When returning from a visit to Pagosa Springs in mid-September, we stopped at the site of the original Wolf Creek Ski Area, now lost, which was on the north side of the highway at the summit of Wolf Creek Pass.
Skiing began there in 1934 when the highway was completed to the summit. More and more skiers came to Wolf Creek Pass to ski when the highway was kept open all winter, starting in 1938. Skiing continued there until 1955 when the ski area was moved to the south side of the road and a little farther east of the summit where it is today. Again, the original area was lost.
A sign posted there for current visitors gives a hint of what once was and encourages Nordic skiers and snowmobilers to use the area. Maybe you’d like to go use the area next winter.
The rolling topography at the summit, with few trees, indicates why early skiers made the trek there, first to ski straight down on homemade wooden skis the Nordic way and later using smaller skis and poles and making turns the Alpine way. Plus, there was always loads of snow on Wolf Creek Pass.
Our second book, Lost Ski Areas of Colorado’s Central and Southern Mountains, gives the details about the skiing and the skiers, including a quote from Norm Vance who said that a lot of ‘hearty’ volunteers made the ski area happen. They put up a rope tow and powered it by an old Chevy truck.
We also took the time on our way to drive about three miles up from the summit of Wolf Creek Pass on a dirt road to the Lobo Overlook. It was worth the effort to pause and take in the view at the Continental Divide and to note the Continental Divide Trail up there.
