Evening star., 1937-12-12

Skier Mecca
Rises Near
Capital
Sport Developed
In. Maryland
Mountains.

~ ECAUSE ski jumping pictures
* make the most exciting illus
trations for winter sports
- pages and rotogravure sections,
. large section of the public, in
cluding Washingtonians, has come
to believe that to be skier it is
necessary to be Jumper Photo
graphs may not lie, but it is estimated
that 80 per cent or more of Amer
ica's skiers never come down a steep
grade and never do any jumping.
Skiing is essentially non-competitive
sport and there are as many SIX.
novices as there are golf dubs.
Americans by the thousands will
be on skis this winter if advance in
terest in the plans of the railroads
IN all sections serving winter sports
regions are criterion.
For most Washingtonians the word
skiing calls up picture of graceful
bird-men gliding down white noun
tain sides and flying from peak to
peak with breath-taking speed and
daring at st. Moritz or Interlaken or
expensive resorts in the Bavarian Alps.
But Washington has become ski-con-
scious to the point of having its own
miniature st. Moritz in the Maryland
mountains a few hours by train from
the city.
Several years ago few Washing
ton snow sports lovers banded together
to form the Washington Ski Club. To-
day its members number 200, by no
means all experts, who find skiing not
only one of the most enjoyable of
winter sports, but also one of the
most inexpensive and beneficial. After
looking over the nearby mountain
country they selected Glencoe, Md.
near Cumberland, as a suitable site
for ski slides and trails. The farms
have been cleared and the fences
opened so that the slides and trails
are similar to those in the Northern
New England States. There are slopes
Tor beginners. longer and sleeper
slides for more advanced pupils and
very steep 80 or 40 degree hills for
accomplished skiers. Trails, some as
long as miles, have been cleared.
OCAL ski enthusiasts claim ski
ing is the safest. easiest and most
healthful winter out-of- of-doors activity
that offers any sport-and it's for
youngsters under and oldsters
over 60.
sense Of balance is all that is
necessary to make a skier. After two
lessons the tyro can proceed up hill
and down and along lever trails-go
IN the direction he wants to 60. Wash
lngton has sort of proving ground
OF its own for skiing, in the heart of
ROCK Greek Park. With the first
snowfall instructors are on hand to
give lessons to prepare beginners for
the real ski-thrill in the mountains
Before the SHOWS there is a course of
preseason instruction, or dry-course
work, in the Palisades Field House, at
the corner of Sherrier street and Dana
place NV. Equipped with rubber
soled shoes and old newspapers, which
serve as skis, the novices take ele-
mentary instruction in starting. turn
ing and stopping, while the expert
enced skiers have a chance to timber
up those almost-forgotten ski muscles
When snow conditions seem right
at Glencoe; a phone call to mountain
friends informs the club Of the weather
conditions. Club members are notified,
and those who wish to take advantage
OF the snow and special railroad rates
make arrangements through the club
Tor the snow train and overnight lodg-
Ing in one of the farmhouses near the
ski grounds. The train usually leaves
at noon Saturday and the cars remain
At the mountain station to return the
skiers to Washington Sunday night.
The trip takes five hours.
Overnight lodging with two meals
costs about what the business man
spends for dinner in a good down.
town restaurant.
The train is met at the station by
the native farmers in their horse
drawn sleighs, and the skiers are taken
higher up the mountain to the little
tarmhouses which dot the slopes at
an altitude of $500 feet. After a
tasty, substantial meal of PENNSYLVANIA
Dutch cooking and a chat around the
fireside all hands turn in with the
thought Of 5 o'clock rising, breakfast
by lamplight and glorious ski down
the mountainside into the breaking
dawn. Each skier fills his pack with a
warm luncheon for downhill slide,
and a three-hour climb to the top of
the next mountain will bring him to
lunch time and ravenous appetite.
Meanwhile, the newcomer novice tries
his winged feet on level stretches and
practice slopes under friendly tetulage.
For those who venture afar, the return
trip consumes the remainder of the
afternoon, and at dusk the snow train
starts its return trip with its happily
exhausted passengers.
IN SKIING, the equipment is of ma
= jor Importance and minor expense
One usually thinks of ski equipment
as including heavy, expensive woolens,
suits, caps and scarfs. Yet many club
members say no wool should be worn
on the outside in skiing, claiming snow
clings to wool and packs, causing dan
ger and discontinue They recon-
mend warm underclothing and an out
side suit of parka made of a light,
waterproof material, perfected for the
use of Admiral Byrd and his crew on
their Antarctic expedition. It is light
enough In weight to be folded and put
IN the pocket, and it has Upper front.
Ski shoes are made by all large sports
clothes manufacturers and are usually
OF two price grades. In this locality,
where the opportunities for skiing are
limited, the cheaper grade is quite sat-
isfactory. The skis themselves for