Aerial attraction

COEUR d’ALENE — The helicopter soaring back and forth over The Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course conducting a tree removal operation had people looking up Tuesday.

A man and a son pulled over to watch on Coeur d’Alene Lake Drive near the slough by the golf course entrance, as did several others on a sunny but chilly day.

Another talked of watching helicopter logging in his youth.

One peered over the fence on Mullan Avenue.

A couple with coffee wandered up to question a man behind a sign that said the area was off limits.

A woman walking a dog stopped and covered her eyes against the bright sun as she looked upward.

Everyone’s eyes were skyward.

“It’s something to see,” said Bob Hillard, who said he stopped by when he saw the aerial operation that morning.

An estimated 200 trees came down in the golf course during the Jan. 13 windstorm. Some smashed the fence along 19th Street and Mullan Avenue. Others crashed to the ground near greens and in fairways. There were no injuries.

A cleanup operation began weeks ago, with a large crane brought in. Some trees and brush were removed via truck.

Larger trees were piled into a central location for easy helicopter pickup and drop off on Tuesday.

Despite strong winds, it went smoothly. The helicopter made repeat trips in mere minutes, one tree after another picked up, carried high, lowered, and dropped off, to the delight of passersby.

“Pretty cool,” said John Reese just before driving away in his truck.

The windstorm toppled hundreds of trees that damaged and destroyed homes throughout Kootenai County. Many are still where they fell.

The golf course tree removal may continue today.