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.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year! Looks like COVID19 will not totally stop this ski season, even though the virus will change the way it works. You know the drill by now: keep six feet between parties; wear masks whenever possible; wash hands often; stay home if you’re sick. Also, you must have a pass to ski at resorts.
The last event to interrupt skiing in Colorado in such a way, apart from skimpy snow years, was World War II. Only a few hills and areas remained open as Americans turned their focus to fighting.
The B-Hill or B-Slope was one of these hills. It was here that the Tenth Mountain Division of the US Army’s Eighty-Seventh Mountain Infantry Regiment, which was created in 1941, trained recruits to ski. Lost Ski Areas of Colorado’s Central and Southern Mountains tells the story and gives the exact location of the hill in Eagle County.
Glen Cove in Teller County managed to stay open. The Pikes Peak Ski Club turned the area over to the military to use. In 1944, they held a military meet there. Lost Ski Areas of Colorado’s Front Range and Northern Mountains tells that story.
After World War II, Tenth Mountain Division soldiers led skiing forward in Colorado with an emphasis on Alpine skiing. Skiing had been Nordic before. What will be different about skiing in Colorado when we get through this pandemic?
Sticker on bench made out of snowboards at Indian Mountain.
When you’re driving through the vast South Park on your way to well-known ski areas and mountain communities, try to envision a ski area right there.
Indian Mountain operated about ten miles southeast of Jefferson and served a local community.
One summer, the authors went there to investigate. We walked the old runs and took pictures of remaining signs of the old lifts. We also found an old sticker for the area on a bench made of snowboards.
You can find out a little more about Indian Mountain in the Lost Ski Areas of the Front Range and Northern Mountains book.
