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About Eugene register-guard. (Eugene, Or.) 1930-1983 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 21, 1937)
Does She Ski, Skid? Shush, I m Shur Sh used! The Swooping Thrills Of Alpine Sport Has Captured West Coast Enthusiasts yy' '''''''' r' ' '''"" --j j4L. By Judith Wales WHEN the hunting season is over and the echoes of football have died away, the West Const doesn't just sit and twiddle Its thumbs. Instead, it waxes its skiis and takes to the snowflelds. About the first of December be gins the great caravan back into the mountains. From the misty forests of the Northwest to the sunny orchards of California, it moves along Cars, special busses, snow trains, all bristling with skiis like a Viking conquest, wind their waj up grades nnd through heavily timbered avenuoi into a land of enchantment. There, until the, middle of May, and in some sections even into July, the mountain slopes reverberate with the gaiety nnd enthusiasm of thousands as the; skim like bir;ls down the swift terrains, or floun der on their backs in a hopeless but good nat ure:! scrnmblo of their under-pinnings. In the lodges, inns, and. cabins that nestle among the trees, there is the clank of wood nnd tho tramp of heavy shoes. At night, glowing fires and the best of companionship multo plons ant end of the healthily robust days. Ski clubs have grown apace; have chartored courses and provided them with instructors. The United States Forest Service, in sympathy with the wholesome pull toward the snowflelds, has rallied like a big brother everywhere, and has cleared terrains, modified hills, and scooped out bowls that tho country may have its fun. It has helped mako possible ski trips of several days, by means of a net work of trails dotted with snug, well provisioned cnbins where one may bnsk before a fire and then fall away to tho soundless slumber of the mountains. Railroads and bus lines have plowed through primitive areas seeking the best terrains, nnd manufacturers, with their ears to the ground, have learned to turn out equipment that a few years ago could be had nowhere this side of Europe. The most discriminating may now go forth nttired in tho smnYtcst of toggery, with a local trade mnrk. Rusiness is thankful for skiing, for statistics inform us that it docs more for tho money coffers than oven golf, which has long been the fair haired child. A Nil all this in a very fow years. For we can rcmomber a llttlo while back when young sters whittled out some crude boards, daubed them with bee's wax filched from their mother's pantries and disported themselves on the hills back of town. Now and then some grown up lover of tho out of doors would dare to join them, but for the most pnrt tho mature remained below to bnlnnce their bank books. A pair of skiis strapped to tho running board of a enr was as wllil and curious a sight as a fresh slain bear brought in by some intrepid hunter. So the snow fields were left largely to reckless youngsters and tho Laplanders. It was n littlo more than a dozen years ago that the first pair of skiis mado their slender and hesitant tracks on Mt. lininier, In western Washington, but a few hours from both Tacoma and Settle. Hut so fast has tho sport taken hold and developed that last winter from Seattle alono five contestants, two men nnd three wom en, products of the slopes of that majestic old mountain, were sent to the XI Olympic Winter Games at Garmisch-rartcnkirchen, Germany, in the Itavarian Alps. There, in the most thrilling experience of their lives, in the midst of superb winter pageantry, they competed with the best In the world. And we are told by one who ob served them, that they compared well with Europeans who have been racing down mountain slopes almost since they could stand on their two legs. Each year In January cruises go out from the East coast, cross the ocean, and trek up into the Austrian Tyrol that lovers of the sport may en- (Above) Executing a turn at high speed on the slopes of Mt. Baker, Washington. (Below) For sheer beauty of sport noth ing excells the sight of one who takes off from the lip of a hill and soars to a poised landing in a shower of blinding snow. Has Gragc in a jump at Mt. Rainier. Joy swooping down those slippery peaks. There, at Sankt Anton, they may attend the famous school of Horr Hannes Schneider, said to be tho most expert skiing Instructor in the world, and prideful of the reputation that no one has ever been hurt in his classes. There, with other de votees of the snowflelds, from every nation, they tour through superbly picturesque country and live at quaint villages, where even the help at the inns, and stocky blacksmiths fly down the slopes like winged Mercuries. Londoners brave the dreaded winter Channel crossing nnd the long trip through France with its poor accommodations, just for a few exhil arating rides down the Alps. Africa, Australia, New Zealand, all profess a growing devotion to tho terrains. And Japan, known as the land of cherry blossoms, has turned with enthusiasm to the snow. Why then, all this fervor for skiing? Is it just a fad of tho moment? So we hied ourselves around to Bee. IF THERE is anything a skier likes to talk about, it is skiing. Ask any of those, man or woman, who have over flown like magic down tho slopes of a mountain side and they will tell you it is the king of sports. It is strange how that intimacy with tho lofty mysteries sets them apart with an air of confidence and poise. Their faces will light up as they ascend the imaginary heights again. They will forget the dull accounts they nro pouring ovor, tho knotty brief they are wrestling with, and the irate customer waiting outside. They will take you along snowy ter rains into a world of clean white beauty and in toxicnting freshness. They will make you leel tho exhilaration and wonder of it as they skim along like a bird exulting In the skill of the human body. Skiing, all agree, is an amateur sport in the strictest sense of the word. Those who take to :t do so for the pure pleasure it gives. And even though there is spectacular performance that de lights great throngs, C-.e greatest delight still remains with tho performer and his achieve ment. For that reason, the sportsmanship runs high, and an Indefinable quality of friendship distinguishes those groups which for a common lovo of the snow have been brought together. Around their great fires at night there is good talk. There are tips on trails and things to do; there Is an exchange of wax and help with a stubborn binding as men and women mix in wholesome comaraderie. No more friendly sportsmen ever lived than those who have taken the mountain tops for their province. Even the most expert, unjealous of his love, will tell you that anyone who wants to can have fun on skiis. It takes some confidence, physical balance, and a sense of humor which helps to unscramble our under-pinnings when we get the spills that are sure to come. And no quibbling at the climb back up which tests heart and lungs, for skiing is a down hill sport. Then one learns to stand, and, what Ismore Important, to stop, in case a mountain or something gets in the way. Next, he may learn to turn and climb. , 1 M n ft hii f 'xuk& ..r After that he understands why the world' has taken to its upper slopes. BUT, of course, to become highly skilful, takes many years of arduous practice, and a' knowledge of snow craft and mountaineering, for the wise take no chances. Not until then may one hope to whizz down the long terrains at 60 miles an hour and swerve away from the tree or boulder that suddenly rises up to confront him; or run the dizzy, zigzag down hill Slalom race; or to let loose and sail over the crest of a hill. For jumping is the most dangerous nnd spectacular of all skiing. In the sheer beauty of sport, nothing excels the sight of one who takes off from the lip of a hill and soars through the air with exquisite poise and lands 160 feet be yond in a shower of scudding snow. The longest jumps go close to 200 feet, although there are a few records of more than 250. The United States nnd Norway are given almost the entire credit of developing the jump. According to those who know, skiis should be long enough to touch the cup of the hand held straight overhead. The best are of hickory, liht and toujh, although other woods are used. Re cently it has been discovered that plywood, a product of the Northwest, Is extremely satisfac tory. Then, a pair of light poles, a quantity of wax (always wnx) and one is ready to be off to the most refreshing and rejuvenating sport he has ever known, where he may even wrestle with a blizzard and have no fear. SKIiNG Is ns old as the hills themselves. As far back ns 3C00 years ago, Xcnophon, famed Greek historian, wrote of a trip to Asia Minor where he saw horres trottirg e.mily over soft snow by me.-.ns of light disks attached to their hoofs. And Procopins, Byzantine chronicler, told tales of strange people far to the North, named "Skrid-Kinnnr", or "sliders". No doubt, long before the Christian era, skiis were the main means of transportation for the Finns rnd Laps, and there is the story of an early Swe iish king who used them to flee his country when in danger. England has been "shoeing," as It is called there, for more than 300 years, and as a result of the move recent populrr'ty, has one of the larg.-st ski clubs in the world. Wherever snow conditions have made ordin ary transportation impossible, the slick woods have been put into use. Hunters, trappers, mail carriers, explorers, nnd armies have found them indispensable. In Russia there is a record of a march made by troops from Finland In full marching oruer, and in only 29 days. As early s 1710. Norway and Sweden equipped their armed forces with them, and in 1!02 France and Italy put their first soldiers aboard them, high in the Alps. They were a definite part of the Amundsen and Pyrd expeditions, and recently, when the National Geographic Society sent a group to ex plore and map the rugged mountains of the Yukon, it was accomplished largely on skiis. In all the Scandinavian countries, parts of Canada and the United States, and even across the high Andes between Chile and Argentine, mails skim over the snows by means of swift runners, usually Norwegian. But it seems that man does not always know A sweeping view of one of the long open fields for which Mt. Hood in Oregon is noted. llllilll when he Is having fun, for it was not until the winter of 1860, in Telemark, Norway, that skiing was first taken up as a sport. And not until so recent as 1883 was the first pair taken into Switzerland. Those were a gift to a monk in a high Alpine monastery. Being a wise monk, he learned to use them well, as did others of that monastery, and from that modest beginning did Switzerland grow to be one of the most famous skiing centers in the world. IN THE United States it did not begin to take any hold until 1910, and it was long after that before it had any general following, through the East and the New England states, little knots of true sportsmen paid it homage. It came to the Pacific Coast slowly, for it is hard to connect winter snorts with a land where the whole year round there are flowering orchards, sunshine, feathery mists, and dripping ferns. So it was well into the 1920's before a few enthusiasts began trying the "hickory slabs." Others fol lowed exhuberantly. Winter seasons in the mountains began to grow. Boarded up inns nnd lodges opened again, brushed down the cob webs, and restocked. Stacks of wood began to be piled around summer coftages, and a sack of potatoes left In the kitchen for later use. Roads have been built in, and trains have changed their schedules. Now, in all accessible snow regions of the Coast, the winter season exceeds that of the summer. Christmas and New Year with snow on the window sills and icicles hanging from the eaves bring joy to countless thousands who annually look forward to that respite from hectic life. Business men toil into the back coun try to wrcstie with the majesty ol the elements, and come down refreshed. Whole families bur row into snow submerged cabirs to enjoy the peace and relaxation the winter stillness give3. Because of the loftiness of the penks and the nearness to the ocean, the precipitation along the Coast is heavy, thereby making a deep and lasting snow. This is particularly true of the Northwest where on Mt. Rainier and Mt. Baker it reaches an average tiopth of 18 to 21 feet. Switzerland itself can boast of only 7. And the Padfh slope is blest with a season as long as r-ny in the world. For in some sections it begins ns early as the last of November or first of December. For several months then, one can lock forward to the belo-.ed "powder," that fine, dry snowthnt is the hope and joy of every de votee of the sport. A hard crust, and a fow inches of fresh fall on top that is all one could nsk for a glorious day of living. Then In March and April comes the spring season, when the more skilful don their sun suits and a protective cream and mount to the higher levels. With every wefk-end they go up and ap until, in May and June nnd even into July, bronzed bodies race about like elfs in the vast expanses that lie between glaciers as high as 11.000 feet. Spring skiing is one of the most thrilling experiences of the sport. For when the avcrago man is digging fishing worms, winding up his pitching arm, or oiling his golf clubs, the ski convert lifts his eyes and considers the mountains. With new supply of wax and the faithful old bindings he will rise at 3 a. m. and ride forth into the rapturous dawn of birds in) blossoming orchards. Then he will ascend far no into the freshness of the snow slopes, and there in an earthly paradise, unused save by a ;e mortals, he will fly along the slopes like the gods themselves. And return to his task re freshed in body and spirit. If it is Coast skiing one wants, he may take his choice. Beginning at the South, way down in lower California, there is Old Baldy which rears up above the orange groves and entices pleasure seekers to its friendly sides all winter. Made readily accessible now, too. At famous Yosemite National Park, which is said by discriminating Europeans to compare favorably with the Alps, up until as late as the season lasts, there is an elaborate program, with efficient instruction. Everything in convenience and accommodations may be had, including an Up-Ski lift on one of its runs which saves legs and lungs. THE lover of the big trees may go to Sequoia National Park, setting of the famous mov ing picture "Sequoia." There, in a cottage racked in a snow drift, and with a pair of swift run ners, one may live like a Viking. Mt. Shasta, to the north, prideful of her 14,000 feet, spreads out swift and sporty terrains, and fosters tall tales of wild experiences down her slopes of Ion glaciers and yawning crevasses. Mystical Mt Lassen stretches out gentle inclines that last out the day and stamina for one who runs them. And to her north, one may find the tearing Ha zard he has been longing for. In the Tahoe coun try, toward the east, any week-end will find the hill sides alive with gaiety. Up the coast to Oregon, and there is lovely Mt. Hood, only one hour from Portland. Ung, swift terrains of several miles, jumping hills, and Ski-Bowl, good for much hilarity. Last June, the Cascade Ski Club dared to stage the first mid summer ski tournament in the United States, along with the Portland Rose FesUval In Washington, all winter activities center A Mt. Rainier, that majestic 14,000-foot peak be loved by the Indians as "The Mountain That Was God." It was there skiing history was made in the Northwest, and there on every weekend gather thousands to enjoy its Alpine-li.e ter rains and its festivities. The best jumping i B Washington is at Snoqualmie Pass, close to Seattle and Tacoma, and to the east of the st" are Cle Elum, Leavenworth, Wenatchee, the i Dig apple country, where a delightful net wort o week-end trips is always in the main Wenatchee, one may go up into the hilU airplane to which have been attached once atop, he may slide down again all tne J to the airport. Yes, that is really true. Farther to the north Mt. Baker, as yet mM7 plored, with her sweeping sides and WIS beauty, invites those who want the w0" to themselves. Also, to cheer hearts and leg Ski-Esculator will tote you up and depose J at the summit all fresh for another It was in the picturesque setting of ML that "The Call of the Wild" was filmed. And we could go on and on, for B ' veloped the boundless enthusiasm of tM 1 1 able skier, that thing which causes slopes of the whole world to verberKe wholesome happiness omni winter. But the reason for it all is up by the remark of one who has n of the best courses of Europe and he applause of the throngs When ' right in the eye and said, rt hfJi- most about it?" he, witnoui inr , tancy. and with that expression of in" who nswered b " get to the higher levels, ans rightly, "After all. when the contests are o" whf the trophies are hung up, the Krf'1'e. ' hMi. of skiing is simply touring through tw ment of the mountains; to "P"" .,. to esty, the awe, the tenderness of their stretch the soul In their quiet """ t exult in the invigorating air and exerc alone is enough."
