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- Опубликовано: 16 апр 2020
- A crew of backcountry skiers set out to explore Colorado’s lost ski areas in hopes to find adventure amongst the ruins.
Instead, they discover the truth behind what made these areas close their doors for good and illustrates what skiing used to be like before mega resorts and climate change wreaked havoc on independently owned ski areas.
Through heart-wrenching interviews with former owners, ski patrol, and historians, The Road West Traveled uncovers what it’s like to be a skier in Colorado's backcountry and what it means to go from lost to found.
This video is intended for personal private viewing only. Contact info@theroadwesttraveled.com if you are interested in a public screening. 
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Just wanna say how much this bittersweet little video means to those of us that remember ripping it at areas like Berthoud Pass, Arapahoe East, Stoner, Geneva Basin, Dallas Divide, and so many others. The interviews with the people who worked so hard at keeping these small ski areas open was very touching. Thanks for acknowledging these early hero's of Colorado skiing.
BTW - my friends an I were early snowboarders at Berthod - (my roommate Paul is pictured on the trail map). I'm 66 years old now, and I still snowboard with my grandkids.
Thanks for the kind words, Dave! Comments like this make all the work worth it!
Would love to hear the stories you have about being some of the first snowboarders out there had to of been a while time
Yeah this brings back memories, im 12 byt me and my dad have skiied Berthoud Pass, and Arapahoe East.
Hey Dave, my brother was an early skateboarder, building a giant ramp that attracted pros to Lincoln, Nebraska, in the 80s. There have been professional and amateur documentaries made about that era. (Look up Dogtown Z-Boys.) You should definitely document the early days of snowboarding at all these classic mountains. Start a Google doc with your buddies from that era and get down all the stories you can remember. Plus, look for photos and videos and get those scanned or digitized and share.
It sounds like a bit of work, and it will be, but if you can recruit even a couple of friends to join you in the task, you'll have a ton of fun. Plus if you do post it on Facebook or WordPress, you'll find there's an entire community of dudes like you that used to carve it up back in the day.
back when working at a ski area was more of a lifestyle than a job.
I wish you made this into a series as each resort and area has a unique history and a story of the community around it. what a wonderful film!
I agree, could have easily turned this into a series of episodes. Quality is good enough to pitch to Netflix
Most definitely, heck I'm not even a skier.
This year Black Crows is doing it. The ghost ski resorts
I’m not a skier either but they have captured an ethereal feeling here. It really is great stuff and it’s professional quality ... the guests that they have featured tell their stories really well.
@@joroto5493 do you know when and where it would air?
abandoned ski resorts are sad, there used to be so many happy times and memories made there but now its just quiet and empty with a gust of wind going by every once in a while.
Yes but also fascinating in an erie way. I love it
Maybe not that sad his are not the only lines down many of those hills, returned to nature but not unused
@@zacharykoppinger9835 agree, I prefer to hike up myself and ski down. More rewarding, more quiet, more powder and it doesn’t cost anything.
You’ll also see the occasional backcountry tele-wacker like me go by every once in a while!
When I was a teenager in CO I could work 5 hours to make enough money to ski all day. Now, with lift tickets at $200 or more, I would have to work 16 hours to do the same. This is why I quit skiing. She has it right when she says "skiing once revolved around people instead of profits."
And somehow these resorts still have a hard time making money. There are more expensive lifts, more safety personnel, more amenities, and more snow canons. Better product demands more money.
Get a pass
I bought a seasons pass at monarch mountain for $289 this year. You just have to know where to ski and how to get the deals.
@@trunkb73625 you’re absolutely right I used to get a weekday pass for Sierra at Tahoe for $199. So basically you couldn’t ski when you didn’t want to cause it would be packed with all the tourists. I’d like to look into the actual numbers of season total snow fall. I know Tahoe has bad years. There’s definitely times when a place like Sierra at Tahoe won’t open until January cause they are completely dependent on natural snow to open. However, there wouldn’t be pray for snow parties since the 80s if there wasn’t bad years. I’m not saying there isn’t any affect at all, but it just seems like everything is magnified because we have information at our fingertips. Perhaps these inconsistencies always happened it just wasn’t as easy to know because you couldn’t go on your phone and look at season totals for the last 20 years. I’ve heard of global warming since I was in grade school in the 80s, but it seems like every 5 years you get a bad season, but also an epic one, and some normal average years. Maybe that’s just the way it’s always been🤷♂️. Personally I’d rather go to a place with some lifts and a place to warm up at the bottom take a bio break and get back out there. I don’t need a stone massage during my ski trip I guess I’m just a simple simple man.
Nothing revolves around people anymore, it's all about money.
This documentry hits all the sweat spots for me. Powder, nostalgia, local history, and even an awesome dog! great job!
I wonder if the riders got to meet the people interviewed involved with the mountains
@@Brian-420 the riders in the film are also the film makers so yes, we spent a lot of time with those interviewed and learned so much from them. It was awesome! ☺️
frrr how does this not have way more views then it already has
The sweat spots
@@ianholmquist8492 makes me warm to see that
And just like that, I’m compiling a list of abandoned ski areas to ride. The editing, storytelling and videography were on point. Thank you!
Where you from?
@@johnyeary6695 I’m up in Alaska. I’ll be driving across country this spring. I think it’d be pretty rad to stop and ride these forgotten resorts.
@@Fullstoke bucket list for sure man! About 8 hrs. from here in Texas.
@@Fullstoke I can only imagine the skiscape up there in the last frontier.
Most of those closed ski areas are closed because there is no snow.
Thank you for this film! There are so many wonderful independently operated ski area worth supporting in both Colorado and the east coast. It’s time to skip the multi-resort mega passes and support our local mountains once again.
Casey Birmingham I appreciate the sentiment but point out that "Colorado and the east coast" aren't the only two locations with local mountains. From southern Arizona to BC there are local ski areas that need our love.
I bought a pass at monarch mountain this year after many years of skiing at vail resorts!
I agree but sadly our local mountain was bought up by vail resorts.
I've been watching old Warren Miller films for a hit of nostalgia. This film was better. Loved the interviews.
52 year's old and been skiing since 1976. Live in Minnesota and in 1990/91 season worked at keystone resort. Man it was just like the old ski movies. Hot dog .ski patrol ect.
Have shredded with Glen Plake and been all over the west on ski trips.
Skiing is still my favorite thing in the world to do! As long as my body let's me I'll never stop! I can't get inverted or land big air as much anymore ( the ol knees) but my parallel is still fast crisp and perfect and I'm cool with that...⛷🏅
That is one damn good Dog...
Who was that? "Max" the bionic dog?!
I love this! I can't believe someone else is as interested in the history of ski mountains/resorts of the past as I am! I thought I was the only one. Thank you for this amazing video! I'm a ♦♦ skier from Massachusetts (skiing for 3 decades).
As a Colorado native, I remember when Berthoud announced opening its runs to snowboarding, I was elated! It took awhile for other places to open up to snowboarders. Keystone took forever to do that! Modern ski resorts have become social fests while losing is core. Still the clothes gets less hip as you go higher on the mountain...
The last part of this video, starting at 21:16, is perfectly written and presented. It speaks to me. The most cherished memories of my childhood center around skiing at a local resort, 16 miles out of town, with family and friends from about 1965 to 1976. We are lucky enough to still have that resort. There is enough snow, a large enough customer base, and a history of great management that have enabled it to keep going. So I was able to bring my own children there. They too have precious memories of it. This despite the homely name of Bogus Basin - referring to a fake gold strike there more than 100 years ago.
Grew up riding Berthoud pass. lift tickets were $40 a day and were discounted to $36 if there was not more than 4 inches of fresh in the last 24 hours! Bought my season pass in march for the following season for $149 and they let us ride the remainder of the year. I had some of the deepest days of my life, it led to skipping school and a powder addiction that still can't be satisfied today. Sadly, the resort closed that year to finance what would become ski granby and a failing brazilian airline. I still ride there whenever i make it to the front range to chase those days of my youth
When I started driving tickets were $6 dollars on a weekday,and $8 on the weekend at Berthoud.
We used to skip school on Tuesdays because if you had a student id you could ski free at Berthoud on a Tuesday.
@@jfkdotcom cinco de mayo 02 was all time! Those upslope events of yesteryear keep me coming back
@@jfkdotcom They encouraged kids to skip school?
@@phin422 sure did! used to drive my 78 camaro with skis and friends up from littleton all the time.
Man, loved that. I recall reading Ski Mag growing up, seeing ads and reading articles for those mountains. At times, I''ve wondered if I had imagined them. But no, they were real, and I had fantasized about skiing all of them as a kid growing up in Tennessee. There's something heroic about skiing. I think that's what has always attracted me to it. It takes courage to do it, a certain willingness to accept discomfort in order to achieve bliss. And there's something heroic about the ski business. I deeply admire the people who take the risks and put in the hard work so the rest of us can experience those moments of weightlessness, those days of adventure, those family memories that imprint indelibly on your soul. Thank you for making this, and thank you to the people who made these resorts a reality. Even if I never got to ski them, I got to dream of skiing them. And I wouldn't give up that dream for anything.
Beautifully written. Excellent points. Cheers
I really enjoyed your film. I'm sitting in London UK and I don't think I will get chance to ski this coming season due to corona virus travel bans and health issues. You film touched my heart, thank you for that. ❤
Thank you for the kind words. ☺️
There are only so many powderdays in a life time, we are opened up and the snow is fantastic in Aspen, get here, you will be glad you did.
What a great video. I always wondered about abandoned ski area history, and would find myself researching them online from time to time. Would love to see a follow-up to this featuring more areas.
Thank you, Tim! Maybe one day we'll get the time to go out and cover some more of the ski areas, there are so many out there.
@@TheRoadWestTraveled . Write a book , i think the $/market would be big enough.
Good video & idea angle also very nostalgic , 👍.
@@TheRoadWestTraveled i too would like to see more from you guys specifically
Learned to ski at Berthoud 1958-1962. Had the same instructor all 4 years. Taught me how to be a powder hound and go timber bashin'. I'm 73 and still doing it but can't do it all day any more. Your film is very well done. Choked up a couple times. Stop it.
Glad you are still skiing! Thank you for watching. ☺️
Max, Good on ya! Still skiing @73!👍👏🏻👏🏻 My 2004 last run at 51 was WAY Fun! On a ‘scoped knee back in 1990. From skiing in Sugar Bowl, NorCal. Agree most excellent video, gave me goosebumps besides reviving all my sweet ski memories and bringing me here! 👍😁😀
@@ladydi4runner Hey, sorry to hear about your knee. A lot of ski friends have had similar. We live in So Lake Tahoe and ski Sugar Bowl often. It's too bad big corps have taken over the sport with their resorts. Weekday lift ticket at Heavenly is $123. In 1960, Berthoud lift ticket was $7. Appreciate your comments.
I first skied Seven Devils North Carolina in 1981. Even though it was our last first time there, having usually skied at neighboring Sugar Mountain from the age of 3, I thought it would last forever. It felt as close to home as I can imagine- sadly, but happily for the current owners they have scaled it down to snow tubes and zip lines. Still has a wonderful holy spell on me when I revisited with my wife and two boys recently. There are hundreds of folks with awesome stories from our rad hill -
Long live the 80s!
My 3 year learned how to ski at sugar and he is hooked…still a great place to ski
This video is absolutely a perfect balance - just beautiful, heart warming, and melancholy. Really something. Thanks for your work.
I got back on skis this year after 32 years of absence. Up here in north east canada, we do not have such a rich and diverse portfolio of ski areas, but there is one that stands out, its Tremblant. I skied there most of the time in the 80s. I went back last week hoping to relive those unique and magical runs. Although i had fun, i have to admit that something is lost, what brought everyone to drive that far, what made us wake up at 5h in the morning to ensure first tracks, it was the passion for the sport. Thanks for this doc, it touched me to see dedicated people with that passion.
Lived in Leadville for a time and had the greatest time of my life skiing the area. Cooper hill was just outside of town and was never crowded even on weekends.
Love the huskies chasing down the mountain.
I don't think that dog is a Husky. I think it is a Samoyed! :)
Best ski movie I've seen since old school Warren Miller. Your film gave me goosebumps... Bravo!!!
Thank you, Matt, for such a wonderful complement!!
Exactly. Watched all those Warren Miller ski movies back in the ‘80s w my ski club, Sundancers in NorCal! Best of times! Great video!👍
I almost had tears in my eyes watching this beautiful portrayal of our carefree past
Heart warming and profound. Met that fellow at Berthoud Pass. Never guessed it would close before I had a chance to ski there.
Earning your turns can be just as sweet!
Earning your turns is the best 👳 camp out too then snowboard sunrise 🎦 nice film
I grew up skiing at Mt. Grampion in Oxford, MI (abandoned) and at a ski hill built on the North side of Lansing, MI that we just called "Mt. Lansing". I started on the bunny slopes with the tow rope and worked my way up to the ski lift. Drinking instant hot cocoa always reminds me of going into the "Chalet" after we'd worn ourselves out going up and down the slopes. Skiing was so popular that even at my middle school, kids would take the stickers that were proof you paid for your lift ticket and layer them onto the zipper of their coats.
Wow...great story, nicely shot ! As someone whose skied all over Europe, I never ever thought that areas such as these even existed.
So well done, a nice reminder to support smaller ski areas. The scene from 4:40 to 6:27 is chilling.
I was on Jr. Ski Patrol at Berthoud in the early 80's. Great little ski area.
I learned to ski tour up there. Always thought it would’ve been a fun place to see in its hayday
Is this old lift near Mary Jane?
@@Eastcentralstainingco no Mary Jane is part of Winter Park which is down the valley a few miles. Berthoud area is on top of the pss
I went from a Keystone intermediate skier to powder and steeps xpert in one season! It was great.
Love this movie reminded me of late 70's early 80's Vermont skiing. We had a ski area next to our school Round Top, skied every day. Vermont also has many abandoned ski areas with stories to tell.
Great job!
Grew up skiing Round Top. Lived in NOVA so it’s was a little farther from home than you. Now live 20 miles from Monarch and just did first day ever today with skins there. Was so much fun! You can get a season uphill pass there for $25😀
Grew up skiing Okemo, Round Top, Pico, Bromley, Ascutney. Too many to list. Raced at all of them.
@6:00 Those are some HAPPY dogs! I love seeing dogs flying down the hill full-gallop.
Wow! This is really cool. My mom was a ski instructor at Geneva during the 70s and early 80s so my dad would drive us up every weekend and my brother and I were just turned loose to pass the time in any old way: ski, sled, play with the tad poles in the frozen pond, bum around the lodge, hangout with the bartender and poach popcorn, play fuzeball. Every inch of that mountain and every turn in the road is indelibly imprinted on my soul. In the summer we’d earn our season pass clearing rocks and tree stumps and debris from the runs and help dig water bars....I’m certain we were not worth a shit as workers, but they still gave us the pass.
Also, LOVE that dog at Berthoud! He looks happier than a pig in shit
Wonderful video, thank you for putting this together!
Love that the dogs are in the credits
As a Colorado resident who moved to the state in 1976, it's rad to see this short documentary of ski areas of the past. I am fortunate to say I can remember 'way back when....'.
My first time skiing, I went cross country skiing at Mount Brodie, in Lanesboro, MA, in the early winter of 1986-1987. At one point in this video, there was a still shot of a snowy vista, which reminded me of that first time skiing. Thanks !~
That’s one more mountain that didn’t withstand the winds of change, but I suppose it could make for another back country skiing opportunity now!
Thank you for putting together a great ski film, very well done!
Such an interesting and well made documentary! I love the combination of the scenic skiing shots and the interviews. This channel will blow one day
Sad and beautiful. Nice job!!
Very melancholy. Thanks for doing this film, I hope you are able to visit more areas and share in the future. I definitely learned something tonight! Thanks again!
We skied with Jake Burton at Berthoud. Of course He was just starting his rise to fame with his snowboard. He might remember the teenage skiers who hung with him and drank in the old bar upstairs.we were only 18 but would get served at the bar, because we knew him. I also skied my first black diamond run at Geneva Basin in 1973 I was 12 at the time. Loved both of those ski hills. And miss them.
@KINGDOM MT He rode the chutes of Berthoud with no edges, and Sorels. Him and my buddy Hot Rod RIP. They were the best riders I have ever known.
I think you got served at the bar because the drinking age was 18 then..
@@ianholmquist8492 the drinking age was 18 for 3.2 beer not for alcoholic beverages like Jack and Coke which is what I was drinking most of the time
Excellent job on this. Really informative and pulled on my heart strings.
Fantastic film. Thank you for sharing this with everyone! I also grew up skiing at a small ski area in Vermont that is coming back to life thanks to the local community. There is wonderful passion in people who love to ski. Will you be making more films of the other closed ski areas on the map?
This is a beautiful film. It really does capture the spirit of skiing in Colorado.
As a Coloradan, I didn’t realized all the other classic old spots. This is a touching story. Thank you so much.
We as a snow spot community need to realize how fast the skiing/snowboarding community is declining we need to make a change so other people can in joy it as we are
That was so so awesome!thank you for sharing!!loved seeing people reminiscing.
Totally wonderful film making. Thank you.
Great video, so sad. It did however convince me to invest in uphill gear this year.
Thanks, Tom! Great to hear it inspired you to get an uphill setup. Have fun exploring out there!
and covid maybe? hah :/
@@Ben-ok2ue thanks buzzkill.
@@MrTravisCS i’m simply saying that covid/resort closures has caused a lot of us to head to the backcountry. have a nice day.
You'll be so glad you did! And, I like not supporting the evil Ikon/Epic empires.
I've watched this so many times. I love it and it makes me realize what I'm missing in my current ski life when compared to my childhood. "It's about the people"
Fantastic story. Love it. Going to share this with all my friends. Keep these types of films coming. Big message here - take heed!
It‘s such an unbelievably good documentary! Thank you!
This is such a great video, I keep coming back and watching it a few times a year.
Cool film. Was hoping to see Stagecoach covered. I skied there in 1972 and it closed soon after. Great snow. I have not been back to Routt county since then, but I hope people are hiking and skiing there today.
Yup. We still skin it and ski it!
Man what a beautiful video! And that mystical snow dog! Lots of lost ski areas here in Montana too. Cheers!
Thank you! Great job telling a story that pulled at my heart and made my feet antsy for another day of adventure.
I just have to write this comment and commemorate your work. This was such a well-established documentary very informative and it really made you feel the pains for the people that live there. I truly just had the pleasure of learning about a completely different state an area that I’ve never known before and you guys allowed me to feel like I knew the people in this video and understand what they were going through when these mountains closed. This is just an amazing documentary I would love to see you guys do this in another state or have a feeling there’s plenty of other ones to cover in Colorado. I look forward to following this channel and I seriously look forward to re-watching this video it just is a masterpiece.
What a fantastic video. Lucky enough to still ski Berthoud often. Cheers guys, loved it.
Absolutely fantastic!! One of the best filmed docs I've seen. No wonder it won so many awards
Brings back some great memories. Thank you. Don.....in Empire Colo.
Can’t wait to hit the slopes this weekend, this documentary got me so pumped, I love this!
This was a short that I thoroughly enjoyed, being a lifetime downhill skier myself. I would really like to see more and learn more about the small communities around these abandoned ski areas in a future film or perhaps a series 🤔. Pure Awesomeness.
I was a Ski instructor at Bethoud in the mid 70's along with Larry Wild Rice. The Ski Resort may be gone but not the memories. I still hike the mountain after a days fishing at Henderson Mine. Only I can say is what an adventure in my life. I'm happy to share this with all of you.
Not sure who had more fun skiing. You guys or your pup! Great film guys, from one skier to another I thank you 🤙.
WOW - really well done. Thanks for filming it. Is there a video about Vermont's lost ski areas?
I've hiked Cuchara twice in the summer and always wanted to explore it during the wintertime. Glad to know that might be possible soon!
Thanks for this! Very cool doc.
What a good reminder to be glad for every day on the hill! We can't take our resorts for granted. Great storytelling!
beautiful storytelling, excellent film making. thanks for putting this together guys!!!
This is an absolute fabulous video for anyone that enjoys skiing and really puts a visual to the industry and the changes it has went through... well done guys...
great short. Thanks for making it!!
Great soulful video! As I anticipate our boys return from college this weekend I am sending this to them. We will skin some of these areas(assuming it snows) between now and the time they go back to school in mid-January.
To my fellow backcountry enthusiasts I salute you! What a fantastic film. Love the home spun feel of the places. It was how I was immersed as a young child. Been at it 48 yrs and just got new BC touring skis for my bday! Im sold...Berthoud avy check!
Beautiful filming. Great editing and really good music too. Very well done. Thank you for sharing this story. Best wishes from New Zealand.
As a native coloradan and an avid skier this documentary really got me. So incredible
Lived in CO all my 45 yrs of life. That's was beautiful thank you!!!!!!
The snow, skiing, music, stories, memories, and the best furry snow buddy! Thank you!
One of the most bittersweet presentations I have ever watched.
Thank you.
Great Film well put together I Skied that 60’s and 70’s era it was just a big group of people that loved to Ski🤠
truly a wonderful video - both in aesthetics and in message. Thank you for making that.
Thank you for the kind words and for watching!
This is an amazing video. Born in 2000, I missed Colorado’s era for these mountains, but I didn’t move there until 2015. Spent 10+ years skiing in the east coast at small mountains just like these, most of which have now closed or been bought out. So nostalgic and so sad that there aren’t really places like this left anywhere
i loved this film, i remember skiing these areas when i was in my late 20's , they were great, i still have my ski pins, maps, from the ski areas you talked about. than i also backcountry skied Geneva Basin and Berthoud , thank you
What an exellent movie ! Thank you so much for this. Please do more. The Hamilton Leithauser song was perfectly place as well. And loved the dog chasing his owner down the ski slope. Just great !
Awesome video, thanks. I was lucky enough to get a job instructing at Ski Broadmoor during the 90-91 ski season. Tiny ski hill, but allot of fun. It was all about the people. Teaching people from Alabama how to ski. Good times!
Awesome video, love the concept and the history of Colorado. I'm subscribing to your channel for more adventures.
Great video! Really captures the story of these lost resorts.
Wow.
Thanks for that.
Reminds me of when I was living in Steamboat . From Mount Werner and quite a few other spots you could see the cleared pistes of Stage-Coach. I regret never having gone out there and hiked it.
Vale Art Higby and Tyler Gooding. Miss you guys.
Your Aussie mate Dick Mason.
Thank you, this was amazing! Please come do the lost Ski Areas of the Northeast!!!!!
I've lived here all of my life and never new these places existed. Thank you for this.
Grew up in Empire and Georgetown! Witnessed the new lift towers be put up at Berthoud Pass! Definitely miss those days! Thank you for a wonderful video! Brought back some great memories!
Wow what a great look back, well done guys. Looking forward this underlines the importance of supporting the independents, they need our support more than ever.
AWESOME! ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!! BERTHOUD PASS is on my bucket list now. THANKS FOR NEW ADVENTURE
Excellently done! just fantastic to see this in the middle of summer it reminded me how much I can’t wait for winter
Gives me goose bumps
Us too!
So good! Thank you for sharing
Amazing film and very touching. Truly loved it.
Clicked on it out of boredom. Was thoroughly surprised! Beautifully Done!!
Thanks very much for this documentary. Quite touching
Well done 👏🏻 this brought a smile to my face
Very well shot! Love the stories and history bites. Makes me want to go boarding!
What an amazing story so very well told!