Name of Ski Area:	Salmonberry Ski Hill
Location:	Valdez, at Mile 5.2 of the Richardson Highway.
Type of Area:	Ski Hill
Dates of Operation:	1984 to 1991
Who Built It?:	The City of Valdez
Base/Vertical Drop:	Base: ~100' / Vertical: ~225'
Lifts:	Harusch Model 1000 surface lift
Facilities:	Small shack for the lift operator at the top of the ski area, Piston Bully groomer
History:	This area was closed due to a lawsuit involving an injured skier.  The lift for this ski hill was originally at a site near Thompson Pass just north of the ADOT&PF Maintenance Station, at mile 27.5 Richardson Highway.  The lift was moved in 1983.
Sources of Information:	Chris Mishmash; Pete Bellezza
Photos:	Does anyone have pictures of skiing at the Salmonberry Ski Hill (or current pictures of the vicinity) that they would like to contribute to ALSAP ?

Salmonberry Ski Hill was built and operated by the City of Valdez.  It was open from 1984 to 1991.  The only facilities at the site were the Harusch Model 1000 surface lift and a small shack for the operator at the top.  It had a vertical drop of approximately 225 feet and was groomed regularly with a Pisten Bully snowcat groomer.  The area was closed due to a lawsuit involving an injured skier.

In 1995 the lift was sold at auction to Tom Moe Sr. (father of Tommy Moe, Olympic gold medalist) DBA Alaska Extreme.  A bid of $50 was accepted with the stipulation that the lift be put back into service privately in Valdez within two years to promote winter recreation.  This stipulation was not met and the bidder was forced, under a sales agreement, to pay $3.300, which was the amount a second bidder offered.

The lift was allegedly sold to a local Valdez resident in 1996 but its whereabouts is unknown.
 

I grew up in Valdez, and graduated from Valdez High School in 1984. As I recall, the rope tow at Salmonberry Ski Hill was the one originally installed at Thompson Pass, just north of the ADOT&PF Maintenance Station, at mile 27.5 Richardson Highway.

I do not know when the Thompson Pass rope tow was installed, but I skied there in 1982. My dad believes that Owen Johnson, a local Valdez contractor (now passed away), may have been involved in originally constructing the rope tow.

Once the rope tow was relocated to Salmonberry Ski Hill, which I believe was in 1983, I skied there a couple of times, and I do remember that the ski area was closed due to a lawsuit involving an injured skier, as previously mentioned by Chris Mishmash.