The late 1930s were exciting times for Pacific Northwest skiers. The opening of the country’s first destination ski resort in Sun Valley, Idaho in 1936, by the Union Pacific Railroad, where the chair lift was invented and first installed, changed the ski industry forever and the area attracted skiers from all over the world. Seattle newspapers regularly reported on local skiers traveling by train to Sun Valley to enjoy the attractions if this international resort.
Western Washington skiing was organized around private ski clubs, and ski racing competitions were held most weekends in many areas accessible by car, including Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Cayuse Pass, and Snoqualmie Pass. The drives to these ski areas on two-lane icy roads was difficult and required a real commitment to the sport. Ski jumping was one of regular competitive events, reflecting the sport’s Scandinavian influence. The University of Washington had one of the dominant ski teams in the West, and high schools had organized ski clubs. The high degree of interest in skiing can be seen by the extensive coverage of the sport in local newspapers.https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/local_authors/1007/thumbnail.jp
