Scott,
For Tech Toots in the early ’60s, skiing at Mont Ripley was so convenient, inexpensive, and the snow conditions so good, that I over indulged in it, starting with my first winter at Tech. As I remember, a season pass was about $15. For another $5, one could leave skis, boots, poles, the whole shebang in the hut. It was fairly easy for car-less me to hitchhike over to Ripley for ski class and/or a day on the slopes. Beginning, intermediate, and advanced ski classes gave students three terms of PE credit of the six required for graduation in those days. Fred Lonsdorf was a world class instructor, with a WWII mountain division history. A couple years on Ski Patrol seemed to justify my reasoning for being there nearly every weekday.
During my third year, I got a summons to appear in Dean Meese’s office. He pointed out to me the folly of skiing rather than attending classes and doing the homework. The good dean put me on academic probation until I got my priorities straightened out, some classes repeated, and my grades up to snuff. And I thank him for it.
Great memories!
Larry Doyle ’64
Thanks for sharing your memories of skiing at Mont Ripley and Dean Meese’s story was great! -SB
—–
During the first week of school there were several activities that freshmen were encouraged to take part in. The one on Mont Ripley involved the freshmen climbing up the hill while seniors threw tomatoes at them from the top. What could go wrong here? By the time the large group made it to the hill and then to the top, they were out of tomatoes and the seniors were gone. We were upset! Somehow we decided to beat the seniors to the bridge. In order to do that we took a more direct route down the hill and picked up some apples along the way. We made it to the bridge in time, and I am afraid that was the end of that freshmen activity.
Skiing was only 25 cents a day or $5 for a season pass. Of course they only had a rope tow and Quonset hut. There was a storage room in the back where we left our skis. The high speed rope to the top was a lot of fun. Reinforced mittens were best and no fancy jackets. When the snow piled up just right you could go airborne on the way up the hill. The T-bar was put in after awhile. The most memorable run there was when a few of us showed up one day when the temperature was 30 degrees zero and we talked them into letting us do one run before they shut it down for the day. That was enough.
Sometime during my time there I joined the ski patrol. We did a lot of training on how to use the toboggans to get injured people off of the hill. Most of the time they would slide off the steep part so it was not too hard. Sometimes the toboggan from the top of the hill had to be used; that was very exciting to take back up the rope tow. The final test for the ski patrol started with a climb up the hill on our skis just to get us warmed up for the toboggan drills. After we had mastered first aid and toboggan safety, our leader thought we should get our avalanche patches to add to our jackets. Don’t think we ever had any avalanches but we learned about different types of snow and how to use the probes. Just part of the complete education you get at Tech.
My roommate was on the ski team and he showed me one of their training tips. It involved cutting a car inner tube in sections so you had a large rubber band. You would then take your skis off, put the band over both boots, put your skis back on and ski from the top of the hill. I’m a pretty good parallel skier now but I have trouble keeping my feet far enough apart for these new skis. I still ski out west with the Orlando Ski Club whenever I can.
Jim Johnson ’68
Tomato throwing on Mont Ripley…that sounds like an interesting time. Thank you for sharing your memories of Mont Ripley! -SB
—-
Hi,
I was with the IEE group and as I remember we did St. George & The Dragon on the fly. It was pretty basic back then compared to the current efforts. If there is anyone still around from that group and you have other memories my email is jrsack3@gmail.com. I will be watching via the web as the carnival develops.
Jim Sack, ’55
Thanks for sharing and for watching Winter Carnival. Thanks for letting people know your contact information to get in touch with you. -SB
—-
1975?
Ann Seyfert ’78
So close! 1976 was the year for the logo. Thanks for submitting your guess. -SB
—-
Scott,
Another excellent newsletter! Thanks very much.
Regards,
Dave Gothard ’71
Glad you enjoy reading it! -SB