The soon to be demolished Four Points Hut was not converted from a ski patrol shack but was built from the ground up. For the 1992-'93 ski season there was nothing there but the water and electricity hook-ups that had served the first Four Points double-chairlift. This lift, installed in 1968, did have a ski patrol facility in its top drive terminal. In 1970, when the Thunderhead Restaurant was expanded to become the gondola terminal, Ski Patrol Headquarters was moved there and the Four Points space with its restroom was made a warming hut for skiers. The timeline continues, centered on Storm Peak and Four Points:
1983, The Storm Peak triple-chairlift is installed, crossing over the Four Points lift at the top of Twister run. The Summit Pomalift (1970), Four Points to the top, is removed.
1992, The Four Points lift is removed. Its lift-line would become Nelson's Run. The Storm Peak high-speed detachable quad is installed, replacing the 1983 triple-chair, which is shortened and renamed Four Points.
1993, Four Points Hut built.
At last report the old Four Points double-chair continues to soldier on at Eldora as the Little Hawk beginners lift.
The story of a train running aground in Granby, while a good story, has no basis in fact. To begin with, Granby was a scheduled stop on route so the train would be slowing. (I had to hunt up a Moffat Road timetable to confirm this.) Also building speed in a blizzard is never a good idea. Finally, none of my books on the Moffat Road makes mention of this incident.
There were several wrecks on Rollins/Corona Pass caused by runaways and avalanches whereby locomotives and other rolling stock had to be retrieved by ramps and rail spurs built to the wreck site.
By the way, there are places in the county I've never been to because 1) I don't need to or want to go there, 2) I've not been invited there or 3) I've no business there. There're also sports and activities such as mountain biking and snowmobiling I've not taken part in. I don't let this bother me. Neither should you.
Bill Fetcher
Longevity means nothing. Having lived here quite a while I've had plenty of time to sort out what constitutes localhood. I've thought about it this way; If I'd just moved to a new community what should I do to switch from THEM to US in the shortest possible time? Here're some pointers:
Take an interest in your community. Learn about its history through reading and asking questions of people who've been here a while. It's a great way to meet people. Learn the names of familiar landmarks such as mountains so you can amaze you friends and family with this information. (That's right, it's Marble Hill, not Airport Hill or worse yet, Duckel's Dare.)
Volunteer. Lend a hand to a worthwhile cause of your choosing. This is another way of making friends in your new community.
Sit back and observe how things are done, rather than impose your will on the community. There are usually good reasons why things are done differently from what you may have been familiar with. For example, barbed-wire fences are favored here because they're cheap and easy to maintain, particularly after heavy snows.
If you happen to be wealthy, don't flaunt it. The majority of people here aren't rich and find a display of wealth offensive. (This is true throughout much of the planet.) Leave the Mercedes in the garage for those long road trips and drive a vehicle that's more appropriate to your actual needs. For most of us here that means a slightly used Ford, Chevy, Toyota or Subaru. You'll find yourself fitting in much better and quicker.
I have fond memories of Swinger back before the 1965 Thunderhead expansion when Main Drag, Swinger and Right 'O' Way formed the ski area boundary. There were no merging trails and little or no traffic. We kids liked to race as fast as possible from the top of Christie to the base on these runs. I can't recommend this doing this now for obvious safety reasons. Because Swinger is so overlooked it's now used as a site for lessons.
Continuing the Wally World story, to many skiers/riders the term "bowl" brings to mind Vail's extensive back-bowls. Compared to Vail's offerings Sunshine Bowl is a disappointment, much as the Griswolds would discover when they find the Walley (with an 'e') World amusement park closed for routine maintenance.
For many years the upper lift shack for the South Peak Lift was the designated "Wally World Headquarters." The sign in the window has since been removed.
A brief timeline: National Lampoon's "Vacation" was released in 1983; Sunshine Bowl and the South Peak triple-chair opened in 1984. The Sunshine fixed-grip triple-chair ("the lift to nowhere, the lift from hell") was installed in 1985. It was replaced by the present high-speed quad in 2006.
Bill Fetcher 1 month ago on Four Points Lodge construction to create extra traffic at Steamboat Ski Area
Four Points Lodge construction to create extra traffic at Steamboat Ski Area
Bill Fetcher 2 months, 1 week ago on Tom Ross: More harrowing than a trip along I-70 on a busy ski weekend
Tom Ross: More harrowing than a trip along I-70 on a busy ski weekend
Bill Fetcher 2 months, 1 week ago on No future blue ribbons for pot brownies at Routt County Fair
No future blue ribbons for pot brownies at Routt County Fair
Even though we pronounce it sarvisberry, it's spelt serviceberry.
Bill Fetcher 2 months, 3 weeks ago on Joel Reichenberger: Five years in and I'm in
Joel Reichenberger: Five years in and I'm in
By the way, there are places in the county I've never been to because 1) I don't need to or want to go there, 2) I've not been invited there or 3) I've no business there. There're also sports and activities such as mountain biking and snowmobiling I've not taken part in. I don't let this bother me. Neither should you. Bill Fetcher
Bill Fetcher 2 months, 4 weeks ago on Joel Reichenberger: Five years in and I'm in
Joel Reichenberger: Five years in and I'm in
Longevity means nothing. Having lived here quite a while I've had plenty of time to sort out what constitutes localhood. I've thought about it this way; If I'd just moved to a new community what should I do to switch from THEM to US in the shortest possible time? Here're some pointers:
Take an interest in your community. Learn about its history through reading and asking questions of people who've been here a while. It's a great way to meet people. Learn the names of familiar landmarks such as mountains so you can amaze you friends and family with this information. (That's right, it's Marble Hill, not Airport Hill or worse yet, Duckel's Dare.)
Volunteer. Lend a hand to a worthwhile cause of your choosing. This is another way of making friends in your new community.
Sit back and observe how things are done, rather than impose your will on the community. There are usually good reasons why things are done differently from what you may have been familiar with. For example, barbed-wire fences are favored here because they're cheap and easy to maintain, particularly after heavy snows.
If you happen to be wealthy, don't flaunt it. The majority of people here aren't rich and find a display of wealth offensive. (This is true throughout much of the planet.) Leave the Mercedes in the garage for those long road trips and drive a vehicle that's more appropriate to your actual needs. For most of us here that means a slightly used Ford, Chevy, Toyota or Subaru. You'll find yourself fitting in much better and quicker.
Bill Fetcher
Bill Fetcher 3 months, 3 weeks ago on Eugene Buchanan: Are you cool enough to be a dork?
Eugene Buchanan: Are you cool enough to be a dork?
What you're calling Duckels' Dare has a name that's been in use for at least 100 years. That knoll is called Marble Hill.
Bill Fetcher 4 months ago on Runs you don't hit often enough at Steamboat Ski Area
Runs you don't hit often enough at Steamboat Ski Area
I have fond memories of Swinger back before the 1965 Thunderhead expansion when Main Drag, Swinger and Right 'O' Way formed the ski area boundary. There were no merging trails and little or no traffic. We kids liked to race as fast as possible from the top of Christie to the base on these runs. I can't recommend this doing this now for obvious safety reasons. Because Swinger is so overlooked it's now used as a site for lessons.
Bill Fetcher 4 months ago on Runs you don't hit often enough at Steamboat Ski Area
Runs you don't hit often enough at Steamboat Ski Area
Continuing the Wally World story, to many skiers/riders the term "bowl" brings to mind Vail's extensive back-bowls. Compared to Vail's offerings Sunshine Bowl is a disappointment, much as the Griswolds would discover when they find the Walley (with an 'e') World amusement park closed for routine maintenance. For many years the upper lift shack for the South Peak Lift was the designated "Wally World Headquarters." The sign in the window has since been removed. A brief timeline: National Lampoon's "Vacation" was released in 1983; Sunshine Bowl and the South Peak triple-chair opened in 1984. The Sunshine fixed-grip triple-chair ("the lift to nowhere, the lift from hell") was installed in 1985. It was replaced by the present high-speed quad in 2006.
Bill Fetcher 4 months, 1 week ago on Photo turns into an iconic image for Steamboat
Photo turns into an iconic image for Steamboat
Let's fix the spellings of the horses' names. They should be Ladd and Brundee. Source: Jo Semotan
Bill Fetcher 4 months, 1 week ago on Photo turns into an iconic image for Steamboat
Photo turns into an iconic image for Steamboat
I got the names of the horses from Jo Semotan. That's Lad on the left and Brunde on the right.