Imperial Valley press., 1937-02-21

fore the Christian era. skis were the main means
of transportation for the Firms and Laps, and
there is the story of an early Swedish king who
used them to fee his country when in danger.
England has been "sheeing" as IL is called there,
for more than 300 years, and a result of the
more recent popularity of the sport has one of
the largest ski clubs in the world Every winter.
during the season, Londoners make the dreaded
channel crossing and the trek through France
into the Alps for just a few rejuvenating runs
down the mountains-if the weather happens to
be good
Wherever snow conditions have made ordinary
transportation impossible, skis have been put
into use. Hunters trappers. mail-carriers. ex-
plorers and armies have found them indispen-
sable. In Russia there is record of a march
made by troops from Finland in full marching
order and in only 20 days. AS early as 1710.
Norway and Sweden equipped her armed forces
with them, and in 1902 France and Italy put
their first soldiers aboard the slippery runners.
They a definite part of the equipment of
the Amundsen and Byrd expeditions, and
Gently, when the National Geographic Society
sent group to explore and map the rugged
mountains of the Yukon, II was accomplished
on skis. In all the Scandinavian countries. parts
of Canada and the United States, and even
across the high Andes between Chile and Ar
gentine, mails skim over the SHOWS by means
of swift runners. usually Norwegian.
nUT it seems that man does not know when
q he is having fun for IL was not until the
winter of 1860, in Telemark. Norway. that ski
ing was first taken up a sport. And not until
so recent as 1888 was the first pair taken into
Switzerland Those were gift TO monk In
high Alpine monastery. Being a wise monk, he
learned to use them we'll as did others in that
monastery, and from that modest beginning has
Switzerland grown to be one of the most famous
skiing centers of the world.
Far up in the Austrian Tyrol at sankt Anton.
Herr Hannes Schneider said to be the most
famous skiing instructor living. conducts his
school, to which lovers Of the sport from every
country 60 and which has the commendable
reputation Of having had no one injured In It's
classes. Sankt Anton Is one of the important
centers for the ski cruises which have been 20
happily successful the past few years. Which
give groups in quest OF wholesome life and thrill
ing pastime the privilege Of touring through
superbly picturesque country. of attending ski
ing schools with expert instructors. Of living In
quaint villages where even the servants at the
inns on their Sunday afternoons of will be out
on the slopes flying down like winged Mercuries-
Not until 1910 did skiing take any hold In
the United States, and not until long after that
did it attain any general following, although here
and there, largely through the East, little knots
of true sportsmen paid 1t homage. But II crept
as good as there is In the world. according 10
authorities. It was in the early 1920s before
pair of skis had made their slender and very
hestant tracks on the slopes of Mt Rainier. In
Western Washington, but an hour from both
Tacoma and Seattle. Others followed. slowly.
but exuberantly, and the idea caught on and
spread fleet footed until now. In the height Of the
season. the favored spots In the Northwest TEEN
with literally thousands Of participants. ranging
from those who skim like beautifully poised
birds down the terrains Of several miles To the
newly addicted ones who founder on their backs
In hopeless but good-natured scramble. Al
some of the mountains the winter season has
grown to exceed the summer. Hostelries throw
upon their doors; restaurants and garages stay
open all night. Logs roar In the great freplaces
of picturesque lodges and cabins, and at night,
bright windows glow among the silent snow
laden trees.
A ND time was way back before 1880. when
~ those adventurous souls who took to the
high places must send back East or to Europe
for equipment. Costumes came from uncertain
sources. for the hills were dotted with az strange