Almost better than spending the day in Dublin, Lynsey Dyer, Zack Giffin, Grant Gunderson, and I had our cups full of Irish blessings and authenticity this St. Patrick’s day. After two days of flying around with North Cascades Heli, we ventured over to Don Fitzpatrick’s house; a Mazama resident and ambassador of Irish culture. In addition to checking out Fitzpatrick’s fine Irish pub in the basement of his house, we spent the evening with our pilot and favorite Irishman, Seamus O’Daimhin.

Traditional Irish Blessing:

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

May the rains fall soft upon your fields,

And, until we meet again,

May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

Our version:

May the road be unplowed so you must use a heli,

May the wind not scour the snow,

May the sun warm upon your face,

May the snow fall heavy upon your mountains,

And, until we meet again,

May North Cascades always take you back.

We skied powder from a heli, drank Guinness, and played shuffleboard. What else could we ask for this St. Patrick’s Day? Only a legendary Irish pilot, but then again, we had that too.

Thank you to June and Don Fitzpatrick for the Guinness and snacks, Seamus O’Daimhin for the giving us confidence in our pilot (and the real Irish experience), and Paul and Ken for their patience and hospitality.

Seamus at the shuffleboard table.

Zack checking out the goods.

Grant eyeing more Guinness.

Grant, Zack, and Lynsey beaming the morning after St. Patrick’s Day.

Lynsey at the Guinness tap.