ckofer
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source:
http://fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/GJNEWS_01/782766416
Clinging to old-fashioned fun: Powderhouse Hill keeps alive traditional small-town skiing
By JASON CLAFFEY
jclaffey@fosters.com
Article Date: Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Kevin Gray assists daughter Madison, 6, of Eliot, up the ski lift recently at Powderhouse Hill in South Berwick, Maine.
(Josh Gibney/Democrat photo)
* Order a print of this photo
SOUTH BERWICK — Clutching the rope tow with both of her hands, anchored from behind by her father with her little skis tucked inside his, Isabel Martin, 6, reaches the top of Powderhouse Hill and lets go of the rope. She starts falling over — her father, Luke, catches her and stands her up straight.
Isabel is still getting the hang of the rope tow at Powderhouse Hill, one of the last remaining small ski hills in New England, the place where most of the children in South Berwick learn how to ski.
Powderhouse is a throwback, a holdout from another generation that has resisted the effect of larger ski mountains in the area that have become resort destinations, with condos and spas and restaurants.
People go to Powderhouse to ski. That's it. There are no secondary attractions, save for the hot chocolate in the small lounge building at the base of the hill, which is heated by old-fashioned wood stove.
The front end of a '38 Ford truck anchors the engine that powers the rope tow at Powderhouse Hill in South Berwick, Maine.
(Claffey/Democrat photo)
* Order a print of this photo
Powderhouse is little more than a bunny hill — 175 feet in elevation, 800 feet from the top of the slope to the bottom. The rope tow is the only way of getting up. Tickets are five bucks. There are no long lines.
The rope tow — one of the last in operation in Maine — is powered by an air-cooled Wisconsin motor attached to the body of a rusted-out '38 Ford truck that was driven up the hill back in the '50s. The left rear wheel on the Ford's body spins the rope through a pulley system that continues through a loop to the bottom.
Like the hill itself, the rope tow is uncomplicated, simple.
"It's a real, real basic thing," said Jack Kareckas, one of 17 volunteers who help run the hill, which is owned by the town.
Kevin Gray assists daughter Madison, 6, of Eliot, up the ski lift recently at Powderhouse Hill in South Berwick, Maine.
(Josh Gibney/Democrat photo)
* Order a print of this photo
As Isabel rights herself coming off the rope tow, her father stops to talk to Kareckas and fellow volunteer Bill Page about the conditions. Kareckas talks about how liberally some of the larger mountains use "packed powder" in their ski reports — even if everything's all ice. He dug a hole and measured about a 15-inch base of snow at the top of Powderhouse.
"And all lifts are running," he joked.
By that time, Isabel was halfway down the hill, her skis pointed inward in the pizza stance.
"Apparently, she learned how to get down," Luke said, before turning down the hill to catch up with his daughter.
Powerhouse Ski Club President Eric Mundell stands in front of the tow lift recently at Powderhouse Hill in South Berwick, Maine.
(Josh Gibney/Democrat photo)
* Order a print of this photo
Leaning on the shovel he used to measure the snow level, Kareckas said South Berwick residents are lucky to have something like Powderhouse in town.
"See those kids sitting on the hill down there?" Kareckas said, pointing to group of about 10 middle school students sitting in the middle of the hill, taking turns going down. "They're outside, they're doing something healthy. There's something right about it."
One of the delights of keeping the hill in operation is seeing all the young children learn how to ski, said Kareckas, whose three children grew up skiing on Powderhouse.
Page, 44, has three children of his own, all under the age of 8. One of the reasons he volunteered is so he can teach his children how to ski at the hill.
"I plan on being involved in (Powderhouse) for a minimum of 15 years," Page said. "I love seeing the kids use it."
Snowboarder Ewan Towle, of South Berwick, comes to a stop at the bottom of Powderhouse Hill in South Berwick, Maine.
(Josh Gibney/Democrat photo)
* Order a print of this photo
There used to be 12 small ski hills operating in the Seacoast during the past few decades, according to Page, but they were forced to closed due to a number of factors, such as the commercialization/consolidation of the ski industry and the threat of lawsuits against small towns operating small hills. Page estimated hundreds of small hills have closed in New England over the last 30 to 40 years. Except Powderhouse.
Standing at the top of the hill, which offers a view of the three Berwicks and Sanford during the day, Page is asked how long he thinks Powderhouse will be in operation for.
"Forever," he said.
Back at the bottom of the hill, Isabel, her cheeks flushed cherry red from the cold, stands next to the rope tow, waiting for the exact right moment to grab on. She sticks her tongue out in concentration, waits, waits, then grasps the rope with both hands. She shoots up the hill. Her father isn't behind her this time. She did it all by herself.
The front end of a '38 Ford truck anchors the engine that powers the rope tow at Powderhouse Hill in South Berwick.
(Claffey/Democrat photo)
* Order a print of this photo
http://fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080115/GJNEWS_01/782766416
Clinging to old-fashioned fun: Powderhouse Hill keeps alive traditional small-town skiing
By JASON CLAFFEY
jclaffey@fosters.com
Article Date: Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Kevin Gray assists daughter Madison, 6, of Eliot, up the ski lift recently at Powderhouse Hill in South Berwick, Maine.
(Josh Gibney/Democrat photo)
* Order a print of this photo
SOUTH BERWICK — Clutching the rope tow with both of her hands, anchored from behind by her father with her little skis tucked inside his, Isabel Martin, 6, reaches the top of Powderhouse Hill and lets go of the rope. She starts falling over — her father, Luke, catches her and stands her up straight.
Isabel is still getting the hang of the rope tow at Powderhouse Hill, one of the last remaining small ski hills in New England, the place where most of the children in South Berwick learn how to ski.
Powderhouse is a throwback, a holdout from another generation that has resisted the effect of larger ski mountains in the area that have become resort destinations, with condos and spas and restaurants.
People go to Powderhouse to ski. That's it. There are no secondary attractions, save for the hot chocolate in the small lounge building at the base of the hill, which is heated by old-fashioned wood stove.
The front end of a '38 Ford truck anchors the engine that powers the rope tow at Powderhouse Hill in South Berwick, Maine.
(Claffey/Democrat photo)
* Order a print of this photo
Powderhouse is little more than a bunny hill — 175 feet in elevation, 800 feet from the top of the slope to the bottom. The rope tow is the only way of getting up. Tickets are five bucks. There are no long lines.
The rope tow — one of the last in operation in Maine — is powered by an air-cooled Wisconsin motor attached to the body of a rusted-out '38 Ford truck that was driven up the hill back in the '50s. The left rear wheel on the Ford's body spins the rope through a pulley system that continues through a loop to the bottom.
Like the hill itself, the rope tow is uncomplicated, simple.
"It's a real, real basic thing," said Jack Kareckas, one of 17 volunteers who help run the hill, which is owned by the town.
Kevin Gray assists daughter Madison, 6, of Eliot, up the ski lift recently at Powderhouse Hill in South Berwick, Maine.
(Josh Gibney/Democrat photo)
* Order a print of this photo
As Isabel rights herself coming off the rope tow, her father stops to talk to Kareckas and fellow volunteer Bill Page about the conditions. Kareckas talks about how liberally some of the larger mountains use "packed powder" in their ski reports — even if everything's all ice. He dug a hole and measured about a 15-inch base of snow at the top of Powderhouse.
"And all lifts are running," he joked.
By that time, Isabel was halfway down the hill, her skis pointed inward in the pizza stance.
"Apparently, she learned how to get down," Luke said, before turning down the hill to catch up with his daughter.
Powerhouse Ski Club President Eric Mundell stands in front of the tow lift recently at Powderhouse Hill in South Berwick, Maine.
(Josh Gibney/Democrat photo)
* Order a print of this photo
Leaning on the shovel he used to measure the snow level, Kareckas said South Berwick residents are lucky to have something like Powderhouse in town.
"See those kids sitting on the hill down there?" Kareckas said, pointing to group of about 10 middle school students sitting in the middle of the hill, taking turns going down. "They're outside, they're doing something healthy. There's something right about it."
One of the delights of keeping the hill in operation is seeing all the young children learn how to ski, said Kareckas, whose three children grew up skiing on Powderhouse.
Page, 44, has three children of his own, all under the age of 8. One of the reasons he volunteered is so he can teach his children how to ski at the hill.
"I plan on being involved in (Powderhouse) for a minimum of 15 years," Page said. "I love seeing the kids use it."
Snowboarder Ewan Towle, of South Berwick, comes to a stop at the bottom of Powderhouse Hill in South Berwick, Maine.
(Josh Gibney/Democrat photo)
* Order a print of this photo
There used to be 12 small ski hills operating in the Seacoast during the past few decades, according to Page, but they were forced to closed due to a number of factors, such as the commercialization/consolidation of the ski industry and the threat of lawsuits against small towns operating small hills. Page estimated hundreds of small hills have closed in New England over the last 30 to 40 years. Except Powderhouse.
Standing at the top of the hill, which offers a view of the three Berwicks and Sanford during the day, Page is asked how long he thinks Powderhouse will be in operation for.
"Forever," he said.
Back at the bottom of the hill, Isabel, her cheeks flushed cherry red from the cold, stands next to the rope tow, waiting for the exact right moment to grab on. She sticks her tongue out in concentration, waits, waits, then grasps the rope with both hands. She shoots up the hill. Her father isn't behind her this time. She did it all by herself.
The front end of a '38 Ford truck anchors the engine that powers the rope tow at Powderhouse Hill in South Berwick.
(Claffey/Democrat photo)
* Order a print of this photo
