Time Machine: 40 years ago, skier visits reach new record in Eagle County
Vail Trail/Vail Daily archive
10 years ago
April 12, 2014
A free Sound Tribe Sector 9 show filled Ford Park to capacity at the annual Spring Back to Vail party.
The show was described as “problematic” by Vail Police, who made 11 arrests.
“The people brought into the station were charged with offenses ranging from public urination to theft to disorderly conduct and trespassing,” the Vail Daily reported. “In one instance, a suspect is accused of kicking out a window on a town bus. Other concert-goers were seen wearing orange traffic cones as hats. In addition, Vail police were called to three reports of drug overdoses. Vail Police Chief Dwight Henninger said those overdoses all involved a form of horse tranquilizer.”
30 years ago
April 9, 1993
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Smoking was banned at the Vail Associates-operated cafeterias at Mid-Vail, Two Elk, Eagle’s Nest, Wildwood, and Spruce Saddle, the Vail Trail reported.
Vail Associates said the new non-smoking policy was adopted in response to requests from guests.
“Their concerns were prompted by the report from the U.S. surgeon general earlier this winter about the harmful effects of second-hand smoke,” the Trail reported. “Smoking is still allowed in bar areas, such as Golden Peak Restaurant and Trail’s End. While few restaurants in the Vail Valley have altogether banned smoking, bans on burning of tobacco leaves have gone into effect at more and more offices in the last few years. The no-smoking ban in VA offices went into effect four or five years ago.”
40 years ago
April 15, 1983
The number of persons who skied Vail Mountain and Beaver Creek broke all records for the Vail Valley, the Vail Trail reported.
Vail Mountain reported 1,243,000 skier days, a 10 percent increase over the 1981-82 season, and Beaver Creek had 232,000 skiers.
“Though the Vail Mountain figure is about 40,000 less than the record 1979-80 year, the total Vail and Beaver Creek numbers mean more skiers than ever before visited the area,” the Trail reported.
50 years ago
April 12, 1974
Snowpack on Vail Mountain reached record proportions, the Vail Trail reported.
A seven-day storm brought 51 inches of new snow, prompting officials to check the present depth against previous years on April 5, “just to see if it has been as great a snow year as everyone thinks,” the Trail reported.
“Sure enough, 106 inches at noon, two inches down from the ski patrol’s daily early morning reading and 12 inches down from the high mark of the year, 114 inches on April 3,” the Trail reported. “According to patrolman George Sisneros, who works with the weather detail, this last snowfall gave Vail Mountain an accumulated total of 413 inches for the year to date.”
Previously, the highest recorded snow depth on April 5 was 99 inches, the Trail reported.
“Last year on this date the snow was only 72 inches,” the Trail reported. “Comparing total snowfalls up to April 5 is even more astounding. A year ago, to date, the figure read 281 inches, 132 inches less than this year’s tally.”
60 years ago
April 9, 1964
The exact location of the proposed superhighway along the Eagle River Valley had not yet been determined, the Eagle Valley Enterprise reported.
Quoting Charles Shumate, chief engineer of the Colorado Highway Department,the Enterprise reported that the highway department did not yet have “a firm design between Dowd Junction and Gypsum on this —(interstate)—route.”
“We are making an aerial photogrammetry plan of the Eagle River Valley between these two points which we hope will be completed by early summer,” Shumate said. “I doubt, however, if we will have any positive location selected for at least some seven or eight months.”
70 years ago
April 8, 1954
A white deer was spotted roaming Eagle County, the Eagle Valley Enterprise reported.
“Albino deer are reported from time to time in various sections of Eagle County, but the first one this year reported is the pure white deer seen by Howard Nunn Sr., county road overseer on the Colorado River district,” the Enterprise reported. “Mr. Nunn saw the oddity across the Colorado near the Ted Palmer ranch, north of Dotsero one day last week.”
