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Tacoma Public Library - , Clippings, Washington, Sports, Skiing

1930s

In each reference below, the number in brackets is the page of the article in my clippings folder.

Tacoma News Tribune, Oct 14, 1937 - "Announce new ski courses in the Cascades" [1]

The Milwaukee railroad has built a new ski area just east of the tiny station at Hyak, reached only by the railroad. A ski lodge and trails for skiers of varying abilities have been prepared. The Milwaukee plans to run a special train on weekends and holidays to the ski area, leaving in the early morning and returning in the evening.

Tacoma News Tribune, Oct 18, 1937 - "Stevens Pass To Beckon Skiers" [4]

Thirty CCC boys, aided by skilled workmen, are working to complete the Forest Service's new $10,000 ski hut at Stevens Pass. George Dennis is in charge of the work. The Everett and Wenatchee chambers of commerce and the Wenatchee Ski Club joined in buying a tract of about 100 acres of ski terrain for the Forest Service. The highway will be open to the pass from the east, but there are no plans to keep the pass open from the west at this time.

Tacoma News Tribune, Nov 10, 1938 - "Martin Ski Work Is On" [1]

For several years, skiers have been making trips to Martin, just east of the Stampede Pass tunnel. The Northern Pacific railroad has supplied a number of bunk cars on a siding at the west portal of the tunnel to accommodate skiers. The railroad has started preliminary work to improve the Martin ski grounds by building lodging, lunch rooms and other facilities including a ski lift 700 to 1,000 feet long. A small building, to accommodate 30 people, is being built for the current season and a large hotel, to accommodate 200 to 250 overnight guests, is planned for the 1939-40 season.

Tacoma News Tribune, Nov 27, 1939 - "Build Jump At Ski Bowl" [1]

The Milwaukee Ski Bowl at Hyak has seen improvements for the third year in a row. "Chief complaint in years past was that the terrain was not open enough. Remedying this, the Milwaukee went to work and removed most of the offending timber." Forty acres were cleared. A photo depicts the newly constructed jump, where leaps of 285 feet can be expected. A 11/27/39 TNT article ("Jumping Popular Again") [3] has statistics for the new jump, the largest in the Northwest. A 12/5/39 Tacoma Times article ("Jumping Hill, New Tow Added") [1] states that the jump was designed by Peter Hostmark and that Ken Syverson will again be in charge of ski instruction at Hyak.

1940s

Tacoma News Tribune, Apr 22, 1941 - Clifford, Howie, "Skiing Is New $1,000,000 Industry in Northwest" [2]

In the winter of 1940-41, an estimated half million people journeyed to the various sports resorts in Washington. Mt Rainier was most popular, with an estimated 125,000 skiing visitors. Other popular spots were Snoqualmie Ski Bowl at Hyak, Cayuse Pass, Mt Baker, Stevens Pass, Stampede Pass, Martin, Deer Park, American River, Mt Spokane, Leavenworth, and others. The number of skiers in Western Washington alone is estimated to be above 65,000. During the winter, Torger Tokle set a national ski jumping mark of 288 feet at Snoqualmie Ski Bowl.

Tacoma News Tribune, Sep 29, 1949 - "Ski Area Previewed" [4]

The Park Service, Forest Service, and State Highway Department are cooperating to develop the Cayuse Pass area as a ski resort. In the last month, four rope tows and a ranger and first aid station at Tipsoo Lake have been completed. A turnaround and parking area at Cayuse Pass has been cleared and work has been started on a lunch room and first aid station at that location. Parking for 350 to 400 cars will be provided. Rainier National Park Superintendent John C. Preston said that the road to Paradise Valley will not be kept open this winter, and overnight accommodations will not be provided there. The Cayuse-Tipsoo operation this winter is on an experimental basis. Additional improvements will not be made unless the area proves itself. A photo depicts Superintendent Preston with Don Adams of the Naches company. An 11/3/48 TNT article ("Northwest Rated Greatest Ski Country in World") [2] reported that only one small tow was in operation at that time.

1950s

Shell Oil Co. - 1950 Ski Guide for Washington [5]

This brochure names about 40 sites including brief statistics and a list of facilities for each. The following areas have at least a rope tow, a ski jump, or a warming hut: The following areas are named, but no special skier facilities are listed:

Washington State Advertising Commission, 1950-51 - "Skiing's Great in Washington State" [7]

The Washington State Advertising Commission compiled this directory of "better-known" winter sports areas in the state. Each entry has a few paragraphs summarizing how to get there, facilities and services, ticket prices, accommodations nearby, people to contact, and the best season. Rope tows are available at all the areas except those marked with an asterisk (*) below:

Great Northern Goat, Mar, 1958 - "New Winter Playground For The Northwest" [23]

Skiing on Hurricane Ridge is in its "Experimental Year" in 1957-58. The ski area was opened in 1957 with completion of the "Heart-of-the-Hills" road from Port Angeles. In the first three weeks of January 1958, the ridge saw 8,297 visitors, including 1,631 skiers.

Tacoma News Tribune, Jul 28, 1959 - "Crystal Mountain Ski Area Plans Go Forward" [23]

The Crystal Mountain stock offering netted 824 subscribers, mostly skiing families, from 34 towns in western Washington. The subscription drive collected over $850,000, with 75% of that coming from the greater Seattle area.

1960s

Tacoma News Tribune, Oct 15, 1961 - "Skiers Will See Movie of Mountain" [23]

Eight men skied down Mt Rainier on June 18, and their descent, called "a first" in this article, will be shown in "Out to Ski," a 90-minute color film appearing soon in Tacoma. Roger Brown and John Ahern produced the film, which includes footage from several western ski areas. Accompanying the filmmakers on the Mt Rainier descent were Jim and Lou Whittaker of Seattle, Squaw Valley ski school director Joe Marillac, Sierra Club instructor Roger Paris, Sugar Bowl instructor Bill Briggs, and Gordon Butterfield, western sales representative for Head Ski Company. The article reports that they climbed the mountain in six hours from Camp Muir via the Emmons Glacier and descended the same day.

Suburban Times, Nov 19, 1962 - "Crystal Mountain - A Skiers Dream" [25]

Scheduled to open on December 1, Crystal Mountain is a unique development in many ways. "First, the site was chosen from a skier's viewpoint--not from the aspect of easy access. It was picked for its terrain, weather conditions, and snow conditions. Only after its selection was consideration given to how people would get there." Financing was also unique since no large investors were involved. Over 800 individuals invested in the area, with no shareholder having more than two percent of the stock. Tow tickets are being used as stock dividends. It is estimated that only 20 percent of the area's potential has been developed.

Tacoma News Tribune, Apr 18, 1965 - "Wenatchee Ski Enthusiasts Have a 'Mission'" [26]

A total of $500,000 worth of common stock was sold within two weeks to finance development of the Mission Ridge ski area in upper Squilchuck Basin south of Wenatchee. Wilmer Hampton, general manager, said 90 percent of the stock was purchased by local residents, although several Seattleites also bought shares. The key to meeting the target date for operation is construction of a 4-1/2 mile road from Squilchuck State Park to the ski area site.

Tacoma News Tribune, Nov 30, 1967 - "Opening Set For Saturday At Alpental" [26]

The Alpental ski area consists of 150 acres of private property between Denny Mtn, Mt Snoqualmie, and Guye Peak, just north of Snoqualmie Pass. A 3/9/66 TNT article says that Bob Mickelson, president of Eidelweiss Skiwear, and Jim Griffin, former vice president of Griffin-Galbraith Fuel Co., are the primary investors in the area. The area will open with three chairlifts and four rope tows. Future plans call for an aerial tram from the valley to Cave Ridge, which will open Mt Snoqualmie and Commonwealth Basin to a variety of lifts, and provide access to "the most unusual limestone caves in the Northwest." Plans also call for a lodge ("Oberhaus") at the summit of Denny Mtn.

1970s

Tacoma News Tribune, Jan 30, 1971 - "Mammoth Ski Resort Under Study" [27]

Bill Stark and Dwight Baker, two Boeing Co. engineers working on a free-lance basis for a non-profit community development corporation, told the Leavenworth Chamber of Commerce it would be feasible to construct a ski resort in the Doctor Creek basin on Mt Cashmere. Development could eventually extend to 8,200 feet, providing a 5,650 foot vertical drop and six square miles of ski terrain.

Tacoma News Tribune, Jan 7, 1979 - Cross-country skiers welcome two new attractions" [27]

Mountainholm, a converted mink ranch 12 miles southeast of Snoqualmie Pass, was opened two years ago by Hank Kaufmann. The area has 14 km of groomed trails near Kachess Lake and has opened a 2 km lighted trail for night skiing. Sun Mountain Lodge above Winthrop maintains 50 miles of trails, including 30 miles groomed with a track setter. Don Portman, ski program director for the lodge, has recently announced a guided tour between Twisp and Sun Mountain. Plans call for eventual extension of the valley trail a dozen miles from Winthrop to Mazama.

1980s

Tacoma News Tribune, Nov 14, 1988 - "It's alpine vs. cross-country on the Hogback" [28]

For 15 years, operators of the White Pass ski area have hoped to expand from Pigtail Peak to Hogback Mountain, about two miles south of the present area. The expansion would triple the ski area's size. In 1984, Congress removed Hogback Mountain from the Goat Rocks Wilderness Area, making the expansion possible. The result has been a "skier's civil war" pitting alpine skiers against cross-country skiers, who have long enjoyed Hogback as their exclusive domain.

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