Our History:
The Sequoia Ski Club was organized on February 4, 1935, by a group of 15 snow enthusiast who met in
the Chamber of Commerce office in Lindsay, California. The name
"Sequoia Ski Club" was unanimously adopted.
Those attending the initial meeting were: Chairman John
Calkins, Robert M. Elliott, Hugo Nelson, Ruby Davis,
Josephine Reynolds Stevens, Sidney Longacre, John
Kraul, Glenn Stanton, Glenn Stanton Jr., Gene Tienken, Marvin Graham,
Edward Olson, Ted Dorey, W.B. Givan, and Lee Clearman.
The next meeting was held on February 14, 1935 at which the
Constitution was drawn up and adopted. Before the year was out
this new club boasted a membership of 79 Active Members and
24 Auxiliary Members from all over the San Joaquin Valley. The Membership fees were $1.00 per year.
In those early years, there were no developed areas for downhill skiing within 200 miles, hence most of the members skated at an ice rink at Lodgepole in Sequoia National Park. After much prodding and help from the California Conservation Corps (CCC) and National Park Service, a road was built to Wolverton Meadow.
Over the next several years the club
developed the Wolverton Ski Area. A lease and permit was
obtained from the National Parks Service to operate and
maintain rope tows on the ski hill (Baldy).
1945 1st of 4 Rope tows installed
With a permit from Sequoia National Park, The
Sequoia Ski Club installed and operated the 1st rope tow at Wolverton Ski Area. Four more tows were installed over the
next several years. Members of the club received a discount
on the $2.50 dailly lift pass, which saved them $1.00 per day. Consequently the membership of the club
increased dramatically to o
ver 300.
1957 Rope tows are sold
Because of operating personnel and the maintenance cost, the tows where sold to Jack Reese in 1957. He maintained the equipment and reimbursed the club 15% of the yearly lift sales. A fourth tow was installed in 1960.
1962 Race and Ski School Begins
In 1962 members Stan Beach and Howard Kunkel started up the Sequoia
Racing School and the Ski Patrol Program. Howard, Stan and other "judges" as they were called at the time, used a teaching system named The Uniform Ski Test, developed by Far West Ski Association (FWSA) a division of United States Ski Association. Press releases -1 2
1965 adds a Warming Hut
In 1965 by means of a grant, the club purchased to relocate and
remodel a building from the Forest Service which would serve as
a Warming Hut. Services included food and beverage and
housed the Ski Patrol and First Aid.
1982 Wolverton Ski Area Closes
The National Park Service did not renew the permit to operate
the rope tows at Wolverton Ski Area. The site closed and all
equipment was removed. Skiing was still permitted, however you had to
walk to the top of the unmaintained runs and ski down.
Club Cabin at Pear lake
The Pear Lake Cabin was built in 1941 at an elevation of
9,200 ft. by the National Park Service and the
California Conservation Corps. The Park Superintendent, E.T.
Scoyen chose the original site and designed the structure
which was built from granite & local timber. The Sequoia Ski
Club maintained the cabin with food and cooking utensils,
heating oil, blankets and sundries for 35 years. Many European and Scandinavian visitors came to
the back country for winter skiing or summer back packing and were
welcome to use the cabin on the honor system for $2.50 a
night.
