In the winter of 1934, Seattle made national news by opening one of the first municipal ski areas in the country at Snoqualmie summit, championed by Mayor John F. Dore, a skier who envisioned the project as one that could lift his city's spirits during the midst of the Great Depression. The Ski Park grew, installing a rope tow in 1938 and a chairlift in 1954. The Milwaukee Railroad offered access by train from downtown Seattle in two hours. The pass now consists of four alpine ski areas: Alpental, Summit West (formerly named Snoqualmie Summit), Summit Central (formerly Ski Acres), and Summit East (formerly Hyak).

This photo by Seattle Times photographer Josef Scaylea features a skier on Denny Mountain at Alpental in 1976.

Handwritten on image: Josef Scaylea.
Handwritten on verso: 1976. Skier at the Alpental Ski Area. Denny Mountain at Snoqualmie Pass.

Caption information source: "Seattle's Municipal Ski Park at Snoqualmie Summit (1934-1940)" John W. Lundin and Stephen J. Lundin, HistoryLink.org Essay10362