MY FIRST SKIING EXPERIENCE
Written by Henry N. Patterson

This is a copy of a letter written in 1964 to our son, Larry and his wife Bernie, while Larry was in the U.S. Air Force stationed in Cheyenne, Wyo. during the Viet Nam War.

Dear Larry and Bernie:

You have just returned home from a nice skiing vacation trip to Colorado. I thought you might like to hear about the first time I had the boards on. It all started around the YMCA where a group of us hung out. I do not know who first started the idea but it all hinged around a guy from Delta by the name of Brewer. His folks were well enough off to own a cabin on Grand Mesa. I'm not sure just what lake it was on. One thing lead to another and it was decided to get Dave Green in on it because his dad had a big flat bed truck that could be used for transportation. I think this all happened in the spring of 1933. I was going to Ross Business College at the time with some of the others who were involved. Some of the guys had girl friends that were to go along but that was not too big of a problem as we had a chaperon who was a college professor by the name of Eikenberry. Remember he stopped to visit us here a couple of years ago. I'm not sure you met him. Plans finally progressed to the point that we were to meet at the Y and were to leave around eight o'clock Saturday night. Now this may seem like a funny time to leave but we were all either going to school or working. This date to leave was in May and it turned out to be on Mother's Day and I was in the "dog house" for a long time. The truck finally got on it's way and we drove up to Delta and then on through Cedaredge until we could go no further because at that time the roads were not kept open up the hill in the winter. We then unloaded our stiff selves, shook off the hay and started walking up the hill. I do not remember if there was a moon that night. But with nothing except snow and evergreen trees you could see very well at night. Brewer of course led the way as he had made many of these trips. I do not remember how far it was or what time we reached the top. I do have a picture of the group walking across Baron Lake. We finally reached the cabin and everyone was well pooped and needed some sleep before the new experience the next day. Sleeping arrangements was a real problem. The girls were given the upstairs and we understood there were beds for them. Downstairs we took what we could. Everything was used that was possible including benches, tables and believe it or not I used the ironing board. It would have made quite a picture. No sooner than some of us were finally getting some shut eye than Brewer woke everyone up with the smell of hot cakes and coffee. I can assure that was very welcomed. As soon as breakfast was over we were to go to a so called beginners slope and get the feel of sliding around before we could go skiing. Now in those days it was a different sport than you know. There were no bindings and no nice fitting lined boots that would jump out of your skis if you fell down. Skis then had a slot through the middle of them and a harness strap went through and you just slipped your foot into the strap and you were ready to go. Just about this time those who had some experience with skiing were getting the idea that if you had something on the skis to hold your shoes firmer it would be more fun. I had made a set of those and installed them on a pair of skis for a lawyer; I was then an expert and made a set for myself. I had never been skiing and did not know just what was required of them. I was later to find out the hard way. We were all eager to get a taste of the snow. I believe everyone who made the first excursion out had been there before. When I looked up after getting myself harnessed in they were all down and around the hill leaving only tracks. I finally mounted mine and took off in pursuit. I mean it was a real pursuit. Trees were coming at me from all directions and without anyone telling me anything about how to get along on skis I was having problems. That period of time was before ski poles so it was lean, fall down or else. Somehow I finally found the group and after many, many sitzmarks I was somewhat able to keep up with part of the group.

By this time everyone was ready to tackle the hills. You can imagine with only a strap over your toes just what kind of skiing we were going to enjoy. Of course, it was walk up and go straight down. There was no controlled skiing at all. You would pick out a hill and have at it. We went from hill to hill getting braver all the time. We finally got over to Eggleston Lake and there we found a hill that was not very long but steep. It was even difficult to walk to the top. I really believe that twelve feet back from the edge you could not see the person in front go down. Some of the "old hands" took a pass at it and did reasonably well. The big problem was if you made it to the bottom there was so much gravity pull that you were not able to run it out. You slid it. I put on and took off my skis several times before getting the necessary bravado to try it. Once you started over the crest that was it. There was no sitting down on purpose or turning back. I made it to the bottom but was all over the snow. When I recovered I thought the next time I would ride it out. Again I took plenty of time getting the necessary mental backing to make the short slide to get me on my way. I should never have done it. There were too many tracks and with the sunshine on them and some tracks being icy I got crossed up. Now you will probably not believe it but I started cartwheeling and finally found myself hanging down hill with my right ski buried clear into my heel. That is where the ski bindings I had made were supposed to make it possible to control the skis somewhat but to get any release---NO. I was strapped in by at least three different straps and none of them turned loose. I finally was able to reach up to get myself released. It would have made quite a movie. The result was my skiing for the day was at end. The ankle started swelling and it was several weeks before the soreness came out of it. I missed all the fun of skiing back to the truck which would have been the best part of the trip. I had to limp my way around all the good hills while everyone else had a good run at them. One of the highlights of one hill was when Jerry McKeel got brave enough to put Frances Lewelyn on behind on his skis and try to go down. They did not make it as far as I had made it but escaped any bruises because they did not have the momentum up yet. I think that ended the morning activities and we limped back to the cabin for lunch. One of the requirements for going on this adventure was to bring along a can of something good--anything except fruit. It did not sound very appetizing to go back and eat out of a can. However, Brewer had gone to the cabin before anyone else and had opened all the cans of food and dumped them into a big kettle and had it piping hot. Evidently there were plenty of dishes because everyone got to eat at the same time. Believe it or not there were no complaints about the food. We had all we wanted and it was good.

Brewer was quite a cut up. As it was mainly a fishing cabin, there were a pole or two, and he took one of them and baited it with food and set it out behind the cabin. It was not long before he had caught the camp robber. It looked very much like the big Blue Jays we have here in Kansas. After eating, some of the group were elected to clean up the dishes and that turned out to be a riot. The snow on the back side of the cabin was even with the eves so there were several of us guys up there defending the fort and it turned out to be a big snowball fight. We soon got tired of that and someone got the idea of putting something on top of the flue. It wasn't long before the snowballs were in flight again as everyone outside prepared for those coming out of the cabin because of the smoke filled room. There were other minor events but we realized it was time to start home. After the hike up to the cabin the night before and with very little sleep and all the exercise that we weren't use to the hay in the back of the truck was very welcome. I remember nothing of the trip back to town. However, I found it a problem getting that ankle under me to get off the truck and head home. It was a couple of years before I braved trying to ski again. That trip is another tale in itself. I hope this gives you a comparison of how much skiing equipment has improved.

Dad