Armand Gutierrez, NSC President

Seems like October was more summer-like than fall. Tahoe did experience some rainfall but all of the resorts are bare to the ground and it hasn’t been cold enough to fire up the snowmaking machines. Does this mean a late winter start? And the weather forecasters haven’t made up their collective minds on whether it’s going to be an El Niño or a La Niña year. Nobody guessed the ski resort in the photo, and the correct answer was Sierra-at-Tahoe.

Upcoming Events

SnowBomb Shows in October/November

At the end of October the Snow Bomb show was held at the Santa Clara Convention center. Although I was planning on attending I wasn’t able to make it due to a slight illness. Karen Soo and Curtis Otaguro usually attend the San Francisco event but Curtis was out of town and Karen was unable to attend.

Warren Miller Movie Night – November 11

Warren Miller is famous for his exciting ski/snowboard movies that take you all over the world in search of perfect snow conditions. Showtime is 6pm at the Heritage Theater (Campbell) on Saturday, November 11th.

Vail Ski Week 2018

The Vail trip is fully booked with 62 signups. Thanks to all that made their final payments on time, and to those of you that needed a reminder. Karen Soo is updating the sizing chart since the one on the signup page was for Marmot apparel and the new chart is for Port Authority. Not much difference but do check to see if you have any changes and reply to Karen’s email. There is a waiting list so do let me know in the event that you may have to cancel (hopefully not!).

Judy Hom, Newsletter Editor

My husband Winston pointed out an article in the San Jose Mercury News about defunct ski areas, which mentioned long gone resorts like Powder Bowl, Echo Summit, Edelweiss, Donner Ski Ranch, Tannenbaum, and Iron Mountain. He learned how to ski at Dodge Ridge and Echo Summit. Dodge Ridge is still operating but Echo Summit is long gone. How many of you remember these old resorts?

Organized ski racing in California started in the 1850s. Gold miners strapped 14-15 foot edgeless skis on their feet and raced for cash prizes. It is said that skiers reached speeds of 80+ miles per hours and carried a long pole to act as a brake.

Snowshoe Thompson was an early California long pole skier. Originally from Norway, he came to California during the 1850 gold rush. Between 1856-1876, he delivered mail twice a month between Placerville, California and Genoa, Nevada. He covered the distance in 5 days, 3 days up and 2 days down.

Olympic Hill was the first ski resort in Lake Tahoe and opened in 1924. It is still open but now named Granlibakken. I googled it and it is a very small hill with only 1 run and 2 lifts.

Sugar Bowl opened in 1939. Sugar Bowl got its name because the founder thought the snow looked like sugar. It was the first resort to use chairlifts.

There was a proliferation of ski resorts through the 1970s. 82 resorts opened from 1940-1950. 107 opened in the 1970s. The great California drought in the mid-1970’s took its toll and many resorts closed. Now, there are only about a dozen resorts in the Lake Tahoe area.

Resources

Mercury News – Defunct ski areas why healing is so hard
History of Skiing Lake Tahoe
History of California Skiing
Facebook – Lost Ski Areas and Ski History of California
Experience Skiing History in California Gold Country
Snowshoe Thompson

Happy Thanksgiving

Give thanks that the American system of checks and balances is holding. Remember that eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.

John F. Kennedy – We must find the time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.