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Young Road Rope Tow

1960's
Name of Ski Area: Young Road Rope Tow
Location: Haines, north of the center of town on Young Road Hill
Type of Area: Ski Hill
Dates of Operation: 1960's
Who Built It?: Unknown (still researching)
Base/ Vertical Drop:

Unknown

Lifts: Rope Tow
Facilities: Unknown
Miscellaneous: Not much is known about this lost ski area, except that it existed and in general where it was located.  More research is needed.
Sources of Information:

Cynthia Jones; Heather Lende; Richard Lewis Aukerman
Photos:

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

~  PHOTOS  ~
 
Photos and stories from Richard Lewis Aukerman
Richard Aukerman's son skis off their roof in Haines in 1949. Richard's stories of skiing in Haines.  He mentions skiing Young Road and along the pipeline that went from Haines to Fairbanks. "Come Ski on Our Mountains", a poem by Richard Lewis Aukerman.

~  MAPS  ~

This large scale topo map shows the location of the ski hill to the north of Haines.  Haines is on Chilkoot Inlet which is a northerly branch of the Lynn Canal which leads south to Juneau.

(click on this map to expand it)

topo_young.jpg (157586 bytes)

This zoomed in topo map shows the estimated site of the Young Road Rope Tow (though at present this location is just a guess).

(click on this map to expand it)

topo_zoom_young.jpg (111719 bytes)

This recent road map of the roads north of Haines show that road expansion has occurred relatively recently.  And the ski hill is likely now replaced by a road.

(click on this map to expand it)

Research Correspondence 
[Cynthia Jones, Haines, AK - 29 November 2004 email excerpt]

Also, there was another area in town that had a rope tow for a few years back in the 60's.  The tow is still in someone's garage.  I have heard many funny stories, and know that it was near the top of Young Rd. (across town from the Fort), but not the exact spot.

Also, there used to be a big switchback on the highway just north of Canada Customs as the highway worked its way up to 3 Guardsman Pass.  Before it was eliminated in 1982, groups used to ski down from the top of the switchback while one in their party drove down to take them all back up.

Cynthia L. Jones
Director/Curator
Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center

[Heather Lende, Haines, AK - 01 December 2004 email excerpt]

Hi Tim, I know where the Young Rd. Hill is, it is a road now, but could dig a bit for you- there may be some photos, also there was another ski hill at Mosquito Lake, I could find about about that for you too. Neither have been in use in the last 20 years or more, and the tows are long gone.

 

 

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