The Passing of MWHS Founder and Ski Industry Legend Mike Wiegele 1938-2021

I am sorry to hear about the passing of Mike. He always had a smile and kind words when I would see him. Mike worked to make Blue River a wonderful place to be and supported it in becoming a tourist destination. Thanks for all you did Mike, you were well loved by many and will be well remembered. Bonnie, Michelle and Charlie, my thoughts are with you.

Hi Bonnie, our heart goes out to you in this time of great sorrow.
Murray, Wendy, Derek, Tyler and Ryan

My condolences to Bonnie and Michelle

Having been able to spend the years I did working at the resort and learning from Mike is something that has never left me He was a VERY Special person

Robin Nikkel

Dear Mike and Bonnie
Thank you for 20 years of fantastic skiing and fun memories • I will miss you Mike but will keep on skiing your mountains for hopefully many more years … yeah

Amazing memories skiing with Mike! Our deepest sympathies to a legend!!

Bonnie and Michelle , please accept Cathy and My condolences , he was a legend. Hope to see you skiing soon, or at the dog park.

Stephen

I am extremely saddened to hear of Mike's passing. My sincere condolences to Michelle, Bonnie, Charlie, Matic. and all the rest of the Wiegele and Cariboo Heli Ski family. Mike was always a pleasure to visit and speak with and I greatly enjoyed dealing with him throughout our business ventures. Mike, you will be greatly missed. Rest in Peace.

It is with great sadness that I just received the email of Mike's passing. It makes me want to shed buckets of tears, yet smile at the same time. I met Mike at Kanaha Beach on Maui. He was taking windsurf lessons from my husband John. As we sat at a table in the park after one of his lessons, he asked me why I wasn't coming skiing to MW with John? I said "oh no, John is the skier extraordinaire, I only started skiing at 36yrs old and barely have any powder days under my belt". Mike says "you must come! We will take very good care of you!". Though scared out of my whits, I agreed, but I brought my own special group of less experienced friends, so I would be in good company. We called ourselves "Team Have Alotta Fun". John's group was "Team Legburn". I thought to myself..I will try this just once for one of those "life experiences". That one year turned swiftly into 25 years.
Mike you will never be gone, you are the main character in so many of my very very best ski memories. You are often in my thoughts, no matter the season of the year, and you will always make me smile when I think of you. Sending you the biggest thank you from my heart for "taking such good care of me".
Warmest embraces to all the Wiegele family and crew. I love you all. Janet Crews

My deepest condolences, and how we say in german „Ski Heil“

Dear Mrs Wiegele,
My hartfelt condoléances, although having never met your husband im so greatfull he was the man who kept my dreams alive through his love of heli ....SKIING IS LIFE!
May he rest in peace.

Some of the most fun in my life was had at Blue River with the team at Wiegele's; and I've only been once! What an amazing experience Mike created through sheer persistence and hard work. What a legacy. Thank you Mike, thank you.

Bonnie, my deepest condolences to you and Michelle. You and Mike gave me my first job in the ski industry. Mike's enthusiasm for skiing rubbed off and I stayed in the industry for the next 35 years. Thanks.

I met Mike in 1987 on my first trip to Blue River. I knew I wanted to be a part of that. What a great group of people I met and became friends with working in such a tough environment, but every year everyone pulled through to the end. Mike was so supportive of me and I would always do everything in my power to perform up to his high standard. He was always fond of children and he really got to know my kids, Mark, Tim doing flips Dixon glacier and Jack and Elle and my wife Brooke riding bikes on his annual Tour de Blue from Banff to Blue River. Every memory of Mike gives me such pleasure. I wish Bonnie, Michelle and Charlie peace and happiness in this moment of grief, and to remember Mike with fondness and love as I know he loved them so much because he would always tell me so. He was a driven self made man who commanded hard work and loyalty in his operation which made such a impact to the world, his way.

Mike led us on quite the journey and adventure. With working at the resort, we had the opportunity to try a sport, among other things, that we never thought we would ever have done. Mike proved that if you dream and work for it, anything is possible. Our heart goes out to Bonnie, Michelle, and Charlie. May Mike continue to ski the puffy white clouds, yodelling as he goes.

Mike thanks for all of the years of wonderful memories! I feel lucky to have gotten to ski with you on so many occasions between 1989-2019. It was my honor to have been invited by you to ski with your "Terminator's" group even though I couldn't make that trip happen. I hope you can now enjoy a perpetual endless winter with lots of powder and great stability!!!!
Maxx, Cole and myself wish all the best to the entire Wiegele family!

My heartfelt sympathy is with Mike’s family, management and everyone at MWHS - may he Rest In Peace and his passion and dream be an everlasting memory for all of us who love the mountains.

So sorry for the huge loss with the passing of Mike. Sending love to Bonnie, Michelle and Charlie. We cherish the time spent with Mike. His passion for the mountains and zest for life was a tremendous gift he gave to us, and we celebrate him! XO

Heliskiing, das Wort das jeden Skifahrer träumen lässt. Als Kind sah ich im Fernsehen Bilder aus Blue River und als ich dann selbst dort war, erfüllten sich meine Erwartungen. Und Mike, welch inspirierende Persönlichkeit und freundlicher Charakter-ein Träumer, der seine Phantasien zur Realität werden ließ. Ski Heil

I worked at MWHS from 2004-2010 and loved every moment of it. I have so many memories of being guided and skiing along side mike throughout those many years. Every day was like being around family and that atmosphere was one that Mike created. Friends i have made there carried me a time through Europe and onto many other adventures. The “family” i have made through my time there carries on to this very day when i run into people from Blue River. Family forever and thats what Mike created.

What a legend. What an inspiration. What a life! We will miss you Mike.

It is very sad to hear of Mike's passing. I visited there some years ago heliskiing, and the service and operation at Blue River was next level. To the people I know who worked at Mike's operation as guides, I know they, live everyone who had skied there and knew Mike will be devastated.
Mike was such an inspiration in the snow industry to have started and run a very successful heliski operation for all those decades. My sincere condolences to his family and friends. I am sure everyone in Australia will put in a few extra turns in the powder when they can.

Someone so special like Mike can never be forgotten
He was a great man and lived a remarkable life
I feel so lucky that I got to know him
Please accept my deepest condolences
to the entire family

Liebe Familie Wiegele,
Liebes MWHS-Team!
Es war mir eine große Ehre und außerordentliche Freude, bei meinen Aufenthalten in Blue River unvergessliche Tage mit Mike verbringen zu dürfen! Er war ein großer Mann, der großes vollbracht hat, ein Mann, der seinen Traum verwirklicht hat!

Ich weiß aber auch, dass Mike dort, wo er jetzt ist, schon die besten Runs für uns, die wir das Skifahren lieben wie er und ihm irgendwann nachfolgen werden, erkunden wird.

Ich darf Bonnie mit Familie, aber auch allen langjährigen Wegbegleitern in Blue River, unser herzliches Beileid aussprechen.
Mit traurigen letzten Grüßen aus der Heimat!
Pfiat di, Mike!
Armin und Ignaz Assinger
Hermagor
Kärnten
Österreich

My deepest condolences with Mike‘s family and everyone at MWHS. I‘m so honored to have met Mike after all those wonderful stories my family told me as a kid. Thank you Mike. You created an unforgettable experience, a dream.
- Felix

My condolences to Bonnie, Michelle and the rest of the family. That man lived for skiing. His famous 3 words were " Let's go skiing."

My deepest condolences with Mike‘s family and everyone at MWHS. I feel very happy that i skied with Mike. The Powder 8‘s where the best time of my life. Thanks for all Mike. Rest in Peace!

My condolences to Bonnie, Michelle and Charlie!
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Mike.
He always had a smile and kind words when I would see him in Canada or in Austria/Carinthia!
He was a real friend of my father and me and also the whole family- the Schoier from Carinthia (Feistritz an der Gail) and Styria (Koflach)
My dad go school with him in Feistritz/Gail and this was also a reason why I will see him in Blue River by skiing in the POWDER!

May you rest in peace, my friend!

I will always remember Mike as a visionary, a passionate dreamer who saw worlds that others could not conceive of, an incredibly hard worker in pursuit of perfecting those dreams, and most importantly a gatherer of "Friends in the Mountains".
His goal and his love was to create experiences that caused thousands of people to say, "That was the best day of my life". On behalf of myself and all the others who said that to Mike; thank you, we will miss you, and we will never forget the love of the mountains that you graciously shared with us.
A special thank you to Bonnie and Michele for supporting Mike's dreams and allowing so many people to feel like part of your worldwide family.

Meine ersten Erfahrungen als Guide und deine vorgegebenen Schwünge werde ich nie vergessen. Danke Mike!
Mein aufrichtiges Beileid der Fam. Wiegele

Liebe Familie Wiegele, liebes Team MWHS,

hiermit möchten wir unser aufrichtiges Beileid aussprechen. Mike war ein Vorbild für alle jungen Sportler, er hat gezeigt das es möglich ist seinen Traum zu leben! Wir werden dich stets in Erinnerung behalten.
Deine Freunde vom Schiclub St. Michael-Koralpe

Lieber Mike!
Wir haben mit dir so viele tolle und unvergessliche Schitage verbracht. Dein Humor und dein Lächeln hat uns immer begeistert. Du wirst in unseren Erinnerungen weiter leben!!!!!!
Ruhe in Frieden
Christian aus Ischgl

Such a sad day. Mike and my dad, Larry Adler, go way back. I've heard nothing but wonderful things over the years about Mike. What a legacy he has left for his family. My heart goes out to them x LEGEND MW

My condolences to Mike's extended family. I had my best, albeit short, ski days in Blue River. Thank you Mike for making these great experiences possible. I will never forget them. I hope that even though you are no longer here, I will be able to repeat them. Rest in peace.

My condolences to his family and to the MWHS team.
“let’s go skiing”
un fuerte abrazo a la familia de Mike y otro muy fuerte al equipo, Bob, Crosby, Sam….

Thanks for the great experiences and legacy. On slope, eyes on for ever.

Thank you Mike for your smiles , passion and love of water in all forms. Ski on, surf on,
Trevor

Unser aufrichtiges Beileid und liebe letzte Grüße aus deiner alten Heimat.
Deine Cousine Renate mit Familie

What an amazing life to celebrate, and a tremendous legacy to give to the world. He was a man that loved to connect people and will be missed by many. I am glad his vision will continue through his wonderful family at MWHS. My sincere condolences for your loss.

Ich möchte meine aufrichtige Anteilnahme mitteilen und mich bei Mike für die traumhafen Runs bedanken.
Mike war eine ganz große Persönlichkeit.

I'm sorry he's gone. He didn't care about how rich or important people were, or what they rode. He was simply happy to share the privilege with others who recognized it for what it is.

Our deepest Condolences from the Ötztal Valley, Sölden, Obergurgl to the Mike´s family and the team of blue river. It was a dream to ski there and a great honour to visit the legendary Mike at this spot. Thanks for all.
Oliver

The ski world has lost one of its finest.
To me, he was a rock, a monument, an inspiration.
And what a life!
So many happy memories.
I will miss you Mike.
Long live the MW legend.

Wir bedauern den Trauerfall und wünschen der Familie viel Kraft.
Mike kann uns jetzt von oben zuschauen.

I have lost a Bruder and a teacher and guide . Bonnie I am sorry for your loss.Mike was a unique man with an insightful vision. He cannot be replaced but his legacy will live on in all his students .

I am so sorry for your loss. Mike was a great guy and he'll surely be missed.

I was deeply saddened to hear about the death of my old friend and Austrian skiing collegue Mike Wiegele. I never will forget the beautiful time we spent together in Blue River or also here in Altenmarkt at our Atomic Ski Factory. Mike was one iof the biggest entrepreneurs and Innovators in skiing - for that we will be thankful forever.
Atomic and myself will have him in our thought and prayers.
We will miss you, Mike.
With deep regrets
Wolfgang and the Atomic Family

This is what I know of Mike and his passion for Skiing. I am not going to get this story exactly right but I think I am allowed to use a little poetic license for the story.
When Mike fist came to Canada, he had an Uncle that was already living here who had asked my Dad if he could help his nephew with a job. So I believe my dad was the first to hire him at was then Superior Components - a cabinet making business. He showed up one Monday morning to hang doors and cabinets in a house and when my dad showed up at the end of the day most of the cabinets were hung upside down. It did not take long to figure out that Mike had been skiing on the weekend, hit his head in a fall and had a concussion. It was not long after, that Mike knew what his purpose in life was. That first job in Canada left Otto and Mike as long time friends and in 2007 I actually took Otto Heli skiing for his 80th birthday at MW.
Mike's spirit will live on beyond his passing, the Canadian Rockies and Skiing are all better for having him shape this corner of the world.
Reto and the entire Steiner Family

Dear Bonnie and Michelle
My deepest condolences
He is a lengend for ever
Been greatful to have skied with him
Anette Bøe
Oslo Norway

Mike, there will never be another one like you - you are a true legend. You have created and build an empire from the bottom up...your spirit, your passion and your determination to share with the world the best skiing, made you the man of the mountains...Let's go skiing! A little yodel as you descended those magnificent peaks...you were the happiest guy on earth! Thank you Mike for the wonderful years you gave me working along with you and the MWHS team. You will be missed, now go find that powder up in heaven...My condolences to you Bonnie, Michelle and Charlie.

My condolences to family and friends.
My dream throughout my working life was to go heliskiing. When I retired I was able to fulfil this in 2014 at Blue River. The set-up was superb, the support from the crew fabulous and, the one time that I met Mike, he engaged and focused in such a way that I felt I was the only person in the room. That week was special and remains in my memory. Vision, leadership skills, drive and organisational ability are rarely found to such a high degree in one person - I count myself privileged to have met this individual who gave so many of us access to the thrills of our lifetime.