From: mwallace@nyx.cs.du.edu (Mark Wallace)
Subject: Lost Colorado Ski Areas - Edition 6
Organization: Nyx, Public Access Unix @ U. of Denver Math/CS dept.
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 92 18:19:20 GMT



Subject:  LOST COLORADO SKI AREAS  -  EDITION 6


Greetings from THE COLORADO SKIER


The subject is closed Colorado ski areas.  Researching lost Colorado
ski areas is the hobby of THE COLORADO SKIER.  We are prepared to
clarify the history and status of every dead or lost ski area in
Colorado.  There are at least 75 of them.  But that's too many for one
posting.  So we pick 5 lost ski areas for each edition and provide
location, statistics, and a little history on each area.

ATTENTION Flatlanders:  If you could care less about old Colorado ski
areas, check out our separately posted companion articles entitled:    
  "THE COLORADO SKIER - TRIVIA n"  (with ski area trivia questions)


LOST COLORADO SKI AREAS  -  EDITION #6


EDITOR'S REMARKS:  

 A. Travel.  This is our first "Lost" post since 17 Sep.  Sorry for
    the delay.  We have been travelling a lot.  See Section 4 for the
    travel details, some of which relate to skiing.  

 B. "Another Expert".  TOM, from Brookline, Ma, sent us an E-Mail
    after "Lost - #5" which PERFECTLY DESCRIBED 3 of the 5 ski areas
    listed under "Who Remembers These Areas?".  We were surprised.  We
    were amazed.  We were astounded.  We were bamboozled!  At the end
    of his E-Mail, Tom admitted that he had "sort of cheated".  Seems
    that he had acquired a copy of one of our most valuable reference
    books (the title shall remain our little secret) on old Colorado
    ski areas.  So, he just copied out the descriptions.  Very clever,
    Tom!  He was probably just trying to pay us back for our attack on
    Massachusetts skiers from the "Key-Kill" series.

    We caught him on the other two areas because of a trick we use. 
    Whenever we ask you to remember an old ski area which has two
    names, we use the more obscure name, e.g., Calico Hill vs Durango. 
    The ones Tom missed are "Mt. Bross" which is also known as "Hot
    Sulphur Springs" and "Winter Wonderland" which was a sometime name
    for "Lake City".  Now you can look them up, Tom! 



1.  FIVE MORE LOST COLORADO SKI AREAS 

 {Copyright 1992, The Colorado Skier.  May not be reproduced in whole
 or in part without expressed "written" consent.}


 MT. BROSS   (Hot Sulphur Springs), [closed], A veteran Colorado 
   ski area.  Mentioned in 1940 literature (as Mt. Bross) and appears
   on sixties maps - as Hot Sulphur Springs.  In 1940, it had 600 ft
   of vertical and a rope tow.  Refurbished in 1947.  The town had a
   major winter ski carnival before even Steamboat Springs.  The first
   ski jumping contest in the West (organized by Carl Howelsen, later
   of Steamboat) was held in 1912.  Data is from a 1950 reference.

   Vertical drop:  600 ft       Top:            Base:  8000
   Lifts:  1 rope tow


 SILVER HILLS   (Silver Cliff), [obscure], There are old surface tows
   visible in a farmer's yard about 7 miles east of Silver Cliff on
   Hiway 96.  Operated during the seventies.  Even had a ski school. 
   Frequently misspelled SILLER on many Colorado highway maps.  

   Vertical drop:               Top:            Base:  9100  (est.)
   Lifts:  1 poma, 2 rope tows


 STEAMBOAT LAKE   (Hahns Peak, north of Steamboat Springs), [obscure],
   a RARE category, actually built but never operated; built as part
   of the Steamboat Lake recreational housing development, in the
   mid-seventies.  Visible to the right on the Pearl Lake road
   opposite a large building which looks like a potential golf course
   clubhouse.  Data taken from the sales brochure. 

   Vertical drop:  500 ft       Top:  8600      Base:  8100 
   Lifts:  2 double chairs 


 TENDERFOOT   (Cripple Creek), [closed], Located about 2 miles north 
   of Cripple Creek on your left after you make the hard right and
   hard left turns headed south on Hiway 67.  Appears to have a single
   slope plus rope tow path.  Towers and machinery buildings are still
   visible.  Shown on 1970, 1976, and 1985 Pikes Peak NFS maps.  Is
   mentioned in one reference as being open in the late 50's and is
   listed in a 1952 Guide as TENDERFOOT HILL ("rope tow").  

   Vertical drop:               Top:            Base:  10,100 (est)
   Lifts:  1 rope tow


 WINTER WONDERLAND   (Lake City), [closed],  Located 2 miles south 
   of Lake City on the west side of Hiway 149.  Appears on late
   sixties and early seventies maps.  Also appears as LAKE CITY on
   some later maps.  Data source - 1969 AAA Guide.  1992 update: 
   According to a local gift shop proprietor, the area has been
   operated for the last two years by a local independent group for
   the benefit of local youth.  It now has a T-bar.  A visit to the
   site confirmed recent activities and we have pix.  

   Vertical drop:  440 ft       Top:  9140      Base:  8700
   Lifts:  1 rope tow 



2.  WHO REMEMBERS THESE LOST COLORADO SKI AREAS?

       APEX

       FOREST LAKES

       HOLIDAY HILL

       IRONTON PARK

       SAGEBRUSH HILL

         [You will find only 3 of these 5 in the magic book, Tom.  We
         have other references and sources.]

    And the list goes on and on and on ...



3.  FOLLOW - UP

 a. REDSTONE - In the last issue we stated that our "field agent" had
    been up to Redstone lately, could find no lift remnants, and could
    only barely spot an overgrown ski run.  Well, now we must admit
    that this was a novice field agent on her first assignment.  We
    have not yet calibrated her ability to spot an old ski area.
    (Actually she is our haircutter - does this help you decide
    whether The Colorado Skier is male or female?)  

    We do, however, have a separate report from a faithful reader
    which we will misquote as follows:  Several years ago he was
    slogging thru the snow in the national forest near Redstone and
    came upon:  "an archaic looking lift on private property which
    fits your description".  The lift was still standing.  It looked
    like a private back yard lift.  Thanks to WAYNE who reaches us via
    CSU.  Spose we will have to journey up there ourselves and check
    it out - with pix.  That is part of our long range plan anyway -
    to photograph all of the lost areas.


 b. HIDDEN VALLEY - When HIDDEN VALLEY (near Estes Park) closed, their
    lift complement consisted of a lower area with 3 surface lifts,
    and an upper area, accessible by shuttle bus only, with one T-bar. 
    However, in the 1971 to 1976 Colorado Ski Country guides, a
    chairlift was shown which connected the lower and upper areas. 
    Now why would they build a chairlift and then remove it six years
    later, particularly when it was the only connection between two
    sections of the ski area?  Anyone know the answer? 


 c. THE CANNIBAL QUEEN

    Reader JER, a private pilot from Fort Collins, volunteered to fly
    over some lost ski areas, check 'em out, and report what he found. 
    We asked if he had read "The Cannibal Queen".  He had not, and for
    him and others:  The Cannibal Queen was written by Stephen Coonts,
    former naval aviator and current author of several action-
    adventure novels such as "Flight of the Intruder" (also a movie).

    "Cannibal Queen" is the name of his 1941 Stearman [open cockpit
    biplane, two-seater, radial engine].  In 1991 he flew the "Queen"
    around the country, landing in all 48 states.  The book recounts
    his adventures with weather (with no instruments) and small
    landing fields, and with the people he met along the way.  It is
    similar to "Travels With Charley" written by John Steinbeck.  It
    is a very good book; we highly recommend it.

    Note:  Coonts lives in Boulder.  Tom Clancy lives in Denver. 
    Clive Cussler lives in Evergreen.  Greater Denver is the
    action/adventure novel capitol of the U.S.  Do they ski?



4.  TRAVEL

   We spent the last week of September aspen peeping and searching out
   8 lost ski areas in southwest Colo.  We struck gold on 5 of them
   and struck out on 3.  We won't bore you with the details here, but
   will include them in the regular descriptions (including LAKE CITY
   in this issue).

   In early Oct we spent a week at a business convention (can you say
   boondoggle?) in Baltimore right on the very delightful Inner
   Harbor.  A big thrill for us was running into Gary Jobson and
   chatting with him for 10 minutes.  Now most of you have never heard
   of Gary Jobson, but a "hearty handclasp" goes to the one rare
   person out there who can identify him.  Hint: he is not famous for
   skiing but he does work for ESPN.  A very nice guy, BTW.

   Then, in late Oct we were off to San Diego to catch Air Force
   Academy and Denver Bronco football games.  On the return trip we
   stopped by the BRIAN HEAD ski area near Cedar City, UT.  The GOOD
   news is that it was snowing heavily as we drove thru.  The BAD news
   is that it was snowing heavily as we drove thru and we were there
   for sightseeing, not skiing!  Bad choice of routes for 29 Oct. 

   Upon our return we also spent a few days packing and loading up our
   offspring (PC Jr) who is moving to San Antonio.  Actually this is a
   very bright and attractive 22 year old young lady who needs a job
   and a social life.  So if you live in San Antonio and have a
   retail, office, or even waitressing job or you are a rich young
   bachelor, let us know.   [Is this known as "networking"?]   

   There's more.  Back in September we told you about The Colorado
   Skier being on vacation and how we were concerned about missing
   posts and E-Mails.  Actually that time it was Mark who was gone. 
   Someone asked if he went anywhere interesting.  He did.  He and his
   charming wife, field agent Natasha, went to Alaska!  They went to
   Anchorage, Fairbanks,and Seward, took a ferry to Valdez, saw
   several glaciers, and even camped out in Denali Nat'l Park within
   view (sometimes) of Mt. McKinley.  The most important part of the
   trip, of course, was visiting two ski areas.  ALYESKA is huge with
   several lifts, including a quad, with another one being built and a
   well developed base condo area.  ALPENGLOW is smaller but is
   convenient to Anchorage and has a nice view of the city. 



5.  SKI AREA NEWS

 a. As we write this there are six ski areas open in Colorado (ASPEN -
    weekends only, BRECK, KEYSTONE, LOVELAND, VAIL, and WOLF CREEK. 
    Base depths range from 25 to 30 inches and it is still snowing. 
    BUTTERMILK, COPPER, and MONARCH will open Friday (13 Nov).

 b. Mark and Natasha skied VAIL on Sunday (8 Nov) and found it very
    good to excellent.  Despite their advertising 2 lifts and 250
    acres, they actually had 3 lifts and 400 acres.  Solid base and 6
    inches of new.  No lines (LOVELAND had 10-15 min lines) and the
    parking garage was free. 

 c. Elsewhere, OKEMO, SUGARBUSH and MT. SNOW opened in Vermont, and
    BOREAL, MAMMOTH, BRIGHTON, SOLITUDE, POWDER MTN., and PARK CITY
    are open in the west.  MT. BACHELOR is barely open with minimal
    base and rain.



 Cheers from THE COLORADO SKIER


    "It is dangerous for a national candidate to say things that
    people might remember."    Eugene McCarthy.


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