Lake Placid - The Ski Jump is Insane!

Wednesday, June 12, Day 51

Right after we got off the ferry, we were looking for a place to stay.  We spent the night at Allen, New York, wanting to get an early stop because  we were going to Lake Placid.

Lake Placid was only about 30 miles down the road.  

The first thing we saw were the ski jumps!  They are huge!  We were beside a river, and they were rising up so high above us!

Right below us were two fly fisherman, going after Northern Pike. They are right under the end of the jump.  One of them yelled up to me, "Would you do that?"  The answer is an emphatic, "NO!"

It's to hard to give a sense of proportion in a photo.  But take a look at the car.

The jumpers use this chair lift to get back up the hill, and then they have to take an elevator to the top of the jump.  And look at the area below the jump.  It looks like they should just go sailing off, past those grandstands, and beyond the river, toward that road.

Here are the stands for the awarding of the medals.

I don't know how they built this in such a short time.  I thought cement needed time to cure.

I'm standing below it, still trying to give perspective.

Lake Placid hosted the Olympics in 1932

And again in 1980.