Explore Colorado's fascinating ski history through these two books. Visit the early hills and areas through words and images. Enjoy reading about the early skiers and their fun—and sometimes risky—adventures. BUY HERE FOR SIGNED COPIES AND FREE SHIPPING. Call 720-331-9361 or 303-898-4991 to speak to one of us.
One hundred years ago, Municipal Facts Monthly, a Denver magazine, published these images of “The Lariat Trail” on Lookout Mountain in snow.
In our research we learned that Colorado Mountain Club members went up the mountain to Rilliet Hill by horse and sleigh early on, and then by car, to practice telemarking on the ski down, but we never found the exact location of the hill. If you know where it was, please let the authors know. We hope to see you at the Golden History Museum! For tickets go to: Special events and programs at Golden History Museum & Park.
In honor of the stock show and all the folks who helped skiing get started in Colorado by offering their hills for runs and their tractors and trucks to power tows, here’s a good story found in Lost Ski Areas of Colorado’s Central and Southern Mountains.
Colorado’s ranchers, farmers, and tradesmen have always been very mechanical and ingenious. They had to be. For example, this vehicle was equipped with skis to help CDOT employees take care of the roads and skiers on the roads in early days. But did you ever hear of someone putting skis on horses so their owners could go places in deep snow?
The Colorado Division of Transportation (CDOT) used this vehicle to take care of the roads and early skiers. USFS photo.
Well, here’s just one such story, which was published in 1884 in the Rocky Mountain Sun.
A freighter named Brockman recently brought his horses from Summitville to Baker’s station on snow shoes. The shoes were made of wood, two inches thick, eight inches wide and eighteen inches long, and were fastened to the horses feet by means of wires and straps. The shoes were fastened on, and after a few days of practice in Summitville, the horses learned the modus operandi of the scheme, and on Monday Mr. Brockman rode one horse out over from fifty to one hundred feet of snow, while the second horse pulled a sled loaded with provisions over the same course.
You’re not sure whether this is real or not? Neither are the authors, who found the story while looking through old newspapers online.
Thanks to Colorado’s ranchers and tradesmen for their contributions to Colorado ski culture!
