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Shared Legacy of the Ski Industry and the U.S. Forest Service
The ski industry and by association the four season resort industry in the United States has been greatly influenced by the mission, vision, and policies of the U.S. Forest Service.
As recreation management developed and the automobile changed mobility of Americans, the first tracks of the ski industry were made. The creation of the Tenth Mountain Division and the military base at Camp Hale in Colorado was an important chapter in both US Forest Service and US history. The use of the White River, San Isabel, and Arapaho National Forests for elite mountain training also set the stage for an ongoing partnership between the Forest Service and the many Tenth Mountain Division veterans who, upon their return from World War II, were drawn back to those forests.
The veterans are among many visionary leaders, like Edward La Chappelle, Monte Atwater, Alf Engen and Felix C. Koziol, Wilfred “Slim” Davis, Peter W. Siebert, George Gillette, Jr., Carl Howelsen, Karl Hovelsen, Wilhelm Josef “Willy” Schaeffler, Averell Harriman, Dave McCoy, Paul Hauk, Peter Wingle, Bill Healey, Max and Edna Dercum, Vern Sprock, Scollay Parker, Richard “Dick” Durrance, from both the Forest Service and the skiing community who helped launch a recreation industry that now attracts thousands of people to enjoy our national forests year-round.
As skiing grew in popularity, the Forest Service moved into the forefront in avalanche research and forecasting, ski area design, and winter sports policy. The agency was closely tied to the National Ski Patrol, the National Ski Areas Association, avalanche control, and began developing a fledgling corps of ski rangers.
The ski industry has grown in size and complexity since its early days, and there have been challenges and great accomplishments. Through all these years one undeniable fact has stayed constant and that is the industry depends on the National Forests and the Forest Service depends on the ski industry as an essential recreation service partner. The industry has millions of skiers who appreciate the benefits of this partnership.
Photo Gallery of Ski Industry
Learn more:
10th Mountain Division Association
U.S. Ski Hall of Fame and Museum
USFS National Avalanche Center
National Ski Areas Association
National Ski Patrol
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