Support the nomination of Charles Elliott for the Colorado Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame

Please read the following letter of support from Dean Cox:

COLORADO SKI AND SNOWBOARD MUSEUM AND HALL OF FAME NOMINATION for CHARLES ELLIOTT, 3/10/09

In 1934 Charles Elliott, a 21 year old Colorado native, and a friend tossed two pairs of borrowed skis into the rumble seat of their car and headed for Wolf Creek Pass to give downhill skiing a try. This was the first winter The Pass was kept open.

Even without poles and descending only in straight runs, they found this new sport to their liking. And in this rudimentary fashion, they, as the only skiers on the Pass for the first two winters, introduced the sport of skiing to Wolf Creek Pass. Today, at age 96, Charles continues to enjoy the sport he has loved so deeply and for so long where he first began - at Wolf Creek.

During the ensuing years of 1936 to 1942, Charles was the initial and ongoing driving force behind the growth and interest in skiing in the San Luis Valley and Pagosa Springs areas. With persistence and perseverance, he:
- Organized and consolidated ski clubs.
- Coordinated with the Forest Service to provide rustic shelter facilities for skiers.
- Undertook fund raisers.
- Staged races and special events.
- Established, recruited, trained and led an NSPS “First Aid Patrol”.
- Sought approval for and helped construct several rope tows atop the Pass.
- Served as hands on coordinator of the early operations of Wolf Creek Ski Area.
- Hosted international racing dignitaries and Colorado skiers of notoriety.
- Explored Alberta Basin where Wolf Creek Ski Area now operates.

All this and more, was done out of love for the sport without a dime of compensation.

From Sept., 1942 to late 1946 during WW II, Charles served in the US Army Air Corps as a weather man and cryptographer. There was little to no skiing on Wolf Creek during those years. He returned to the ski area with a less hands on posture. Devoting more time to raising his eight children, he limited his on mountain involvements to re-affiliating the ski patrol with the NSPS and recruiting, training and supervising new patrolmen. Still, he avidly continued as an emissary for skiing at Wolf Creek and for the sport in general, including writing, printing and distributing “Wolf Call”, Wolf Creek Ski Club’s newsletter. Yet it was Charles whom the Forest Service went to with their idea of moving a building from thirty mile campground above Creede to Wolf Creek Pass – the second base building he was integral in getting placed for the benefit of Wolf Creek skiers.

In November, 1947, Charles was awarded the prestigious NSPS National Appointment badge (#874) for his excellence as a patrolman and patrol leader which he continued for many seasons. Simultaneously, he instructed American Red Cross first aid classes and annual patrol refresher courses for over 30 years.

In December, 1947 Charles was designated by the NSPS to coordinate formation of a “mountain disaster rescue squad” for southern Colorado. His experience with first aid instruction and mountaineering qualified him for this appointment which he readily accepted.

In 1950, his ski patrol and Red Cross reputation provided Charles with an invitation to patrol at the FIS Championship Races in Aspen. There he functioned as a patrolman, gate keeper, and assisted Dick Durance with course setting.

More recently:

From 1999 to 2008, Charles attended numerous meetings where he spoke in opposition to The Village at Wolf Creek’s initiative to build condos, luxury homes and commercial space for 10,000 people on only 287 acres in Alberta Park at the base of the existing ski area. Through supporting legal action, he and many others defeated Red McCombs’ attempts at greasing political palms to gain approvals for his ill-conceived project. Presently, all approvals and environmental analyses have been rescinded and the developer is back to square one.

During the 2005-06 and ’06-’07 seasons, at ages 92 & 93, Charles skied over 50 days/season. In ’07-’08 and “08 – ‘09, he skied over 35 days. Now, at age 96, while recovering from knee and hip replacement surgeries by walking at least a mile a day, he has retained his place on the slopes. His engraved silver Wolf Creek pin enables him to bypass the ticket window and be acknowledged at the base of any chairlift – the ancestors to which he helped construct with his own hands.

As well, this humble and unpretentious patriarch of Wolf Creek skiing remains the inspiration, motivation and mentor of nearly 600, over 50, Gray Wolf Ski Club members. Each November, his birthday is celebrated at the ski area by his Gray Wolf family and other admirers.

On the weekend of February 28th - March 1st, 2009, Charles skied at the NSP’ annual “National Days” at Ski Cooper near Leadville. His badge, # 874, was the second lowest in attendance and the lowest out on the mountain skiing. During the general meeting, he was presented and acknowledged for his longstanding contributions to the NSP and the sport of skiing by a five minute standing ovation.

Charles is a living legend on both sides of “the pass”, still making presentations about the history of Wolf Creek skiing to anyone who is interested. His amazing collection of photographs, newspaper clippings, club minutes, ski patrol paraphernalia, etc. are appropriately enshrined at the Rio Grande County Museum in Del Norte. This collection’s very existence is testament to Charles historic commitments to Wolf Creek and his beloved sport of skiing.

Seventy-six years later, Charles Elliott remains a revered and effective ambassador for Colorado skiing. His pioneer spirit and endurance mirrors those of his great-grandfather; “Mountain Man, Indian Agent and Calvary Colonel” Albert Pfeiffer, who fought a “giant Navajo” to the death for the Ute’s right to the “Pagosha” hot springs, and for whom Alberto (Alberta) basin is named.

This tireless and enduring advocate for Colorado skiing is more than deserving of his place in the Museum and Hall of Fame alongside his historic contemporaries who knew him well and respected him highly. He continues to embody their legacy and devotion to Colorado skiing.

Respectfully submitted:
Dean Cox