From the Collection: Hit the Slopes!
Welcome to ski (and snowboard) season! Here in Southern Oregon, we’re fortunate to have easy access to the slopes of Mount Ashland, which peaks at 7,533 feet — the highest point in the Siskiyou Mountain Range. Mount Ashland has enticed locals with recreational opportunities since at least the early 20th century, but it wasn’t until a labor-of-love lobbying effort by local skiers in the 1960’s that the official ski area was created. Opening to the public on January, 11, 1964, the Mount Ashland Ski Area initially featured a rope tow, a T-bar lift, and a chairlift to the summit. The ski lodge wouldn’t be completed until later that year.
An important part of the mountain’s opening season was the creation of the Mount Ashland Ski Patrol, tasked with providing first aid and rescue services to mountain visitors. The patches and badge pictured here belonged to Bill Pruitt, one of the founding members of the Patrol during its 1963-1964 season. An avid outdoor recreationist, Pruitt was also a member of the Rogue Snowmen downhill ski club, which served as the nexus of the earlier movement to open the Mount Ashland Ski Area. Further afield, Pruitt and his friend John Day were instrumental in the 1966 establishment of the Oregon Nordic Club, which promoted “outdoor winter touring” across the state (See Day and Pruitt pictured together below.) Pruitt operated an outfitter’s guide businesses in the summer and fall, and was active in the Oregon Guides and Packers organization — note the “Oregon Guides and Packers” patch visible on Pruitt’s jacket on the photo at bottom right.
The foresight and dedication of local outdoor enthusiasts certainly contributed to the winter sports opportunities that we enjoy locally today. The next time you visit Mount Ashland, be sure to tip your hat to the folks who make the mountain run — Ski Patrol included!
