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Hatcher Pass
Ski Area
Proposed in the
1970's, never built |
| Name of Ski
Area: |
Hatcher Pass Ski Area |
| Location: |
Palmer, Alaska at Hatcher Pass |
| Type of Area: |
Lift serviced ski area |
| Dates of
Operation: |
Proposed in the 1970's (still researching), never built |
| Who?: |
This ski area may have been proposed by the Alaska Pacific
Consolidated Mining Company in conjunction with Hap Wurlitzer
(still researching). |
| Base/Vertical Drop: |
Base: ~2800' / Vertical: ~1500'
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| Lifts: |
Proposed lifts were and 8300 foot Riblet chairlift and rope
tows. The possibility of a gondola or lift serving the
Willow Creek side of Hatcher Pass was also proposed. None
of these lifts were built. |
| Facilities: |
A
day lodge and hotel were proposed by never built. |
|
History: |
The photo/proposal below was
found by UAA archivists in a folder in Alaska Pacific
Consolidated Mining Company materials. The archivists
estimated that this proposal was from the 1970's, this is still
being researched. |
| Sources of
Information: |
Arlene Schmuland, Megan
Friedel and Mariecris Gatlabayan of the Archives and Special
Collections Department of the Consortium Library at the
University of Alaska, Anchorage |
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PHOTOS ~ |
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Photo credit: Alaska-Pacific Consolidated Mining Company
records, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library,
University of Alaska Anchorage.
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Text that
appears on the above photo: |
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HATCHER PASS SKI AREA
8300 HUNDRED FOOT RIBLET CHAIR LIFT
DAY LODGE
COST / SIX HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS
[Upper right text] Cost figures reflect
M.E.A power directly to the base area.
Matanuska Electric Association power lines would not follow road route.
They would sweep up along the foothills what contain a heavy brush
cover.
This would make the lines completely obscure from sightseers.
LIFT RATE: 990 SKIERS PER HOUR
Top terminal of present chair will tie in with future chair or gondola
system from the willow side. This will link both sides of the pass to
form a combination ski area.
Day lodge will contain complete restaurant facilities to handle summer
traffic. The lodge will also contain apartments and dorms to house
working crews.
[Right middle text] Please note that cost
of hotel or main lodge is not included in the above cost figure. The
hotel will be constructed at a later time when the site and type of
facility can be more appropriately determined.
[Lower left text] New Highway construction
should terminate at the base parking area. Visitors reaching this area
have direct access to the entire ski area on foot, cross country skis or
chair lift.
The remaining road system beyond this point should remain as it is now
with the exception of routine road maintenance and grading for summer
traffic safety. The road that winds up through the Pass is a popular ski
run and disruption to the present road could create a danger for skiers.
For example, posts hidden below the snows surface. During the winter
months motorized vehicles would be confined to the base parking area.
The base parking area is a natural flat strip (a former airstrip)
capable of parking several thousands of vehicles if this becomes
necessary. No excavation would be necessary to handle this load. The day
lodge sewage system will be incorporated under the parking area with
little or no environmental damage.
Access to Independence Mine and tows in this area would be by cross
country skis, aerial lift or by road if it proves feasible to operate
the facilities at the Mine as an added attraction to the area. The
nature of the terrain between the Mine and the hotel would probably be
more popular for cross country skiing.
[Lower right text] A number of secondary
rope tows would be installed in the main area as well as around the base
lodge and hotel. At this time it is difficult to determine where they
can be placed until the area is skied out and location for this
equipment becomes apparent. This would also hold true for a round house
or warm-ups that would eventually be placed at a point near the mid-way
on the chair lift.
The hotel location is ideally situated. The area is flat and completely
free of avalanche danger. The hotel would command a view of the entire
area, Independence Mine, Palmer and the Matanuska Valley. The view of
the main ski bowl would be unique in that one can see the entire ski run
from the top chair lift terminal to the base area.
Our observation over the past 12 years show a zero avalanche danger in
the main ski area (under the chair lift). The area’s northern exposure
provides excellent snow conditions throughout the ski season. A
temperature inversion that exists at this elevation provides for warmer
weather during cold periods. Wind is reduced to a minimum from the
protected afforded by higher peaks. No excavation or clearing is needed
anywhere on the mountain. Rocks and brush are non-existent in the main
ski area.
In our estimate the chair lift will open up the slopes with the greatest
down-hill ski potential with the least environmental damage in the
surrounding area. The vertical drop from the top to the base is
considered to be moderate. For this reason the area should be popular
with all types of skiers including cross country.
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~
MAPS ~ |
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This large
scale topo map shows the area location of the once proposed Ski Area.
(click
on this map to expand it) |
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This topo map shows the approximate location of the once proposed
Hatcher Pass / Hatcher Creek Area lifts.
(click
on this map to expand it) |
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| Research
Correspondence |
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Do
you have further information, stories or pictures that you would like to
contribute about this
ski area? |
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