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Newton Peak Rope Tow

1940s ?
Name of Ski Area: Newton Peak Rope Tow
Location: Nome, north of town on Newton Peak, base of tow located on North Star placer claim MS 1855
Type of Area: Ski Hill, Ski Jump
Dates of Operation: 1940s ?  (still researching)
Who Built It?: Unknown (still researching)
Base/ Vertical Drop:

Unknown

Lifts: Rope Tow
Facilities: Unknown
Miscellaneous: Charlie Painter remembers seeing car wheels on posts on Newton Peak - remnants of an old rope tow.  To the west a short distance from Newton Peak is Anvil Mountain where a DEW Line Station once was operational.  US Army troops were stationed in Nome during WWII.
Sources of Information:

Charlie Painter; Rachel Steer; Adem Boeckmann
Photos:

Does anyone have pictures of skiing at the Newton Peak Rope Tow (or pictures of the current area) that they would like to contribute to ALSAP ?

~  PHOTOS  ~
 
WWII Troops at Newton Peak in 1944
 

~  MAPS  ~

This large scale topo map shows Newton Peak (elevation 1152') to the north of Nome.  When we get more information as to where the rope tow was located, we will update this map.

(click on this map to expand it)

topo_newton.jpg (162283 bytes)

~  PICTURES  ~
 
   
  Newton Peak photo taken by Rachel Steer from Anvil Mountain in March, 2007  

Research Correspondence 
[Charlie Painter, Nome, AK - 06 December 2004 email excerpt]

There was a rope tow on Newton Peak in the 40's put up by the military I think. Both car wheels were still up not too many years ago but I think have since fallen. I'll try to find an old-timer who might remember.

[Rachel Steer - 30 March 2007 email]

I was in Nome a couple of weeks ago and got this shot of Newton Mountain from the top of Anvil. I wasn't sure if you had any recent picts of the mountain. We did a ski festival while I was there, I xc skied in town and Rosey Fletcher and Alex Wilson snowboarded/alpine skied at Newton with snowmobiles. I talked to someone who remembered a rope tow up there.

[Adem Boechmann - 23 & 26 November 2007 email excerpts]

The base of the old rope tow is located on the North Star placer claim MS 1855.  I own the claim and have recently purchased the Russian Jack Springs rope tow from Anchorage, hoping to start up the Newton Peak rope tow again.

The base is intact without the tow, I'll get some pics.  The rope tow was running within memory of some of the old timers.  Rosco Wilkie was operating it then he passed away I think, but I think his family owns the Alaska Power Sports in Anchorage.  I'll look into pictures from then.

 

 

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