Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 23, 2022)
PHOTO BY MARET PAJUTEE Wednesday, February 23, 2022 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Vintag Vintage pos postcard of the Three Sis Sisters. AN MUSEUM TESY BOWM IMAGE COUR The boys¾ parents were there. Henry Cramer¾s father went out with Prince Glaze¾s territory, and he didn¾t return on time and the Model Guy¾s mother, Mrs. Ferry, was her- present st storm, if Mrs. Ferry said the word.” Frog Camp quickly emptied except for Prince Glaze and another forest guard who were left to disman- tle the temporary guard station and retreat to lower elevations when the weather was safe. A hearty group of Eugene climbers, Mazamas, and the Bend contingent rallied on September 16 to search during nice weather, but soon gave it up. The two friends were to sleep under the deep snows in a basin between South and Middle Sister for two years. On September 2, 1929, a climbing party from Eugene spotted a body with a belt buckle engraved with an “H.” Henry had been hid- den by snows near a small lake in the Chambers Lake basin between the two mountains. He was found undisturbed, wearing a sweater coat, PHOTO COURTESY BOWMAN MUSEUM PHOTO COURTESY THE DESCHUTES HISTORICAL MUSEUM Prince Glaze on horseback at Scott Mountain in 1936. The “Musketeers of the Mountains” Nils Wulfsberg (left), Emil Nordeen (center), Nels Skjersaa (right), and Chris Kostol (not pictured) circ. 1927, Skyliners founding members. boots, with goggles in his pocket. His peaceful position, facing east with left arm at his side and right one on his chest, suggested to some that his friend had laid him out respectfully before stumbling on. Then on September 4, 1929 the headline read “Skeleton of Ferry found near Cramer.” Guy Ferry had made it another 68 paces before fall- ing face down into the snow. He was found lightly dressed in oxfords — traditional lace-up dress shoes, white trousers, and had a sock on one of his hands. Neither of the young men were found to have been injured. A tender story in the Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society News showed a photo of the single tombstone the two friends share in a cemetery in The Dalles with “Guy” carved on the top right ledge of the stone and “Henry” on the left. Somehow this sad event cata- lyzed a movement toward love of the wilderness, the formation of iconic Oregon clubs, organized search and rescue, winter sports, outdoor education, and grew the popularity of the outdoor lifestyle that has made the Central Oregon area boom for decades. On their return to Bend, the expert Scandinavian mountaineers and forestry workers Kostol, Skjersaa, and Nordeen were inspired by NJ Wulfsberg and decided to form a ski club, later named the Skyliners Club, to promote winter sports and provide rescue expertise. A fresh graduate of Oslo University, Wulfsberg is cred- ited with promoting the idea that a ski club would extend the tourist season and help the economy. Wulfsberg made a splash, married in Bend, and then left the follow- ing year for a faculty job at St. Olaf College in Minnesota. Shockingly, the heroic climber died in bed of a heart attack a year later on November 9, 1928, at the young age of 28. The same year, the new Skyliners Club built their first ski hill only a few miles from Frog Camp as the crow flies, eight miles from Sisters off McKenzie Highway. In 1935, Portraits OF SISTERS PHOTO AND STORY BY Cody Rheault THIS MONTH’S “PORTRAITS OF SISTERS” PRESENTED BY: 382 E Hood Ave | Suite A East | Sisters OR 97759 541.419.5577 Licensed In The State of Oregon they built Skyliners Lodge much closer to Bend, 10 miles up Tumalo Creek. It caught on. And the rest is skiing history. Eugene outdoor lovers formed the Obsidians, and other outdoor and rescue groups were organized. Although The Skyliners Club has disbanded, their influence is still felt by our mountain-loving residents. The Eugene Obsidians are still going strong, introducing people safely to outdoor adventure. Both clubs acknowledge the 1927 tragedy in their origin stories. Prince Glaze was one of the many heroes of the tragedy, but he trav- els quietly through the news stories. Maybe his role drew attention and led to the formal photos of him that sur- vive. And each year the snow falling on the Three Sisters hides the foot- prints of those who wandered lost, and the tears of heartbroken parents, the stories of old tragedies and their strange, hopeful children. All seems forgotten and at peace under a cover of deep white. Behind the dollars and operation of the Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District, Julie Spor is 19 years into her community-driven work. Originally from Burns but now a happy convert to the charms of Sisters Country, she’s helped the department grow from humble beginnings. Since 2003 she’s been involved in grants and the financial load behind run- ning a successful department. Budgets, pay- roll, audits, and the responsibility of utilizing public funds fall on her shoulders. Running a fire department is neither easy nor cheap but Julie says her passion for admin work — a love she’s had since her high school days — is still alive and well to this day. “The line staff takes care of you on your worst day, and I enjoy supporting them in that role,” she says. With such a varied job, she’s become a jack-of-all- trades. But her favorite projects are commu- nity events, particularly the Spirit of Christmas Giving Tree event, which brings a charitable community together. Outside of the office you might find Julie with her family enjoying local hikes and fishing, appreciating the landscape and town she has come to love and support. 13