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Homer First Rope Tow

1948 to 1955

Name of Ski Area: Hearndon's Homestead, First Rope Tow, Ski Club Rope Tow
Location: Homer, on Ed Herndon's homestead, south side of Diamond Ridge
Type of Area: Ski Hill
Dates of Operation: 1948 to 1955
Who Built It?: Kachemak Ski Club
Base/Top/ Vertical Drop:

Base: ~950' / Top: ~1150' / Vert: ~200'

Lifts: Rope tow, gas engine driven
Facilities: Warming hut
Miscellaneous: This rope tow was forced to be relocated in 1955, due to a minimal amount of snow and this south facing slope caused snow to melt too fast.
Sources of Information:

Robert H. Moss, a written summary of the Kachemak Ski Club (1948-1996); Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Steve McCutcheon collection; John "Jake" McLay; David Scott

Photos: Does anyone have pictures of skiing on the First Rope Tow Hill (or current pictures of the vicinity) that they would like to contribute to ALSAP ?

~  PHOTOS  ~

1954 - Here is a shot of the Kachemak Ski Club's first rope tow in Homer, on the south slopes of Diamond Ridge.  Apparently this was a very vibrant and popular skiing venue judging by all the skis and people.

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Photo credit: Anchorage Museum of History and Art, MCC 4105

Jake McLay Photos from the 1950's

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[Photo credits: John "Jake" McLay]

1950s slalom course skiing at the Kachemak Ski Club's First Rope Tow on the Browning Homestead.  Slalom poles were saplings back then. A good shot of a good skier!  You can see the tow rope in the background. Slalom racer at the Homer First Rope Tow area on Diamond Ridge.
Bill Kramic skis a slalom course. A good view of the ski hill and lift. This ski area had great views.  Mid McLay and overlook of Kachemak Bay.

[Left] An image of an 1950's Kachemak Ski Club patch. 

[Right] Homer Winter Carnival float.

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[Patch courtesy of David Scott; Float photo: John "Jake" McLay]

KachemakPatch.jpg (130190 bytes)

~  MAP & AERIAL VIEWS  ~

This topo map shows where the Kachemak Ski Club's First Rope Tow was located, on a south slope off of the Diamond Ridge Road.

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topo_homer_first.jpg (148177 bytes)

A 1996 aerial view shows where the First Rope Tow was located relative to Homer.

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terra_homer_first.jpg (116128 bytes)

A zoomed in aerial view shows the approximate location of the First Rope Tow off of Diamond Ridge Road.

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terra_zoom_homer_first.jpg (95340 bytes)

Research Correspondence 

Kachemak Ski Club History, 1958-1996 by R.H. Moss

John "Jake" H. McLay Skiing Recollections

 

 

Links to Homer Lost Ski Areas:

Fred Anderson Rope Tow

Homer Elementary School Practice Hill

Homer First Rope Tow

Homer Second Rope Tow

Ohlson Mountain Air Force Rope Tow

Svedland - McLay Hill

 

 

Do you have further information, stories or pictures that you would like to contribute about this ski area?