Remembering Dick Bass: "The Big Mouth Bass"

SeniorsSkiing.com Correspondent Harriet Wallis Recalls Dick’s Uniqueness

Dick Bass' oriental rugs were hung in the Snowbird lodge by mountain climbers. Credit: Harriet Wallis

Climbers hang rugs on 11-story Atrium wall.
Credit: Harriet Wallis

Dick Bass was always enthusiastic about everything. He was witty and lively, and he always seemed to be in a jovial

Snowbird founder Dick Bass had a fabulous collection of oriental rugs. Credit: Harriet Wallis

Snowbird founder Dick Bass inspects some of his fabulous collection of Oriental rugs
Credit: Snowbird

mood. He often spent time at his loved Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, and you could always tell when he was there because he’d be in the center of a group and he’d keep them laughing. He loved to indulge anyone who would listen to his tales and insights. Because of his talkative nature he called himself “the big mouth Bass.”

He loved art and literature, and he had an incredible Oriental rug collection that he displayed at Snowbird. The huge, colorful rugs carpeted many floors in the Cliff Lodge. Skiers probably had no idea they were walking on a fabulous collection. For other rugs, he hired rock climbers to scale the massive 11-story tall concrete walls in the lodge’s Atrium and hang them there for display.

Dick Bass seemed to function on only one speed: full speed ahead. We’ll miss him.

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Harriet Wallis

Harriet Wallis has been a ski writer, editor and photographer forever. She learned to ski on a dare when she was in her mid 30s and has been blabbing about it ever since. Her work appears in regional and national print and online publications. Ski Utah named her Journalist of the Year. You can see more of her articles here: https://www.alta.com/stories/102-year-old-powderhound.

She's a senior-age skier based in Salt Lake City and she enjoys nearly a gazillion ski days each winter. She also enjoys two stainless steel knees.

Harriet loves to be outdoors, so during other seasons she swims, bicycles and kayaks. She also single handedly rips up her yard, converting it to an arid and low water landscape with indigenous plants that she propagates. Skiing is a lot easier!

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