Imperial Valley press., 1937-02-21

back up A ski-escalator that will tote you up
and deposit you at the summit, all fresh as a
daisy for the swoop down again. And riding up
thus of itself is no mean sport.
The best jumping courses in Washington, and
as good as those anywhere, are at Snoquame
Pass, the mountain summit that divides the
eastern and western sections of the state, and
only 65 miles from Seattle Jumping is the most
spectacular and hazardous of all skiing, and
indeed, few sports require as much courage
THE longest jumps are from 180 up to 220
feet although some few have exceeded $50
For sheer beauty in sport, nothing excels the
sight of he takes off from the lip of
hill, and with perfect mastery of the body,
through the air with easy grace and makes
poised landing in a shower of scuddng snow
If one has more than one day to spend at the
Pass he will go on into Gle Elum and Leaven-
WORTH and over to Wenatchee, the big apple
country No more enthusiastic sportsmen ever
packed the woods than those through all that
country There is powder" there, and although
the skiing is not unusual there is a network of
pleasant trips, up to 70 miles in length, with
cabins at equal intervals Any weekend in season
one may find congenial company arranging a
tour. And for goodness sake, Wenatchee has gone
completely modern! 1t has fitted skis onto air.
planes which take parties up into the hills, from
where they skim all the way down to their
cars atthe airport This is a fact, not fancy.
In Western Oregon, it is beautiful and friendly
Mt. Hood, an hours ride from Portland, that is
the center of snow gaiety. An elegant new lodge
is a-building there to help for the COM
forts. For the long, continuous slopes where race
courses of several miles may be viewed from
start to finish, the mild ideal weather, and Ore
CONS sunshine which is good for tan right in
the middle of winter, make it a beloved spot. The
skier there has open meadows and woods,
CIV h1
at nearly mile minute, the dizzy slalom race,
and thrilling jumping hills.
TOR new thrills have come for this new sport.
Now, when the average outdoors man is
oiling up his golf clubs, stringing his tennis
racket, or digging fishing worms the ski convert
lifts his eyes and considers the mountains. With
a new supply of wax and the faithful old bind
ings, he will rise at a. m. and ride through a
rapturous dawn of birdsong and blossoms. Then
he will ascend far up into the freshness of the
high snowfields and there in an earthly paradise,
unused save by few mortals, he will fly along
the slopes like the gods themselves. Then he will
return to his tasks refreshed in body and spirit.
In the Northwest peaks the snow lies deep, in
some places averaging 21 feet while Switzerland
itself has only seven. BY spring it is solidly
packed and smooth, and has speed and thrill
unequaled by the heavier and more treacherous
terrains of winter BY this time, too, one has his
and exult at their suppleness and control at
turning, at bounding rghtside up again, at
"stemming," at the Christians. And it is then
that the long radiant days of spring lend them
selves admirably to the more leisurely pleasure
of touring.
For skiing Is in the strictest sense amateur
sport. Those who take to it do so for the pleasure
and thrill it gives, and even though there may
be spectacular performances that delight great
throngs, the greatest delight remains with the
performer himself and his achievement.
Said one who has enjoyed the applause Of the
crowds, and who has flown some of the most
famous courses in Europe:
after all, when the contests are over when
the trophies are hung up, the greatest pleasure
of skiing is simply touring at leisure through
the enchantment of the mountains to experience
the majesty the awe, the tenderness of their
moods; to stretch the soul in their quetness and
beauty, and to exult in their nvigorating air.
That alone is enough"