Readers Respond: VW's stormy legacy; Eldora's fate

Bugging Out

The snow-laden VW Beetle ad on the back cover of the January-February 2026 issue (“Snowbound Volkswagen”) brought back a few been-there, done-that memories. I had three VW Bugs (including a 1959 36-horsepower convertible, with no gas gauge but a one-gallon reserve tank). The rear engine provided surprising traction. Each of my Bugs had ski racks bolted into the engine air vents, with footers attached somehow to the inside of the rear bumper. Many times, first with my dad at the wheel, that ’59 Bug trudged up the Mount Rainier highway to Paradise in the early ’60s to the four rope tows where I learned to ski. Later, in 1970 and ’71, I taught college ski classes at Big Bear, California. I remember a fellow instructor and I driving up to Big Bear from the University of Redlands in the ’59 Bug with the top down and the skis, including my 205-centimeter GS Fischer Alus, jerry-rigged to the convertible’s folded-down top. Skiing History magazine is full of sweet memories.

Tom Hayward
Bainbridge Island, Washington

Peeking into Eldora Crystal Ball

Thanks for the great piece on Eldora (“A Tiny Colorado Town Buys Its Ski Area,” January-February 2026). As a municipally owned entity, Eldora will now have a 1,500-person board of directors since locals can show up at town council meetings and make their feelings heard. Second, the Shelf Road to Eldora has always been a bone of contention with Boulder County, as it is dangerous and hard to maintain. There is a more level path that could be developed, but the county and the public would need to agree and pay for it. Third, a few years back, Eldora tried to extend its Corona Bowl down close to the hamlet of Eldora. This would have been a crown jewel to the resort. After a painstaking approval process with the Forest Service, it was the loud complainers that skunked it at the county level. I am not sure to what lengths the town would go, but if they were to annex up to the ski area, perhaps they could deal with the road and the expansion and even zone in some housing, hotels and other amenities. I have always believed in this little pipsqueak mountain. If the town and area management can negotiate the political waters, they could really improve on a good thing.

Jonathan Williams
Denver, Colorado

Enlightening and Entertaining

It goes without saying that the arrival of Skiing History is a welcome occurrence here in our White Mountains. The January-February issue was no exception. I was struck by how well the magazine both educates and entertains those of us who love the sport. I particularly enjoyed learning about people about whom I knew nothing two days ago. Sarah Schleper, what an inspiration! (“Viva Sarah Schleper!”) Captain Powder, what a smile (“Captain Powder, Defender of Winter”). And Robert Chamberlain, there’s a man I wish I’d met (“The Complex Life and Photography of Robert Chamberlain”). Probably the most telling line came at the end of the David Moe/Captain Powder piece: “Skiing today is nothing like it was in the old days. It was a lot more fun than it is now.” Truer words were never spoken.

Tim Scott
Jackson, New Hampshire