Hyak Ski, Snowboard, Nordic (original) (raw)

Timeline of Snoqualmie Pass area events in history

1865�The first wagon train consisting of 6 wagons made it over the pass traveling east to west.

1905� First motorized traffic across Snoqualmie Pass.

1909� The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway opened over Snoqualmie Pass.

1912� Regular ferry service was established making the water route across Keechelus Lake part of the trip.

1915� The Snoqualmie Tunnel opened from Rockdale to Hyak

1928� The Seattle Ski Club, whose members were all first-generation Norwegians, was organized.

1929�The SSC's first ski-jumping tournament was held at Beaver Lake hill at Snoqualmie Pass.

1933� Seattle Parks Department, under the direction of Ben Evans, had a small patch of trees cleared at
Snoqualmie Pass, known as Municipal Hill. First public ski area on Snoqualmie Pass was dedicated by Gov Ros.

1934� Sahalie Ski Club was formed (located near Alpental)

1934� Washington State Highway Department completed paving and highway 10 was dedicated. Originally opened as part of State Road-2 ("The Sunset Highway"), it was renamed US-10 during the 1930s as US and State highways were going through renumbering.

1936� The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway begins clearing area at Hyak Wa. for a new ski area at
the eastern portal of the Snoqualmie Tunnel.

1937�The Seattle Times and The Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway opened the "Snoqualmie Ski Bowl"
at Hyak on Snoqualmie Pass. The railroad cashed in on the region's budding interest in outdoor sports, and the
initial lack of adequate highways, to support winter day trips to the Cascades. Its catch phrase, "Let the Engineer
do the Driving," highlighted the package's ease and convenience.

1937�Jim Parker and Chauncey Griggs formed Ski Lifts, Inc. and Webb Moffett became their first employee.
The Seattle Parks Department allowed a concessionaire (Ski Lifts, Inc.) to build a small rope tow at Municipal Hill.

1938� Lights installed at the Snoqualmie Ski Bowl (Hyak) for night skiing. A ski train left Seattle at 5:45pm to arrive at 7:45pm. It left the bowl at 10pm and would arrive home at midnight. On January 14 it was said to be the first midnight train ever operated.

1940� Seattle citizens complained about the parks department trying to support a park so far away (Municipal Hill)
so the Parks Dept. transferred ownership of Municipal Hill to Ski Lifts, Inc. With the ownership change, the name
was changed from Municipal Hill to Snoqualmie Summit Ski Area.

1941� First ski jump competetions held at the Snoqualmie Ski Bowl. (Hyak)

1942�Torger Tokle set a new ski-jump record at the Snoqualmie Ski Bowl National Championships.

1942�After WWII began the Milwaukee Road shut down the ski area to put all attention on the war effort.

1942�Griggs and Parker sold Ski Lifts, Inc. to Rance Morris and Webb Moffett for $3,500.

1943� April 16th, the Sahalie Ski Club lodge burned to the ground.

1944� Mountaineers lodge on west side of Snoqulamie Pass burns to the ground.

1945� Lights for night skiing were installed at The Snoqualmie Summit ski area.

1946�The war ends and the Milwaukee Road Railroad resume operations of the ski area with many changes. First,
they rename the Snoqualmie Ski Bowl to The Milwaukee Ski Bowl so the area will not be confused with the Snoqualmie
Summit ski area.

1946�The Milwaukee Ski bowl installed the first high-capacity ski lift on Snoqualmie Pass named the Talley-Ho
SkiBoggan. This was a surface lift that would carry 1440 skiers per hour designed by Keith Talley of Seattle.

1947�Milwaukee Ski Bowl hosted the Olympic Ski Jump Trials for the upcoming 1948 Olympics and it brought people from all around the world. (During those trials there was a new long jump record set)

1948 �Ray Tanner installs the first chairlift on Snoqualmie Pass at a new ski area called Ski Acres, 1 mile east of
Snoqualmie Summit.

1948� Mountaineers build lodge on land between Ski Acres and Summit of Snoqualmie ski areas. The lodge replaces the one lost by fire 4 years prior. 160 voulenteers help construct.

1949�Tragedy strikes during the 49/50 season as the Milwaukee Ski Bowl Lodge catches fire on December 2, 1949
and burns to the ground. The railroad continue to run the resort out of train cars through 1950.

1950� The Milwaukee Ski Bowl is closed. The railroad decides not to rebuild the lodge and gets out of the ski resort
business.

1953� First POMA lift installed in the USA at Snoqualmie Summit ski area. (surface lift)

1955�The Summit at Snoqualmie installs the first double chairlift, Thunderbird at Snoqualmie Pass and also builds a
mountain top lodge known as the Thunderbird Lodge.

1959�The Hyak Ski Corporation purchases land north of where the Milwaukee Ski Bowl operated and began operation.

1960� The Conifer Basketball Camp created by Chuck Randall, Earlie McKie and Ray Thacker. The basketball
camp had 450 participants their first year and ran for 14 seasons. (one of the first basketball camps in the USA)

1967� A new ski resort "Alpental" opens at snoqualmie pass. Warren Miller produces a film of the same name about
the resort.

1971� A double chair lift at Hyak went out-of-control in reverse injuring 7 persons, one serious. (article)

1974� The Conifer Lodge burns to the ground. The Conifer Basketball Camp came to an end.

1980� Ski Lifts, Inc. purchased Ski Acres from Ray Tanner.

1983� Alpental was sold to Ski Lifts, Inc. from Westours, Inc. to give Ski Lifts, Inc. 3 of the 4 Snoqualmie ski areas.

1988� Ski Acres opens new terrain with the addition of the Silver Fir triple chairlift.

1992� Hyak ski resort sold out of bankruptcy court to Ski Lifts, Inc. so SLI now owned all 4 ski areas.

1997� Ski Lifts, Inc. sold to Booth Creek Holdings. All 4 areas were renamed "The Summit at Snoqualmie" with each
area given a new or altered name. Summit West, Summit Central, Summit East and Alpental at the Summit..

2002� Mountaineers shut down rope tows at lodge facility (rumor is due to insurance issues).

2003� After severe rains, a 40' section of the Alpental access bridge collapsed cutting off direct access from Lot 1 as
well as communications lines and sewer. Alpental still opened on time with alternate access route from parking lot.
The bridge was rebuilt in 2005.

2006� The Snoqualmie Pass Mountaineers lodge burns to the ground.

2006� Booth Creek sells the Snoqualmie Pass ski areas to CNL investment group. Booth signs a long term
agreement to continue to run manage the ski area. A couple months later Booth Creek sells management of the
ski area to Boyne USA.

2008� The Silver Fir triple chair is removed and replaced with a new high-speed quad. The new lift is called The Silver Fir Express. Land on the north side of the lift called Silver Fir Properties is developed, roads added with utilities for vacation homes (aprox. 70 lots).

2009� After massive amounts of rain a landslide rumbles down the face of the Hyak ski area taking with it one tower
from the Keechelus lift as well as damaging multiple homes including pushing Norm Cravens house off its foundation.
The Keechelus lift is broken beyond repair and the ski area shuts down for the season for downhill access. Nordic Center
re-opens the following weekend.

(last updated 11/26/12)