One final note on Geneva Basin: This ski area was by far the most convoluted I’ve ever researched. Though it’s a Colorado ski hill, the only newspapers that reported anything on the history of this mountain were from Texas or Oklahoma. Different newspapers also reported different things about this mountain. So the history here may not be the most accurate, but I’ve done my absolute best. I also used coloradoskihistory.com in much of my research, which was very useful in piecing together the patchy history of GB.
The other issue with Geneva besides its remoteness is the very fickle and unreliable snowpack there. Some years we could make the long drive around to the Grant side from Georgetown, stay in the hut at the top and get some good backcountry skiing in, and other years there just wasn't enough snow to do that. I used to live in Georgetown and Clear Creek County wouldn't plow Guanella pass all the way through to the summit and beyond which made it really hard to get up there in the winter. If you lived in Clear Creek, or even Denver there was really no reason to go to Geneva when Berthoud, Loveland, Abasin, WP, and the summit county resorts were so much easier to access. It's a cool little spot, and if the winter is right you can definitely have some fun backcountry skiing there on the cut runs and stay in the old ski patrol shack at the top. We always heard that that chair on the far northern end of the property never got installed because one of the owner's sons was decapitated by the haul cable during installation. Maybe that was just rumor around the county to keep people away from the property. The story went that "Headless Ed's" ghost could be seen wandering the property as an apparition at times....either way, I have fond memories of hiking Geneva in the summer and getting some fun earned turns there in the winter when the stars aligned for us to do so. Thanks for sharing!
Please put on your list: Meadow Mountain, Colorado. Base was at Dowd Jct., between Vail and Avon. I don't even think it operated into the 70s. Now primarily used for backcountry touring and snowmobiling.
Were any of the Borvig parts salvaged for use at another ski area? It’s a shame that the Phoenix lift was half-built and removed within a few years; the equipment was relatively new at the time.
Is that the place in California that was shuttered by a wildfire in the 2000s? Didn't know it was a snowboarder only resort. Maybe one day I'll do a video on it.
@@Skier72 Wow, that’s impressive for someone who lives so far away from SoCal. Yeah that’s the spot. One of the most underrsted backcountry spots in the area now.
@@waltysalamander I'm looking at their (former) website now. The image of the burnt out chairlift is crazy. web.archive.org/web/20091026200228/www.trinitymountainresort.com/images/burned%20lift%203.jpg
There’s an abandoned place in New York called tuxedo ridge that was abandoned in 2016, with everything left standing.they have a hall a poma, and two borvigs, all doubles from the late 60’s early 70’s. I have a bunch of photos if you want
Geneva Basin suffered from a few issues not outlined in the episode. Chiefly, being on the south slopes of the Mt Blue Sky massif which has variable snow fall in a good year. The massif is exposed and is subject to high winds. It is also doesn't get much snow from storms out of the west. Upslope storms can really dump a lot of snow quickly in this area, but are feast or famine. And secondly, the east and south east facing runs which probably didn't keep snow fresh.
@@Skier72 I'm happy to help. The variable snow issue around the Pikes Peak and Mount Blue Sky massifs, and the lower elevations of the Front Range & Sangre de Cristos in general, is a big reason why a lot of small ski areas in Colorado went under. See Arapahoe East, Broadmoor, Geneva Basin, and Cuchara.
@@curtisweller7556 Thanks man! I'm a Canadian and am not familiar with Colorado snow patterns. I might do a video on Cuchara (or Ski Rio), so I'll be sure to add this information.
Howdy and like your vids, This is a bit dated but how did u get into Fortress? Every time I go the gate is closed at the bridge(did u hike in). I like the part on the backside "T"-bar with the GM back up engine,I wanted to take some fresh gas and a battery and fire it up!
No one (except Fortress) is permitted to drive up the access road. You have to hike in (preferably with permission, as they own a lease to the land). The hike takes an hour, and I'd recommend bringing a bike uphill so the downhill is only 20 minutes. The only remaining lifts are the chairlifts, the T-Bars were removed around 2008.
Marshall Mountain will be released this Friday. I have some other projects on the back burner, but I'll see when I can get around to them. Life is pretty busy right now in general for me.
"which is today unknown and forgotten by many." Interesting. I figured it was a well known abandoned ski area, good for backcountry skiing. But maybe that's because I saw a film festival short film on it.
I didn't say all... I know it's a popular backcountry spot nowadays. Though I have to imagine the average skier at Vail or Breck isn't going to be well aware of Geneva Basin. Maybe I'm wrong though.
They were both developed by the same person (the CO ski hill named after the MI ski hill). Though believe me, finding any clear information on this was difficult.
One final note on Geneva Basin:
This ski area was by far the most convoluted I’ve ever researched. Though it’s a Colorado ski hill, the only newspapers that reported anything on the history of this mountain were from Texas or Oklahoma. Different newspapers also reported different things about this mountain.
So the history here may not be the most accurate, but I’ve done my absolute best. I also used coloradoskihistory.com in much of my research, which was very useful in piecing together the patchy history of GB.
The other issue with Geneva besides its remoteness is the very fickle and unreliable snowpack there. Some years we could make the long drive around to the Grant side from Georgetown, stay in the hut at the top and get some good backcountry skiing in, and other years there just wasn't enough snow to do that. I used to live in Georgetown and Clear Creek County wouldn't plow Guanella pass all the way through to the summit and beyond which made it really hard to get up there in the winter. If you lived in Clear Creek, or even Denver there was really no reason to go to Geneva when Berthoud, Loveland, Abasin, WP, and the summit county resorts were so much easier to access. It's a cool little spot, and if the winter is right you can definitely have some fun backcountry skiing there on the cut runs and stay in the old ski patrol shack at the top. We always heard that that chair on the far northern end of the property never got installed because one of the owner's sons was decapitated by the haul cable during installation. Maybe that was just rumor around the county to keep people away from the property. The story went that "Headless Ed's" ghost could be seen wandering the property as an apparition at times....either way, I have fond memories of hiking Geneva in the summer and getting some fun earned turns there in the winter when the stars aligned for us to do so. Thanks for sharing!
Outstanding ⛷️
This channel is awesome. Great for skiing buffs and history fans. If you're both, welp...have fun.
Thanks for the comment!
My family ski here for many years. We had a great time and many friends.
Please put on your list: Meadow Mountain, Colorado. Base was at Dowd Jct., between Vail and Avon. I don't even think it operated into the 70s. Now primarily used for backcountry touring and snowmobiling.
I love these old ski resort videos. They must take ages to research and edit so well done 👍🏻
Were any of the Borvig parts salvaged for use at another ski area? It’s a shame that the Phoenix lift was half-built and removed within a few years; the equipment was relatively new at the time.
Geneva is still a super fun ski. There is a hut to sleep in at the top and you can really get away from everyone for some hike to turns.
I shoulda mentioned that in the video
@@Skier72 That’s why comments exist always room for extra discussion. Love the vids keep up the good work.
Have you heard of Trinity Mountain (aka Green Valley Lake)? First ever snowboarder only resort. That would be a sick lost ski resort video.
Is that the place in California that was shuttered by a wildfire in the 2000s? Didn't know it was a snowboarder only resort. Maybe one day I'll do a video on it.
@@Skier72 Wow, that’s impressive for someone who lives so far away from SoCal. Yeah that’s the spot. One of the most underrsted backcountry spots in the area now.
@@waltysalamander I'm looking at their (former) website now. The image of the burnt out chairlift is crazy.
web.archive.org/web/20091026200228/www.trinitymountainresort.com/images/burned%20lift%203.jpg
@@Skier72 Yep. I really wish I could have been there before it burnt down.
Let's go there and hike it!!
We need more Colorado!!!!
There’s a ski hill that’s coming back as a private ski club - Stagecoach Mountain Ranch.
There’s an abandoned place in New York called tuxedo ridge that was abandoned in 2016, with everything left standing.they have a hall a poma, and two borvigs, all doubles from the late 60’s early 70’s. I have a bunch of photos if you want
Yeah sure, feel free to send me an email with the photos you have!
@@Skier72sorry if this is a stupid question, but I don’t know your email lol
@@Bluebottlenose It's found on the channel description
thebcrockiesskier72@gmail.com
@@Skier72 alright, they should be sent
Geneva Basin suffered from a few issues not outlined in the episode. Chiefly, being on the south slopes of the Mt Blue Sky massif which has variable snow fall in a good year. The massif is exposed and is subject to high winds. It is also doesn't get much snow from storms out of the west. Upslope storms can really dump a lot of snow quickly in this area, but are feast or famine. And secondly, the east and south east facing runs which probably didn't keep snow fresh.
I appreciate the additional info!
@@Skier72 I'm happy to help.
The variable snow issue around the Pikes Peak and Mount Blue Sky massifs, and the lower elevations of the Front Range & Sangre de Cristos in general, is a big reason why a lot of small ski areas in Colorado went under. See Arapahoe East, Broadmoor, Geneva Basin, and Cuchara.
@@curtisweller7556 Thanks man! I'm a Canadian and am not familiar with Colorado snow patterns. I might do a video on Cuchara (or Ski Rio), so I'll be sure to add this information.
That kid at 2:44 doesn’t look like he’s stoked on skiing. I wonder if he or she still does it.
Can you do an episode on Stagecoach resort near steamboat springs?
@@NickAhbit I’ve thought about it. It’s actual history is quite short, and with the redevelopment, I’m still not sure. Maybe though.
Howdy and like your vids, This is a bit dated but how did u get into Fortress? Every time I go the gate is closed at the bridge(did u hike in). I like the part on the backside "T"-bar with the GM back up engine,I wanted to take some fresh gas and a battery and fire it up!
No one (except Fortress) is permitted to drive up the access road. You have to hike in (preferably with permission, as they own a lease to the land). The hike takes an hour, and I'd recommend bringing a bike uphill so the downhill is only 20 minutes.
The only remaining lifts are the chairlifts, the T-Bars were removed around 2008.
Look who's back, a long time no see. Any other lost resorts plans you want to show me. We need to stop RCR, before they find their next victim.
Marshall Mountain will be released this Friday. I have some other projects on the back burner, but I'll see when I can get around to them. Life is pretty busy right now in general for me.
"which is today unknown and forgotten by many." Interesting. I figured it was a well known abandoned ski area, good for backcountry skiing. But maybe that's because I saw a film festival short film on it.
I didn't say all... I know it's a popular backcountry spot nowadays. Though I have to imagine the average skier at Vail or Breck isn't going to be well aware of Geneva Basin. Maybe I'm wrong though.
Confusing AF. You jump from Indianhead in MI, to Indianhead in CO, like they were the same ski hill.
They were both developed by the same person (the CO ski hill named after the MI ski hill). Though believe me, finding any clear information on this was difficult.
The moral of the story
fuck the forest service!
Yeah it’s a shame they burnt down the lodge. I wonder if the site could ever be considered for a “new” ski area development?
2:38 - I now know where 80s iconic adult film star Christy Canyon got her name.