ski history Archives - Out There Venture https://outthereventure.com/tag/ski-history/ Mon, 27 Apr 2020 23:31:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://outthereoutdoors.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/cropped-OTO_new-favicon-32x32.jpg ski history Archives - Out There Venture https://outthereventure.com/tag/ski-history/ 32 32 Ski Artifacts: The Rope Tow https://outthereventure.com/ski-artifacts-the-rope-tow/ Mon, 06 Apr 2020 23:09:51 +0000 https://outthereventure.com/?p=41457 Nearly 90 years ago the first rope tows were installed on slopes across the snowy places of the U.S. In 1937, the first rope tows in the West chugged into action at Snoqualmie Summit, Mount Rainier, and Mount Baker.

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By Jean Arthur

Nearly 90 years ago the first rope tows were installed on slopes across the snowy places of the U.S. In 1937, the first rope tows in the West chugged into action at Snoqualmie Summit, Mount Rainier, and Mount Baker.  

The Seattle Times writers opined in the Feb. 28, 1937 edition, “Skiers are not made by climbing hills. Skiers develop proficiency by coming downhill.” The article noted that at Mount Rainier, skiers can potentially ski 4,000 feet of vertical in a day. Of course, today, some lifts exceed 4,000 feet vertical and adept riders might reach 50,000 vertical per day. The lift-accessed record is nearly 65,000 feet skied in one day.  

As ski clubs formed and ski hill managers built rope tows, farmers got into the action. Harold Termaat farmed near Kalispell, Mont., but in the winter, his fields were covered in snow, so from the late 1950s through 1968, he rigged the ropes.  

Termaat once told me that, “I had two tows and two John Deeres going at the same time.” The rope for his homemade lifts ran around the tractor wheel. “We got 50 cents [a day] for the small hill and a dollar for the big hill. Parents said it was the cheapest babysitting they could find.” 

Although not many are still rigged by tractors, a surprising number are still employed around the country. “We estimate that there are approximately 670 tow ropes in the U.S. today,” says Adrienne Saia Isaac, director of marketing and communications for the National Ski Areas Association. “As for historical tow ropes, we don’t have any exact record, but…the number was definitely in the thousands.” 

Multorpor Ski Area’s Rope Tow, circa 1955, in Oregon, with Mount Hood in the background. // Photo courtesy Mt. Hood Cultural Center & Museum

My earliest memory of rope-tow riding was at Mount Hood’s Multipor ski area, now called Mt. Hood Ski Bowl at Government Camp. The old tow wasn’t especially long, but it accessed a beginner slope full of other four and five year olds, outfitted in hand-me-down boots and skis, wool sweaters and long knit hats, which were dangerous—or so I found out. 

One wintery day as my older brothers dashed off to the t-bar, I skied the 100-foot slope with other little kids. I loved my long stocking hat, knit by my mother, green and white and pink with a white puff ball of yarn at the end of the three-foot-long pointy cap. As I neared the top of the rope tow, my hat was pulled off, wrapped around the tow rope, and sent through the greasy mechanism before dropping like a dead raccoon. The next Saturday, a sign at the tow read “No long stocking caps allowed on rope tow. Tuck in all hair.” 

On another snowy day at Multipor, my friends and I rode the rope tow once again. I had black leather mittens, which were neither waterproof nor warm, but we were having fun. Until, once again, the rope tow somehow snagged the metal hook on my left mitten. When I went to let go at the top of the tow track, I couldn’t. I was dangling from the moving rope by the mitten cuff and the metal hook. Luckily, the lift operator saw me, skis five feet in the air. He shut down the tow. My hand slipped from the mitten, and I crumpled in a pile. My dad thought it was time to learn to ride the t-bar, and that’s another story. 

I sometimes visit ski hills with rope tows. Still, no long-knit hats for this skier.

This story originally appeared in the March 2020 print issue entitled “The Rope Tow” in the On the Mountain special section’s artifacts column.

Jean Arthur has worn out numerous pairs of mittens riding rope tows, t-bars, poma lifts, trams, trains—and the latest at Big Sky Resort—the eight-seater Ramcharger chairlift, the first of its kind in North America. She skis and writes from Bozeman.  

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Remembering Off-Piste Magazine https://outthereventure.com/remembering-off-piste-magazine/ Tue, 07 Jan 2020 04:41:38 +0000 https://outthereventure.com/?p=40714 Off-Piste is no longer available in the classic and often collected black and white newsprint version, but during its run was issued four times a year. Yet the essential elements of the magazine remain on the website at Offpistemag.com, which hosts gear reviews, beta on where to ski, soulful narratives about winter backcountry travel, trailers for independent ski films, and avalanche safety resources.

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By Merideth Jeffries 

Off-Piste is a hybrid English-French word that means to deviate from what is conventional or expected. If you’re a skier, it most certainly means seeking out your own untracked lines. The word conjures up intrigue, adventure, and the beauty of skiing away from groomed slopes. Dave Waag, editor of the Hood River, Oregon-based magazine and website by the same name, has been covering the sport for the last 20 years since “Off-Piste Magazine’s” beginnings in 1999. 

The magazine has gone through many changes over the years. Off-Piste is no longer available in the classic and often collected black and white newsprint version, but during its run was issued four times a year. Yet the essential elements of the magazine remain on the website at Offpistemag.com, which hosts gear reviews, beta on where to ski, soulful narratives about winter backcountry travel, trailers for independent ski films, and avalanche safety resources.  

Though the website is a paired down version from the print issues of old, it remains an outlet, Waag says, for the “true user”— a skier who explores the backcountry for the pure love of being out in the winter wilds with little interest in the entanglements of industry-sponsored ski culture and marketing. 

Interest in and popularity of backcountry skiing have increased substantially since 1999. In the magazine’s early days, however, Waag says backcountry skiing wasn’t something many people did, and there weren’t many publications speaking into that world. “Most ski magazines weren’t representing the more adventurous spirit of ski touring,” he says. In Off-Piste, the style of skiing was much more backcountry exploration and free-heel oriented. “It was largely a telemark based crowd, especially here in the Northwest,” he says. 

Old copies of “Off-Piste” magazine. // Photo by Bailey Campbell

When it comes to extremes in the sport, Waag says, “Off-Piste never strove to represent that. I left that to the glossy magazines and the big movies. I’ve always had a little bit of disdain for the representation that you can just clip on your skis and go jump off a cliff or climb the highest thing you can find and ski whatever line you’d like.” It was important to him to make sure that safety and the authentic spirit of backcountry winter travel were well represented—especially since it wasn’t well represented anywhere else.  

Notably, the magazine featured articles on avalanche safety when there were relatively few backcountry resources available. Today, a Google search for “backcountry skier” reveals a glut of images of skiers dangling off steep, exposed slopes in remote landscapes. While pushing boundaries is part of backcountry skiing and splitboarding for many riders, knowledge and experience are required to do it safely. “Off-Piste” continues to publish content that prioritizes backcountry safety and avalanche awareness as critical knowledge skiers need before venturing into the wilds. 

A few highlights of “Off-Piste” include their annual gear review issues, international ski trip reports, personal and often humorous narratives about winter backcountry touring, and a film called “Skiing in the Shadow of Genghis Khan.” The film, a project of Waag and Nils Larsen, a Northeast Washington skier and creator of ski/snowshoe hybrid backcountry gear company Altai Skis, it features a skiing culture from Central Asia that has depended on skis for mobility and hunting for a thousand years. 

One similarity between the print and online magazine is the popularity of gear reviews, and there’s a really good reason for this overlap. Waag explains, “In my estimation, gear innovation has opened the door to skiing untracked snow for all skiing levels. It used to be that to ski powdered snow, you had to have some pretty definitive skills, because we were skiing these fairly narrow skis with questionable bindings….as soon as skis got wider, the ability to float and turn and use your speed all came together for anybody from modest, intermediate and beyond.” 

What brings many skiers to the mountains continues to speak to Dave Waag and the direction of Off-Piste. “Untracked turns in the mountains,” he says, “that is the number one thing.” // 

Originally published as “Off-Piste Magazine” in the December 2019 issue.

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The History of the Wandermere Ski Hill https://outthereventure.com/the-history-of-the-wandermere-ski-hill/ Thu, 24 Oct 2019 18:45:00 +0000 https://outthereventure.com/?p=40090 Today’s Wandermere Golf Course, located in the Little Spokane River Valley north of Spokane, is perhaps best known for, well, golf. The property has an interesting history, however, thanks to the Ross family of Spokane, who dreamed of creating a year-round recreational playground. In the 1930s, they decided the place wouldn’t be complete without a […]

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Today’s Wandermere Golf Course, located in the Little Spokane River Valley north of Spokane, is perhaps best known for, well, golf. The property has an interesting history, however, thanks to the Ross family of Spokane, who dreamed of creating a year-round recreational playground. In the 1930s, they decided the place wouldn’t be complete without a ski jump.

The art of ski jumping had recently caught on in Spokane, and construction on the Wandermere Ski Hill began in 1932. The pine-filled hillside above the golf course was cleared via the modern method of the day—a team of horses. The Ross family spared no energy with planning, bringing renowned engineer and president of the Northwest Ski Association Peter Hostmark in on the project. They cleared the hill, structured a 34-degree angle, and made plans to show it off: The 700-foot ski hill would be introduced to the world of competitive ski jumping on Jan. 15, 1933. It was anticipated to provide a max jump distance of 185 feet. 

Photo courtesy of Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, Charles Libby L87-1.1794-32

The Wandermere Ski Hill, which had relatively low altitude, faced a lack of snow just before the scheduled competition. It was the sort of problem that didn’t intimidate a dreamer; to pack the slope, workers used a car and sled to pull snow from the shaded areas of the Wandermere Golf Course. They put straw on the hillside first to help the snow stick. Large piles of hay were also placed at the end of the hill to act as “brakes” for skiers, who were meant to dive into the hay for a safe stop. To the top skiers of the time, it must have looked like a whole lot of fun.

Skiers traveled in from across the Pacific Northwest and Canada for the big day. Despite being an event with entry fees held during the Great Depression, 22,000 people came to watch. Perhaps they’d heard the “brakes” were hay bales. The crowd caused the largest traffic jam that Spokane had seen to date.

Competitors were judged on both distance and form, but strong winds prevented skiers from making top distances. Still, it had to be entertaining to watch the skiers land, as they clocked speeds up to 100 miles per hour by the bottom of the hill. 

Fans gather to watch ski jumping at Wandermere in 1933 // Photo courtesy of NuArt Studio of Spokane, Lawrence Numbers

A competition was planned for the following year, with the goal of being bigger and better. The Wandermere hill was carved out that summer so it was even steeper, and scaffolding was added to extend the jump runway. Once again, however, there wasn’t enough snow by the competition. Snow was shipped in via train from the Cascade Mountains, which proved a pricey solution. The 1934 competition went on, but the snow was wet and slow. 

In the years that followed, the Wandermere Ski Club was formed, a ski lodge was built, and two smaller ski hills were built for recreational skiing and ski jumping. Another ski jump competition took place at Wandermere in 1938. Wandermere hoped to host the 1939 Olympic trials, but the 1940 Winter Olympics were cancelled due to World War II. The Wandermere ski jump event lost momentum after that, and they hosted only one more competition in the 1950s. Today, the Wandermere Ski Hill has been reclaimed by nature.

For more on the history of Wandermere, read Wandermere: Legacy on the Little Spokane River, written by local Ross-family-descendant Ty Brown. Historical information from this book was used for this article. 

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The Case of the Old Wooden Skis https://outthereventure.com/the-case-of-the-old-wooden-skis/ Sun, 30 Dec 2018 03:54:56 +0000 https://outthereventure.com/?p=35961 It had been a long week, and I was looking forward to sleeping in on Saturday, sipping coffee in my pajamas, and binge-watching some shows on Netflix. Instead, I was summoned to help family load up furniture from an estate sale. My back hurt just thinking about loading up the furniture. But on Saturday morning, […]

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It had been a long week, and I was looking forward to sleeping in on Saturday, sipping coffee in my pajamas, and binge-watching some shows on Netflix. Instead, I was summoned to help family load up furniture from an estate sale.

My back hurt just thinking about loading up the furniture. But on Saturday morning, I grabbed my truck and headed a couple of miles down the road. I located the owner and we loaded everything without any trouble. I noticed that there was a shop out behind the main house and wandered out to see if I could find some useful lawn equipment or anything else that might come in handy. Pickings were pretty slim, since most of the good stuff was likely snatched up the previous day.

As I turned to leave, I noticed what looked like a pair of very tall wooden skis shoved in a dark corner of the shop, covered with dust and partially hidden by other junk. Once freed from their hiding place, I figured they were about 7 feet tall with screwed-on edges. Not being as informed as I should be on the history of skis, I guessed they might be from the 1950s, but I really had no idea. Regardless of their age, I thought they were a cool piece of skiing history and would make a nice addition to some of the other decorations in our house.

One of the guys working the sale approached me and asked if I wanted them.  “Forty bucks,” he said. “I’ll give you $25,” I countered. “Deal.”

 

Photo of the author, Brad Northrup holding his wooden skis.
The author with his find. // Photo: Brad Northrup

 

Once home, and with the furniture unloaded, I took a closer look at my find. The skis measured out to 6 and a half feet long and 3 inches wide. No manufacturer markings were visible, and it appeared they had been remounted at some point in their history. Each section of screwed-in metal edge was 9 inches long. A rubber pad was affixed where the heel of a boot would be. I conducted a detailed photo survey of both skis, noted the measurements, and decided to seek out an expert opinion.

I reached out to Dana Mathios, curator and director of collections at the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Museum, who provided an exceptionally thorough historical overview and assessment of the skis. She explained that the segmented steel edge was invented in 1926 in Austria and gave skis much better grip on hard snow while still allowing the wood to flex naturally. The first ski with a continuous, low-drag, integral steel edge was introduced in 1948 by Chris Hoerle. Hoerle made about 200 pairs, but the ski was never brought to market. This type of edge was quickly adopted by Howard Head and Head skis, and later evolved into the Head Standard ski. Its plywood core was glued under pressure and heated between top and bottom aluminum sheets with plastic sidewalls. The bottom sheet had a continuous full-length steel edge. The Head Standard was the most commercially successful early metal ski.

According to Mathios, steel edges are a great way to estimate an age range for skis. Since the skis I found have a segmented steel edge and a binding pad, Mathios dated them from the 1930s to the late 1940s, leaning more towards the 1930’s due to the binding pad. The use of binding pads started in the 1890’s and continued until the after the Second World War. But without any maker’s marks, it’s hard to say. Mathios did advise that this could mean that the skis were custom made, which typically indicates an older date.

Not a bad find for $25 and a sore back. //

Brad Northrup holds an MA and a BA in History and has an affinity for unique items from the past. He has been a contributing writer for Out There Venture since 2011.

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Long Live the Ski Bus https://outthereventure.com/long-live-the-ski-bus/ Fri, 26 Jan 2018 04:24:26 +0000 https://outthereventure.com/?p=32808 Why would anyone climb into a cramped bus, awkwardly carrying objects with sharpened edges, unwieldy poles, helmets, and goggles while walking in big, clunky boots? On the ski bus, more often than not, you end up sitting next to the park rat, who may not have washed his jersey in the last few weeks—only to […]

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Why would anyone climb into a cramped bus, awkwardly carrying objects with sharpened edges, unwieldy poles, helmets, and goggles while walking in big, clunky boots?

On the ski bus, more often than not, you end up sitting next to the park rat, who may not have washed his jersey in the last few weeks—only to realize that you haven’t washed your own long johns in about the same amount of time. Or, you end up standing for the whole ride next to a toddler who can’t stop swinging her heavy, shin-bashing boots. And this is just the tip of the ice burg in the ways of the ski bus.

But there are good things about it, too. Riding the ski bus eases your driving needs. You use less gas by leaving your car lower on the mountain or at home. You can leave the driving of sketchy mountain roads to the professional shuttle bus driver. And you get to ditch dealing with parking too close to the next car to open the door, or traipsing through the long, icy parking lot with arm loads of unwieldy gear.

The shuttle bus is a great way to get a feel for a new mountain. Buses frequently have maps posted, and it gives you time to look one over. If you can sit yourself next to an old, salty tele skier who has been riding this mountain for 40 years, she can point out all the good trails and secret safety meeting places in the trees.

The ski bus also gives you time to set a plan with your riding buddies, which many times gets neglected in the hustle of parking and charging to the lift. It is always good to determine whether you will lap certain chairs or hit the terrain park, and where to meet if someone gets separated. And, of course, you have to choose when to meet for happy hour.

If you are riding solo, the ski bus is an excellent way to meet your new riding buddy. Walking onto the bus, you can scan for that empty seat and plop yourself next to another loner. It is always good to find a buddy to keep an eye out for when you are skiing the trees, and maybe they will buy the first round.

When you think about it, the comradery on the ski bus is like no other. On the ride up, there is the shared sense of anticipation from everyone—from those who are new to the activity of sliding down the mountain to those who are headed straight to the back bowl. And on the way down the mountain, when the bus is full of people burning off all that adrenalin and a beer or two, someone may start a round of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.”

Several of our local mountains offer some kind of shuttle bus. Check their websites for updated schedules. Have your gear well packed, remembering that ski and boot straps make loading the bus easier. Be aware when you are turning around in those tight aisles that your helmet or boots don’t collide with someone’s face. Finally, make sure you check the schedule so you are not left trying to hitch back to town after that last bus has already left.

How to Catch the Ski Bus

Lookout Pass

A free bus runs from Kellogg, departing at 8 a.m. PST and returning at 3:30 p.m. PST from Jan 7 to March 11. Catch the bus at these locations in the Silver Valley: Pinehurst Elementary, 8 a.m.; Lookout Ski Shop in Kellogg, 8:15 a.m.; Stein’s Family Foods in Osburn, 8:25 a.m.; Silverton Post Office, 8:30 a.m.; and at Harvest Foods in Wallace at 8:45 a.m.

Schweitzer

Park & Ride Mt Express Shuttle, free for season pass holders, $3 uphill ride for non-pass holders. The bus runs from the Red Barn Park & Ride area. Catch the bus Saturday, Sunday & on Holidays every 30 minutes. The first bus up is at 6:30 a.m., with the last ride down departing at 5:30 p.m. Monday – Friday, catch a ride every 30 minutes from 6:30 a.m. to noon then hourly until 5 p.m.

Mt. Spokane

Free shuttle between lodge 1 and 2.

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Powder Magazine Lists Spokane as an Emerging Ski Town https://outthereventure.com/powder-magazine-lists-spokane-as-an-emerging-ski-town/ Sat, 20 Jan 2018 00:56:59 +0000 https://outthereventure.com/?p=32709 The December 2017 issue of “Powder Magazine” recently reported that five ski resorts are “all within 70 miles [of Spokane] and the average season pass price to ski them is $421, and just $58 for an adult full-day lift ticket.” In a nutshell, the Inland Northwest is among the most affordable places to ski in […]

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The December 2017 issue of “Powder Magazine” recently reported that five ski resorts are “all within 70 miles [of Spokane] and the average season pass price to ski them is $421, and just $58 for an adult full-day lift ticket.” In a nutshell, the Inland Northwest is among the most affordable places to ski in America.

According to the magazine, the other emerging ski towns include Reno, Nevada; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Waterbury, Vermont. Overall, the article cited median home prices, and miles from a chairlift. The magazine also evaluated the median income, and the population density of Spokane. In addition to the Washington and Idaho resorts, “Powder Magazine” also highlighted Spokane’s proximity to Nelson, B.C. and Whitewater; RED Mountain; and hut trips north of the border. “Powder” writer John Stifter also points out, “What Spokane lacks in a bucolic mountain town vibe and 500 inches of annual snowfall, it makes up for in bigger city options. Spokane has 20-plus wineries, 45-plus breweries and distilleries, and a quickly growing culinary scene.”

Most Spokane skiers and riders are happy to be included on this list but are undecided if they want the rest of the ski and snowboard world to know how good we have it. //

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Historical Roots of Local Ski Resorts https://outthereventure.com/historical-roots-of-local-resorts/ Thu, 21 Dec 2017 04:24:46 +0000 https://outthereventure.com/?p=32575 49° North Mountain Resort Chewelah Peak Ski Club, founded in 1935, was the first to install a cable tow on the mountain, with permission from the U.S. Forest Service. The two-story lodge was completed in 1950, followed by a double chairlift a year later. By 1968, however, the ski area had closed down, only to […]

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49° North Mountain Resort

Chewelah Peak Ski Club, founded in 1935, was the first to install a cable tow on the mountain, with permission from the U.S. Forest Service. The two-story lodge was completed in 1950, followed by a double chairlift a year later. By 1968, however, the ski area had closed down, only to re-open two years later as 49 Degrees North, after the Chewelah Basin Ski Corporation took over and made improvements. The ski and snowboard destination as it is known today is due in large part to local entrepreneur John Eminger who, along with his wife, purchased the business in 1996. Within 10 years, Eminger, working with Colville National Forest land managers, expanded the terrain, added chairlifts, created Sunrise Basin, and installed 20 new runs. The Angel Peak development followed in 2009, and its chairlifts were completed in time for the 2013-14 season. Today, on-mountain lodging and living development and year-round recreation opportunities are in the works. Ski49n.com 

49 Degrees North
49 Degrees North

Lookout Pass Ski & Recreation Area

Scandinavian immigrants were the first skiers here and, back then, what is now I-90 was called the Old Yellowstone Highway. The Idaho Ski Club constructed a rope tow for the 1935-1936 winter season. The following winter, the free ski school was created, and in February 1938, Lookout Pass Ski Area officially opened as one of America’s original ski areas. By winter 1941, the CCC had built the rustic lodge, and it’s now the Pacific Northwest’s second-oldest ski lodge that’s still operating. Lookout Ski Patrol was the 9th charter member of the newly-formed National Ski Patrol in 1938, making it the Inland Northwest’s longest-serving patrol. The first chairlift was installed in 1980, and the ski club oversaw operations until the 1990s. Now owned by Lookout Associates LLC, who added chairlifts and expanded the lodge over the years, Lookout Pass is renowned for its 400 inches of annual average snowfall.  Skilookout.com

Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park

Originally called Mount Carlton, Mount Spokane became a State Park in July 1927, encompassing 1,500 acres at the time. In 1931, the Spokane Ski Club was founded and with help from the Selkirk Ski Club and Spokane Mountaineers, the groups purchased 500 acres and created rope tows, a small jump hill, and a lit hill for night skiing. Also during the 1930s, roads and trails were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, Cook’s Cabin was completed, and the Vista House was built by a private contractor. The Mount Spokane Ski Patrol was founded in 1938, and today it claims to be one of the nation’s largest all-volunteer patrols. In 1946, the Mt. Spokane Ski Lift Association installed the “World’s First Double Chair Lift” on the south face. After a fire destroyed the original Grand Lodge in 1952, Lodge 1 and Chair 1 opened a few years later, followed by Lodge 2 and Chair 2 in 1961. The alpine ski area was overseen by the Mt. Spokane Ski Corporation until 1997 when the non-profit organization Mount Spokane 2000 took over concessionaire operations. Find more historical resources at Mountspokane.org and more info about the ski area at Mtspokane.com.

Jackass Ski Bowl
Jackass Ski Bowl

Silver Mountain Resort

Long-time locals may remember Jackass Mountain—the location of Noah Kellogg’s old Bunker Hill Mine—which operated as the Jackass Ski Bowl from 1968 to 1973. The moniker reputedly came about because of the horrible condition of the summit road. The City of Kellogg took over management in 1984 and renamed it Silverhorn Ski Area. In 1990, once the gondola was ready, it was renamed Silver Mountain. Six years later, Eagle Crest Partners purchased it and transformed the area into a resort, creating the Gondola Village, Morning Star Lodge, a 9-hole golf course, and Silver Rapids Indoor Waterpark. Last fall, long-time Silver Mountain visitor Tryg Fortun, from Seattle, purchased the resort. silvermt.com //

Amy McCaffree plays in the snow with her husband, two children, and husky. She is Out There’s special section editor and wrote for the Family Winter Sports Guide in the October issue. Follow her adventures on Facebook @AmyOutdoorsSpokane or Instagram @adventure_amy_spokane. 

Photo from the Silverhorn days 1973-1989.
From the Silverhorn days 1973-1989.

Flashback 1968: Jackass

“The town which was discovered by a Jackass— and which is inhabited by its descendants.” This phrase is the unofficial slogan of Kellogg, Idaho, according to the book Silver Valley by Arcadia Publishing. It references a day in 1885 when a miner named Noah Kellogg lost track of his mule, only to find she had stumbled across ore and what would be the future Bunker Hill and Sullivan mines. In 1968, a ski-resort opened and was named in honor of Kellogg’s original founder: Jackass Ski Bowl. Although Jackass Ski Bowl only lasted about five years before changing ownership and its name, some of the locals continue to call the resort by its original moniker. Jackass has become almost a term of endearment to those who cherish the Inland Northwest’s best-kept wintertime secret and its colorful history.

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Loulou’s Ski Museum https://outthereventure.com/loulous-ski-museum/ Fri, 05 Feb 2016 17:00:23 +0000 https://outthereventure.com/?p=18662 In the past, Loulou’s Ski Shop was the local place to go for all your alpine ski equipment. Founded in 1973 by Loulou Kneubuhler, this little shop provided great service and ski equipment for Spokane and the surrounding area. Loulou’s Ski Shop had the expertise and knowledge to equip and fit every level of skier. […]

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In the past, Loulou’s Ski Shop was the local place to go for all your alpine ski equipment. Founded in 1973 by Loulou Kneubuhler, this little shop provided great service and ski equipment for Spokane and the surrounding area. Loulou’s Ski Shop had the expertise and knowledge to equip and fit every level of skier.

Loulou Kneubuhler was born in St. Jean De Maurienne in the French Alps in 1943. Where he grew up, there were 80 ski resorts within 100 miles and many more outside that 100-mile radius.

A quarter century later and one hemisphere over, Loulou started the Mighty Mite program and coached at White Pass Ski Area. He also coached for the Spokane Ski Racing Association. As good weather fortune would have it, Loulou happened to come to Spokane during the 1968-69 winter, which was the best snow season on record. “I thought I’d died and gone to the heaven with the big snow flakes,” Loulou says.

Loulou opened Loulou’s Sports Shop in 1973, and in 1978 he installed “Magic Mountain,” a moving carpet that allowed indoor instruction. Skiing greats like Phil and Steve Mahre, Tamara McKinney, and Craig Kelly honed skills on Magic Mountain. Allison Cowles (of the family that owns The Spokesman Review) spent time on Magic Mountain, and it was there that Mt. Spokane 2000 was conceived to revive a fledgling ski hill. Loulou became a board member for the Mt. Spokane 2000 project. In 1996, Loulou sold the business to Mike King, who operated the ski shop for several years.

Loulou Kneubuhler showing off one of his collectable skis with an experimental release binding. Photo: Chic Burge
Loulou Kneubuhler showing off one of his collectable skis with an experimental release binding. Photo: Chic Burge

Now the building houses a tennis pro shop and Loulou’s Ski Museum. I was blown away with the selection of equipment from long ago. He starts his tour with the “Evolution of Skis” from the old days. I mean really old days. The oldest ski was found in Glacier (before it was a national park). Loulou believes that one of his ski artifacts was used by a trapper. Other skis in a place of honor are a 1960 first steel edge ski that won a race at Squaw Valley, a red Head ski designed by racing great Jean Claude Killy, and a white Kniesl ski designed by Karl Schranz from the early 60s.

In the 1970s, Loulou teamed up with the Crescent Department Store and hosted ski clothing style shows at the Ridpath Hotel. But the museum houses far more than skis. The ski boots, both leather and plastic, cover a wide variety of types and styles, and the ski bindings will amaze you that they were ever used. This collection shows the evolution from crude straps to early state of the art. It surprises me that us old timers on skis survived. The vintage clothing takes you back not only to the old days, but also through the evolution of winter wear. A lady gave Loulou a fancy wool ski jacket and pants set that would now be the star attraction at a retro day on the mountain.

Loulou’s Ski Museum is a non-profit operation. Donations from people all over the region, nation and beyond contribute to the museum collection. If you own an ancient piece of alpine (downhill) ski gear, Loulou would gladly accept it for his collection.

Loulou’s Ski Museum is located at 428 E. Pacific Avenue in Spokane. Admission is free, but visits are by appointment only, so call ahead: 509-599-0625 or email loulou@skionline.com for other inquiries.

Written by Chic Burge.

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Looking Back at the Spokane Mountaineers (1968-1976) https://outthereventure.com/looking-back-at-the-spokane-mountaineers-1968-1976/ Sat, 25 Jul 2015 17:00:48 +0000 https://outthereventure.com/?p=11454 In 1968 the Spokane Mountaineers hosted then-Congressman Tom Foley at the club chalet on Mount Spokane to discuss conservation issues and other hot topics. Another piece of big news during this period included the opening of the North Cascade Highway to the public. On the skiing front, club members skied at Jackass Ski Bowl (aka […]

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In 1968 the Spokane Mountaineers hosted then-Congressman Tom Foley at the club chalet on Mount Spokane to discuss conservation issues and other hot topics. Another piece of big news during this period included the opening of the North Cascade Highway to the public. On the skiing front, club members skied at Jackass Ski Bowl (aka Silver Mountain) for the first time and at Montana’s Big Mountain, where members rode the train for a long weekend of skiing, a trip that became popular and was repeated many times in the years to follow. A sign of more mountaineering accomplishments to come, climber John Roskelley announced an attempt of Dhaulagiri for the 1973 climbing season. Also during this period the public and the Spokane Mountaineers saw a need for the Salmo-Priest Wilderness in extreme northeast Washington and worked tirelessly to that end, while the U.S. Forest Service opposed the idea completely.

The club’s 1970 summer outing was held at Glacier National Park in Montana. One new member this year is David Coombs, who will go on to climb Mount Everest. Other climbs this year were varied and far afield. Local climbers John Roskelley and Bob Christianson did a first ascent of the North Face of Lions Head Peak in the American Selkirks. Roskelley and fellow climber Chris Kopczynski headed to the Bugaboos in British Columbia before Roskelley and club member Jim Sates, who taught the medical section of the Spokane Mountaineers Mountain School for many seasons, set out to climb Nanda Devi. In 1970 the club had 284 members.

Photo courtesy of the Spokane Mountaineers.
Photo courtesy of the Spokane Mountaineers.

In 1971 new member Doug Rider was named the National Ski Patrol’s “Most Outstanding Ski Patroller” for the 1970-71 season. In 1972, new members included Joyce and John Roskelley, Betty First and Tom Kimbrell. Mount Rainier had 84.3 feet of snow at the Paradise Lodge that year. Club membership jumped to 412 by 1971.

In 1973, John Roskelley attempted a climb of the southwest ridge of Dhaulagiri in the Himalayas. Major climbs by club members in 1974 included Mount Sir Donald by Jim Spearman and Gary Cassel and a summit campout on Mount Rainier by Jim Hickey and Randy Jamison. In the now proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, member Jim Collier led a climb of Billiard Table Mountain.

In 1975 new members included Ida Rowe Dolphin, who went on to co-write “100 Hikes in the Inland Northwest” with Rich Landers. New members in 1976 included the famous Sherpa Tenzing Norgay who summited Mount Everest with Sir Edmond Hillary. The U.S. Forest Service “Leave No Trace” program was announced this year, and the Alpine Lakes Management Area Act passed. Significant outings this year included a 100-mile bike ride from Priest Lake to Spokane.

This is #5 in a series of Spokane Mountaineers historical highlights. Learn more about the club and its events and outings as members celebrate 100 years at www.spokanemountaineers.org.

Written by Chic Burge.

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