad died. He was an aristocrat too. One of her relatives was John Kerry. Nevertheless, her early life was stressful. After her Dad died, she was left with a crazy Mama to support.
Tuesday... let's just say... liked to drink. She came to Mammoth to party hearty! On some nights, she needed help getting back to her A-frame chalet, so the manager would send three of us- me, my bud and a girl who worked there. We used a wheelchair. We turned down the covers on the bed and removed only her shoes. The girl would stay with her for the nite.
On the way out I noticed A LITTLE PACKAGE wrapped in newspaper. It was in the bathroom waste basket. I picked it up and stuck it in my pocket. I know some of you will figure out what it was, worn only once a month! I had it for years, wearing it pinned to my cutoffs. When people saw it, they would squint and ask “is that a...???” Yes it is, but not just any old “Rag”. It was Tuesday Weld's.
It was finally DESTROYED by a woman who found it “DISGUSTING”. Women can be picky like that! Another treasure gone!
One of Ms. Weld's films back in her early years was called “ROCK ROCK ROCK”, a Chuck Berry first album soundtrack!...
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