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E Clampus Vitus dedicated a plaque to Dave McCoy (seated) at Mammoth Mountain on Saturday, Sept. 8. About 500 Clampers converged at Main Lodge for the ceremony, creating a sea of red and black. (Photo: Lunch)

The venerable Dave McCoy turns 97 on Friday, Aug. 24. I made a pilgrimage down to his home in Bishop to wish him a happy birthday earlier this week.

He’s still way smarter than I am.

In his usual, cryptic way, he deflected every question back with the deftness of a Roger Federer. And when I asked him to explain something, he laughed. “That’s something I never do,” said Dave. “I don’t want to be misinterpreted.” Personally, I sort of like the confusion. Dave always challenges you to come up with your own answers.

I asked him if and when during his life and career did he ever start feeling like a businessman.

“There was never a point where I thought I was a businessman … everybody in Los Angeles owned Mammoth.”

He did point out, however, that when he started, there were 52 other rope tow businesses in Inyo and Mono counties, so he’s got to know a few things about business – or at least about perseverance.

Before he made me put away my pen – talking on the record does have a way of stunting a conversation – he did make this general observation about the modern ski industry. “Everything I did was for Mammoth Mountain. I separated myself from the Town. That’s what’s wrong with the ski industry. The company wants everything on the town and the mountain.”

As for advice in managing people, Dave said give ‘em space and let them do their jobs. “Don’t tell ‘em all that stuff about the numbers. Just ask, ‘How can I help you [be better]?’”

Finally, as I was readying to leave, I threw out a casual question:  Can you blow out 97 candles?

Dave immediately peppered me with questions. How big are they? How close together? Can I blow more than once?

If you’d like to say hello to Dave, he’ll be up at Mammoth Mountain on Sept. 8 for the dedication of a plaque in his honor by the local chapter of e clampus vitus.

Sheet: So what is this event about?

Dave:  They’re making a plaque and saying something good about me.

Dave and Roma McCoy (center) with Mammoth Lakes Foundation ‘Founders of the Year’, Audrey (left) and Bob (right) Byers. (Photo: Sue Morning)

The Mammoth Lakes Foundation welcomed a sellout crowd to the hugely successful 20^th Annual Friends of the Foundation Dinner. The event took place Saturday, Dec. 4 at Edison Hall and celebrated the grand opening of the new Edison Theatre. The Foundation also honored Founders of the Year, Bob and Audrey Byers, Volunteers of the Year, Ralph and Patti Rea, and the many friends who make the Foundation’s mission of supporting higher education and culture in the Eastern Sierra a reality.

Presented by Dave and Roma McCoy, the ever popular Friends Dinner sold out three weeks in advance. The event featured beverages donated by Mammoth Brewing Company and Eberle Winery, dinner catered by The Restaurant at Convict Lake and a musical performance of the holiday classic A Christmas Carol by Mammoth Lakes Repertory Theatre.

Congratulations to raffle winners Bob Byers, Bob Cox, Marisa DePalma, Steve Loven and Shields Richardson who each won a beautiful, large-format Dave McCoy print. All proceeds from the raffle and event go directly to supporting higher education and cultural enrichment in the Eastern Sierra.

The Mammoth Lakes Foundation would like to give special thanks to Dave McCoy for his inspirational words, Gary Meyers for emceeing and Sue Morning for sharing her photos. -MLF Press Release

Check out this video by Dave McCoy’s grandson Stanton Barrett; there’s a great shot of Dave and Roma near the end. Then check out McCoy’s photo showcase at Harris and Ruble Gallery in Los Angeles begininng Oct. 2.

Wild Eyes in the Sierra Skies, photographs of the Eastern Sierra by ski pioneer Dave McCoy

Posner Fine Art in collaboration with Harris & Ruble Gallery in Los Angeles, Calif. announced on Aug. 18 that it is pleased to present Wild Eyes in the Sierra Skies, photographs of the Eastern Sierra by ski pioneer Dave McCoy. The opening reception will be held on Oct. 2, from 5 – 9 p.m. at Harris & Ruble Gallery in Los Angeles. The exhibition will run through Nov. 3.

In the 1930s, Dave started using a Leica camera to document the early days of Mammoth. Upon his departure from Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, after spending more than 50 years building the resort from the ground up, Dave’s close friends gave him a camera that defined his post-management years and gave his passion for life a new outlet. Dave is a longtime motorcycle enthusiast, bike rider and backpacker. At 95 years old, Dave, accompanied by his wife Roma spends much of his time traversing the Eastern Sierra on a Rhino (all-terrain vehicle) shooting magnificent photographs.

Dave has long been a benefactor furthering education and cultural enrichment in Mammoth Lakes, Calif.  A percentage of the proceeds from the exhibition will raise money for the Mammoth Lakes Foundation and Mammoth Ski & Snowboard Education Foundation.

For further information on the exhibition, please contact: Posner Fine Art at info@posnerfineart.com or call 323.933.3664. Visit the Mammoth Lakes Foundation and the Mammoth Ski & Snowboard Education Foundation online to learn more about these institutions.

A recent post about the event is on Dave’s photo blog. -LAK/MLF

Roma and Dave on one of their many photographic adventures now being chronicled at DaveMcCoyPhoto.com (Photo courtesy Penny McCoy)

The online photo journal of Eastern Sierra Skiing Pioneer, Dave McCoy

When Dave McCoy retired from Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, after spending more than 50 years building the resort from the ground up, he turned to photography as his next adventure. The skiing pioneer has recently started a new blog website at www.DaveMcCoyPhoto.com to share his love of photography and the Eastern Sierra. The blog pairs Dave’s commentary with unique Eastern Sierra landscape and wildlife images.

“… Dave’s commentary adds a new dimension to the experience. I feel as if I am on the journey with him. Thanks for the treat,” says one guest to DaveMcCoyPhoto.com.

Beginning in the 1930s, Dave used a Leica camera to document the early days of Mammoth. Upon his departure from the ski resort, Dave’s longtime friends gave him a camera that defined his post-management years and gave his passion for life a new outlet. Dave now spends much of his time traversing the Eastern Sierra on Rhinos (all-terrain vehicles) and shooting photos with his wife, Roma.

Brandon Russell has assisted Dave since 2005. Their partnership includes photo organization, professional printing, framing, archiving, and photo production. Dave and Brandon run a print lab from the McCoy’s ranch in Bishop where local painter and builder Randy Myers makes frames by hand for Dave’s prints. Dave sells his best work at the Mammoth Ski Museum and at several businesses in Bishop and Mammoth. All proceeds are donated to the Mammoth Lakes Foundation.

“The family and the community were always a big part of our success…” Dave says. “It shows that no man does anything alone. Now, my camera’s eye keeps making the Eastern Sierra a place for all of us to enjoy.”

The “real” McCoy … (Photo courtesy www.inc.com)

Like a lot of you mountain lovers, Dave McCoy is one of my heroes.
The man that made Mammoth Mountain is right up there with Warren Miller and Hermann Maier, Batman and Robin, Bode Miller and whoever dated Suzy Chapstick.
Sure, in their primes, maybe “the Hermann-ater” and Bodie skied faster, and perhaps Robin and Suzy looked better in Bogner ski suits, but they didn’t have anything on Dave. Just like those heroes, McCoy is made out of nothing but dreams and desire and a determination to see them come true. But unlike the above folks, Dave made his dreams come true here, in the Eastern Sierra, and he obviously wanted to leave something for the rest of us.
Dave McCoy is 94, and he still has the energetic smile and sharp eyes of a hopeful, starry-eyed kid. Exactly the way you’d expect your hero to look as he closes in on a century of living life the way it was intended. And he’s still making a positive difference, just like you expect your heroes to.
A few weeks back, Dave showed up to kick-off the 10th Annual Mammoth Lakes Foundation (MLF) Golf Classic at Sierra Star. He was as friendly, happy and humble as ever. The MLF is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Its mission, to cultivate higher education in the Eastern Sierra, is also one of Dave’s dreams. And just like a McCoy on skis or a dirt bike, the dream continues to gain momentum.
Last year, thanks to MLF, the Mammoth Campus of Cerro Coso Community College greeted students with the first community college student-housing complex to open in the state in 20 years. This fall, Mammoth’s college has its largest enrollment ever and some of its graduates are already out there making a positive difference in the world.
Graduates such as Christie Fulcher, who’s now a History Professor at Western Carolina University.
“I just love Dave McCoy. He helped make my dreams come true,” she often says.
Dave Schacht runs Sierra Star, and as usual, he was a total pro handling the tournament. As the event began winding down I asked “Schotty” how his day went. “You know, the tournament went fine, but without a doubt the best part of my day was when I got to talk with Dave McCoy. He’s just such an incredible man. He totally inspires me,” Schotty said.
Outside of a few handshakes and hellos, I’ve only ever really had the honor of one brief conversation with Dave. It was several years ago, and he told me that I was a good writer and that I should keep at it.
Since then, I’ve never dared to try and have a conversation with him again. For when one of your heroes approves of what you sweat, struggle and bleed for, what you put your heart and soul into, just as he did for his passion, you don’t want to push your luck. You want to leave the dream-come-true a dream-come-true.
As he is for many of you, Dave McCoy is one of my heroes. But unlike a lot of you, I never want to talk to him again, except to say, “Thank you.”

Thanks to Matthew Lehman, The Sheet was invited along on a Rhino (off-road vehicle capable of navigating virtually any type of terrain) ride with MMSA founder Dave McCoy on Monday, Dec. 10. Read all about it in the Dec. 22 issue. Find out why Dave always answers his own phone, what he’d do for a living if he had to do it all over again, and how he got that first USFS permit.