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Skiing in the Lake Tahoe Area |
Skiing at Lake Tahoe has become one of the largest industries in the area. This brief history helps guide one through the evolution of this sport at Tahoe.
The first American exposure to skis began in 1860 when California races were staged on downhill courses with the competitors outfitted in skis 12 feet long and the older leather toe straps.
Lake Tahoe's exposure to skis and skiing began in mid-1850 introduced by John A. "Snowshoe" Thompson. Thompson carried the nickname of "Snowshoe", but he was clearly using what we today call skis. Snowshoe's achievements, on his ten foot, twenty-five pound skis, are legendary in the annals of California-Nevada skiing. While blazing trails during the 1860's and 70's, through wilderness snow country to and from Carson City and Placerville by way of Lake Valley, Thompson set unequalled records of distance time elapsed, and endurance.
Tahoe resident, Frank Stewart, while lesser known than "Snowshoe", was never-the-less a world champion ski racer in the 1860s. Stewart is credited with conjuring up the "wonderous dope" that gave him his win over the legendary Thompson. Steward, a carpenter by trade, triggered a chain reaction of pro's and con's on the proper blending of tars, pitches and waxes with the principal ingredient, spermaceti, to obtain the most effective compound for the running surface of skis. Spermaceti is a waxy solid obtained from the oil of cetaceans, especially sperm whales, and is used in ointments, cosmetics and candles. Many old-timers claimed "dope savvy," jealously guarding their secrets as though they were pokes of gold dust.
In 1932, the US Ski Championships were held at Olympic Hill, one mile southwest of Tahoe City on the slopes of the Truckee River Canyon. During the previous winter, Olympic tryouts took place on the same hill in order to select California and Nevada skiers eligible to compete for the 1932 Winter Olympic Team. There were no ski trails or ski lifts of any kind. Skiers had to hike up the hill they wanted to ski down. The first ski trail was built by Charley Proctor. The trail, "Sunset Schuss", was at Pico Peak, Vermont. Procter later, in 1938 moved to the west to become the director of Yosemite's winter sports program.
The first recorded uphill tow was opened at Hilltop in Truckee in December of 1937. Historian Bill Berry of Reno recalls renting a pair of old single strap skis so that he could ride this new contraption called a "pullback". The ride cost a nickel. Berry claims he didn't care because it was his first time on a tow. "I'd never skied won a slope I hadn't climbed". Berry was also non Donner Summit to ride the west's first chairlift at Sugar Bowl the day it opened in 1939.
After World War II, small individual resorts began to develop throughout the Northern Sierra's. The most noteworthy, of course, was Squaw Valley, as it became the sight for the 1960 Winter Olympics. Squaw Valley opened to the public on Thanksgiving Day in 1949. It had a small lodge, a rope tow, and a ski lift built by Heron Engineering. It was billed as the largest double chair lift in the world. Revolutionary in design and operation, it became their key to business.
Other large ski resorts followed with the success of Squaw Valley. Alpine Meadows opened in 1961. Ski Incline, now Diamond Peak and Northstar-at-Tahoe followed not long afterwards.
This information was adapted from an article by museum volunteer Roger Ramseier. For more information or to visit the Gatekeeper's Museum please call (530)583-1762 or see www.northtahoemuseums.org.
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