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| February 22, 1951 Indian Valley Record |  |
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February 22, 1951 |
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elake Pioneers Carve Ski Run at Medicine Lake
JOHN B. EDMANDS,
The Tulelake Reporter
) one in the northeast end
or in the south-
end of Oregon, was very
surprised when a band
Tulelake farmers
n volunteered
time, their machinery and
to clear red tape
a mountainside to build a
road and to defy all he
• • . all so that a com-
might ski on week-ends.
was not an easy project,
there was good reason to
it couldn't succeed. But
the first day a 15-year-old
fall big timber, to
farmer financed the
of three Army surplus
cats . . . the issue was
doubt.
is synonymous with
(and for some, .the
a 20,000-Japanese intern-
camp in World War II),
homesteading demands a
of pioneer spirit,
and just plain guts.
Good Challenge
a community that lind
from a 90,000-acre lake
thriving center of over 700
homesteads and a
business center with a
and a quarter assessed
in two short genera-
demands as the Medi-
ski project presented
nothing more than just an-
good challenge.
Lake is located in
of Shasta National
and the 25 crow-fly miles
over some very
roads was only further
for early Tulelake pio-
to make this beauty spot
SUmmer retreat. Even in
'20s, cottages began to
around the lake's calm,
shores.
early days, too, the
Mountain peaks that
better than 1000 feet
Lake's 6200-foot
very tempting for a
ski enthusiasts, both
part of California and
the line in Oregon.
the development of Medi-
as a year-round play-
this end of the great
Basin was never seri-
Considered, and there were
among the "first settlers"
too anxious to have
retreat turned into
haven.
Many Changes
end of World War II
changes to Tule-
it brought also three
drawings.., and
transformation into a
area and community
percentage of young
•.. most of them grad-
of the World War II school
enthusiasm for, get-
. . . and enjoying it.
in the summer of 1949
enthusiasm was first
into a plan for a corn-
' organization with an oh-
of developing the Medi-
eke area into a ski slope
to enjoy• .
t the official blessing of
National Forest offi-
to be obtained. Talking,
time and persistence ac-
this important first
while the forestry
)roved the plan to
slope on Badger
1% miles southwest of
Lake itself, the Shasta
Could promise little in
of assistance in keeping
road open the year
and improving that road
passenger car
Went Ahead
were other foreboding
misgivings that
discouraged another
project from the out-
: L:L ....
PRETTY GIRLS BLEND IN WITH WINTER WONDERLAND AT MEDICINE LAKE
These two women skiers are attracted t6 the smooth slopes of the mountain
set. But Tulelake's young folk
wouldn't take no for an answer,
and they went ahead with their
own plans to develop a winter
wonderland deep in the heart of
virgin timber, where six feet of
snow has been known to hide
the summer cabins, and over
roads that at times had defied
all but the heartiest jeep.
Even while Medicine Lake Ski
Club was being born, an advance
guard had cleared one ski slope
six miles below the lake, and
Tulelakers with not too much
regard for a set of tires and the
limitations of a clutch were get-
ting their first taste of skiing in
their own back yard.
One young farmer's cat, an-
other's engine, and the rope pro-,
vided by contributions from
many, were all the investment
that went into that first ski
slope in 1949. But it was ski
country, and the idea was gain-
ing enthusiasm fast.
Before the end of that season,
Medicine Lake Ski Club had
over 200 adult and small-fry
paid-up members. And there was
s t r o n g representation f r o m
Klamath Falls, Ore., where skiers
desired a change from the con-
gested slopes of Crater Lake.
Winter Playground
Throughout the spring and
summer of 1950, the idea grew:
A pastime for a few hardies had
snowballed into a necessary win-
ter playground for businessmen
with a yen for a "day away from
it all;" housewives who still re-
tained their girlhood love for the
outdoors; kids who loved .the
snow despite their allegiance to
sunny California; and young
farmers and farmers' sons who
wanted to pour their energies
into something worthwhile dur-
ing the slow winter months.
With an eye to the complexi-
ties and legal responsibilities of
even a humble community proj
ect, club officers took steps to
incorporate, and investigation
was made for adequate liability
insurance coverage.
Other skiers thought first aid
in the remote Medicine Lake ski
country was a must, and this
group went ahead with the
formation of a ski patrol in-
structed in first aid by qualified
Red Cross instructors•
Meanwhile, armed with Shasta
Forest approval, another group
was clearing the first half of a
3000-foot slope; and a cut-off road
into the ski area was being
pushed through tall timber with
farmer-owned cats and bulldoz-
ers and graders, manned six
hours at a stretch by young men
who might have spent the time
more comfortably at a movie, or
home with their famines.
Work Continued
All that "summer . . . when
SKIERS CLIMB ABOARD ONE OF THE SLEIGHS FOR JOURNEY TO HIGH LAND
Medicine Lake Ski Club operates special snow cat for winter enthusiasts.
o
spud irrigating or harley com-
bining didn't interfere . . . and
all through the fall, the work
continued. In late November,
when the first heavy snows had
covered the 7473-foot Badger
Peak, the skiers were there.
Much equipment had been
gathered, and much more was
needed. A fashion show was held
and ski films shown, and the
club's treasury was slowly built
up.
Two of the three snow cats
purchased from Army surplus
were put into working condition,
using parts of the third machine.
A sleigh to transport 22 persons,
with full equipment from the
car-park area to the ski tow was
built; a 700-foot rope tow was
installed; and it was all no
sooner done than it became ap-
parent it wouldn't be enough.
And It Grows
There was pride in these
young Americans over their ac-
complishment, and their club
•.. one of many demanding their
time in a small community...
Personalized
Miniature
MAIL
BOX
Salt & Pepper
Shakers
FOR YOU
AND YOUR
FRIENDS
$2
",,"
NO O.O.n.'m
imm.
Name, City and State of the one yon w bdl
to llea bxad imlatl on white pottery.
Flag on reverse mide la _JLreen,
became an important part of
their lives: Business meetings
were always well attended; so-
cial events were inevitably a
success; arm crests and member-
ship cards were worn or carried
with pride, and skiing came into
its own in Tulelake.
The story of Medicine Lake
Club, Incorporated, is not com-
plete. There is the final legal
steps for incorporation, there is
an advanced course in first aid
being arranged for the patrol
that has just completed the basic
first aid classes; the 700-foot rope
tow will have to be doubled to
meet the demands that the full
3000 feet of the slope be utilized.
The long road into the ski
country must be kept cleared,
.and the one sleigh has already
been augmented by a second
home-built affair; an old bus has
been hauled 3000 feet up and 27
miles in for use as a warm-up
shack, while there is still the
hope that the nearby Medicine
Lake Lodge will be operated the
Steam Engine
Direct from Factory!
P" '19"
Only n ms postpaid
Real model stationary steam
engine: Made to sell for
$25.00. Precision-built coil4 cast braa en-
gtne---K" bore x IK" stroke. 2-etep lliley
for epeed change. 1/30 H.P. at 1000 RPM.
Seamless drawn brs boiler. Whistle sate-
ty valve, throttle, water gauge. 475-watt
Igenerates Ilenty of real stem and power
to run moels, toys, etc. 6"zg"xll" Wgt.
7 lb& 8afe---tnatrucUve. Monet I$aek Gmr-
mites.
Bead Oheek o Mosey Orde
Jn fedli f prepedd deHvmT.
(in mufornla sd4 3½% Idee
D-K MIODUCl"$
W, lt'See m., I sSe l& Clam•
year-round to serve skiers and
fishermen alike.
(;all to War
And all the time, Uncle Sara
keeps draining this Medicine
Lake Army into another, more
important Army. But this doesn't
bother these young sportsmen,
most of whom have served their
country in one war.
As one young farmer put it:
"If I'm going to help with this
thing, I'd better get on the ball
• . . next month I may be back
in the Navy."
Some day when you are driv-
ing through this corner of Cali-
fornia, already famous for it
ducks, iLs geese, pheasant, deer
and outdoor life, bring along
your skis, for in November
through to June there's a new
thrill in store on the picturesque"
slopes of Badger Peak.
And if you're flying, just 260
air miles from San Francisco,
and 30 miles east-northeast of
towering Mount Shasta, you will
find the pride and joy of Tule-
lake . . . its ski slope.
Tulelakers have just cam-
pleted construction of a fine new
air field, located nine miles
south of the city at Newell.
No more pioneer spirit left in
America?
Who're you kidding?!!
READ THE
CLASSIFIED ADS
IN
"The Market Place"
On This
Page Issue
You may find a bargain there, or
you may be reminded of something
you have to sell.
Put The Market Place to work for
you. TIT a classified ad in MAGA-
ZINg CALIFORNIA•
BUSINESSES FOR SALE-'I
EE -- CATALOGUE -- FREE [
dreds of all kinds of California bgd: |
for sale by owners. All Ix'lcse,.Idll |
caticms, gives, nam e/ addresses, price, II
come, ore. No obligations. Send 9odar for |
'BUSINESS BUYER'S GUIDE" I
o: west s,,., L A-es S, Cs!!f. !
Suth Sweet, Sm Francisco 4, cm i
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