Patrick Gordon Murdoch

A Rich and Vibrant Life: Patrick Gordon Murdoch
December 26, 1926 to January 22, 2010
In the 83 years that comprised his life, Patrick Gordon Murdoch was many things—husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, mentor, surfer, sailor, skier, realtor, dreamer. Pat was always ready for the next big adventure. He always found a way to accomplish his dreams and was always an inspiration to those in his midst.
Pat was born in Toronto, Canada, in 1926, the youngest son of Arthur and Eleanor Murdoch. At the age of 16, he joined the Canadian Army. After returning to Canada, he promptly joined a traveling carnival that was setting forth on its way across the USA. After many months of travel to many states, Pat ended up on the California coast. Once he saw the Pacific Ocean that was it. He commenced to meeting a wife, having kids and surfing the blue Pacific.
After four years of living on Malibu Beach, Pat heard about a new ski area being built in the Sierras. He packed up his family of 5 and headed for Mammoth Mountain. Pat got his first taste of the mountain life while working to build the lodge, the Mammoth Mountain Inn and the first ski lifts at Mammoth Mountain. After working as Patrol, Lift Operator, Ski Instructor and bartender during that first year, he bought a cabin and moved the family into the woods at the base of the mountain in Mammoth Lakes. Taking the kids skiing and working became his top two priorities.
But the call to adventure would get to Pat once again. After a few years in Mammoth, he heard about another ski area being built up north on a mountain called Shasta. Away the Murdochs went. He bought a house on the outskirts of town and promptly began to rebuild it into what became the infamous ski lodge Der Wedeln Inn. (Wedel is an Austrian skiing term meaning to wiggle.) Translation: The Wiggle Inn.
The Inn opened in 1960, offering lodging, a tavern, dining and dancing. It opened and quickly gained a following of skiers from throughout California and beyond. Pat got a permit from the Forest Service to offer snow-cat skiing over thousands of acres on the slopes of Mt. Shasta. With a bus and two snowcats, Pat launched “The Alpine Ski Safaris,” creating another draw for the Mt. Shasta skiing community, and his new lodge. Pat operated the Inn for 10 years before closing up shop. His next adventure?
Earning a real estate license and opening Vistas Unlimited Realty. Pat worked with local landowners to help them develop their properties into many of the large subdivisions now located throughout the Mt. Shasta region.
Developments such as Dogwood Ridge, Shasta Uplands, Monte Shasta and many others are the result of Pat’s efforts to encourage the creation of large, beautiful parcels for future homeowners. In this regard, he became a mentor.
Other realtors in the area who needed help with land issues came to see Pat. Many current area realtors worked for Pat at one time or another. He was a friend and inspiration to many in the Mt. Shasta community, a home and environment that he loved dearly.
After retiring, Pat and his wife Annie spent many days taking long walks with their dog Max. Not one to just sit around, Pat still spent much of his winters skiing and his summers sailing. But as life slowed down, Pat learned to enjoy many hours out by the pool taking in views of the mountain, as well as the Osprey that came to perch in the tops of nearby trees.
Pat raised his children to always follow their bliss and to be thankful for what life brings. His legacy lives on in the fact that each of his children and grandchildren celebrate the outdoor life in their work and play. To carry on these and many other memories, Pat left his loving wife and soul mate Annie, his children, and their spouses:
Chris and Pattey Wetmore, Merrily (Wetmore) and John May, Larry and Rainie Murdoch, Mike and Marsha Murdoch, Toni (Murdoch) and Jim Friden, Chris and Corleen Kretchmer, Kathleen Murdoch. 10 Grandchildren and 10 Great Grandchildren:
No services are planned at this time. A community celebration and mountain ski will be held in the spring in and on Mt. Shasta.
Any donations can please go to Siskiyou Humane Society or The Salvation Army