Mount Eyak
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| Mt. Eyak | |
|---|---|
| Location: | |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Vertical: | 800 ft |
| Top elevation: | 1200 ft |
| Base elevation: | 400 ft |
| Runs: | 10 |
| Longest run: | 750 ft |
| Lift system: | 2 (1 single chair, 1 rope tow) |
| Snowfall: | 350 inches [1] |
Mt. Eyak is a ski area located in Cordova, Alaska. It is operated by the Sheridan Ski Club.
Contents |
[edit] Lifts
In 1948, the Sheridan Ski Club was started and Skiers Lawrence Barr, Johnny Hoover, Jack Dineen and Vince Addington set up a rope tow near the the present-day Mews Apartments. The club even had a lighted hill for nighttime skiing.
The next improvement came in 1966, when Fred Pettingill got a car chassis to work for a rope tow. There is still a rope tow located in the same spot but it has been upgraded numerous times over the years. The rope tow works the current "bunny hill" and transports skiers from the main lift to the rental room and the other buildings.
In 1973, the City of Cordova got a $95,000 grant from BOR and a $52,000 grant from the Roads and Trails Grant fund. These grants, plus the city's commitment of funds and the Sheridan Ski Club's contributions of approximately $29,000 and volunteer labor, were used to construct present-day facilities.
Mt. Eyak is currently serviced by a single chairlift (as well as the rope tow). The chairlift was purchased from Sun Valley, Idaho, and transported by train to Seattle, then by ferry to Cordova. The Sheridan Ski Club painted the towers and repaired the chairs before the army used its helicopters to put the towers in place in 1974. It is the oldest working chairlift in North America. [2]
[edit] Services
Services include a rental room with skis and snowboard, a heated lounge with concessions, and a first aid room. The hill provides emergency medical care with a volunteer ski patrol.
[edit] References
- ^ Mount Eyak Ski Area: Alaska's Greatest Little Resort. Points North Heli-Adventures. Retrieved on 2008-03-09.
- ^ King, Rita. "Sheridan Ski Club Stretches Way Back", The Cordova Times.
