KACHIMAK SKI CLUB

1948 - 1996

THE KACHEMAK SKI CLUB WAS ORGANIZED IN 1948 WITH APPROXI­MATELY 18 MEMBERS. THE FIRST ROPE TOW WAS OPERATED ON ED HERDON'S HOMESTEAD WHICH HAD A MODEST SOUTH SLOPE ON DIA­MOND RIDGE ABOVE HOMER. THE GAS ENGINE DRIVEN TOW SUCCESS­FULLY SERVED THE CLUB UNTIL THE WINTER OF 1955 WHEN A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF SNOW PLUS THE SOUTH SLOPE FORCED A RELOCATION. THIS TIME IT WAS MOVED TO A LOCATION THAT WAS A MILE IN FROM THE FORK ON THE OHLSON MOUNTAIN ROAD. THE SLOPE FACED NORTH WITH THE TOP NEXT TO THE ROAD. THE TOW ENGINE LOCATION NEXT TO

THE ROAD SIMPLIFIED THE HASSEL WITH GAS AND BATTERIES. THE SKI HUT WAS MOVED BY TRACTOR TO THE NEW LOCATION. HOWEVER, THE HILL PROVED TO BE TOO SHORT AND IT LACKED THE TERRANE NECESSARY FOR SPREADING OUT THE SKIERS.

IN DECEMBER OF 1958 THE KACHEMAK SKI CLUB WAS CERTIFIED AS A CORPORATION BY THE TERRITORY OF ALASKA.

SEVERAL YEARS LATER FOUND THE CLUB ONCE AGAIN PACKING UP AND. MOVING FURTHER TOWARD OHLSON MOUNTAIN. THIS TIME THE

HILL SEEMED IDEAL WITH A NICELY VARIED NORTH SLOPE THAT COULD BE SERVED BY A 800 FOOT ROPE TOW. FRED HARBISON, A HOMESTEADER, GAVE PERMISSION TO USE HIS LAND WHICH COVERED THE TOP 2/3 OF THE HILL. A LEASE AGREEMENT WAS REACHED WITH LOU AND JEAN STRUTZ FOR USE OF THE BOTTOM 1/3 PLUS ACCESS FROM THE ROAD. THIS PROVED TO BE A GOOD LOCATION AND CON­TINUES TO BE OUr PRESENT SITE.

IN 19   THE GAS ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH THE .PRESENT 440 VOLT ELECTRIC MOTOR. THE CLUB HAS A USED T BAR LIFT IN STORAGE WHICH WAS SURPLUSED OUT BY THE MILITARY BASE IN FAIRBANKS.

THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE PLANS FOR INSTALLATION.

THE ORIGINAL FOCUS OF THE CLUB WAS TOWARD CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS. THIS HAS NOT CHANGED OVER THE PAST 5 DECADES. SKI

 

CLASSES WERE HELD ON A REGULAR BASIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH

THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

THERE WERE RACE PROGRAMS FOR ALL

AGES WITH TEAMS COMPETING THROUGH OUT THE STATE AS WELL AS HOSTING MEETS IN HOMER.

WITH THE NUMBER OF ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN HOMER NOW DAYS, MANY OF THE CLUB'S EARLIER PROGRAMS ARE NO LONGER NEEDED. IT HASN'T, HOWEVER, DIMINISHED THE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE THAT ENJOY SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING ON THE KACHEMAK SKI CLUB FACILITIES.

 

By  R.H. MOSS  JULY 1996