Out Of Bounds: The Glen Mountain Ski Story
Brian Eddington
Price-Patterson Publishing
$25.35
paper
165pp
1-896881-45-9
The story of the Glen Mountain ski resort starts with a mysterious stranger “who prowled the hills of Bolton Glen.” This was eastern skiing legend Herman “Jackrabbit” Johannsen, and he gave the thumbs-up to a visionary couple who foresaw a downhill ski operation on the top of the valley road. This was several years before the Autoroute opened and the area was definitely out in the country. The ski hill was launched in 1960, and has survived a number of near-disastrous years, as well as triumphing through the good years when the snow gods came through with enough of the white stuff to keep the customers happy, and the maintenance crew managed to keep the T-bars working.
Eddington has set out to write an informal history of Glen Mountain, and he succeeds in ushering in a cast of characters who would make a great TV sitcom. His respect for the “BC boys” is obvious, but so is his love of a good story.The Glen, run by several owners through the last forty years, has had enough idiosyncratic ski patrollers, bartenders, maintenance men, and financiers to make for a very entertaining read. mRb
As a former Glen Mountain Ski Patroller – I look forward to reading this
I was a member of the original Ski Patrol. First day of operations the T-bars weren’t ready. We tied knotted ropes behind the Tucker snow cat and towed folks up to mid-station.Had a blast.
Day two i was invited to be on the first T to go up the lift line. It was early season and we two were off the ground in a couple of spots. Just a bit of a challenge. This required a bit of extra shoveling then all went well. Spent several more years there before moving onwards and upwards. I have skied many places over the years but it has always been my favorite. – Rupert Dobbin
I read the book and was about all fiction ! Eddie Persons who developed the Glen was my grandmother’s younger brother. Eddie was totally self made and the best of uncle’s. We lived in Newport Vt, My Grandfather George Streeter was the President of the Glen for several years and we had a chalet at the Glen. I skied at the Glen in 1960 when Bob Richardson’s was director of skiing, I skied a lot with Rocky, Bob’s daughter. After a couple of years Bob moved to Owels Head and Bob Ray was director. When I was 14 I taught skiing weekends in high school and went to Florida State University and still worked for Rob Roy’s ski school Christmas and winter and spring break, I graduated in 1974, spent January and February at the Glen. My girlfriend came up to the Glen from Florida and we got engaged at the Glen. Uncle Eddie and aunt Dourine were the first to know and we had steaks that nite by the big stone fireplace. Eddie wanted me to take over the Glen, but my Grandfather did not want me to become A Canadian. The next year the Glen was gone ! I had many great times at the Glen, got to know many people ! Would love to have a reunion up there some day. Five years ago My present wife and I came up to Montreal to a wedding and stopped at the Glen ! Sign said private property but I felt like we still owned it, drove in and Introduce myself. Only one lady spoke English and several guys were trying to stop a water leak, after I told the Lady owner that the pool used to be where they were digging with a escalator, I told her that I could shut off the water. Her husband and I walked about 50 yards up the hill and shut off the pool valve ! After meeting the new owners the were very nice and I answered many questions about the Glen. My years at the Glen was a growth experience and one of the great times of my life. Brian D. Barnard. bbarnard2012@gmail.com. Tallahassee Fl
I remember the pool Brian mentions. I, and my fellow ski patrollers, used to try to ski across it in the spring, once it thawed. A lot of laughs were had over that .
I remember Glen Mountain so very well spent a lot of time there skiing, teaching kids to ski, partying, drinking, the motel rooms and that damn pool I skipped into a few times, I believe it was 67-68-69. Eddie Persons and his wife were the owners then, Frank Gillespie and his wife ran the cafeteria kitchen as franchisees, ” Gramps ” was behind the bar serving us all kinds of mixed drinks such as Rusty Nails and Kilt Lifters to name a few. Maurice Oberson had the ski shop and rental shop for a couple of years. The partying especially Saturday nights was out of sight and a trio band ( 2 guys an 1 gal ) in the bar played popular folk music and tunes from Dylan, CCR and may others as well. There are a couple of New-Years parties that I know I attended but can not remember them.
Eventually moved on to the Thirsty Boot for Friday and Saturday night partying,
Eddie and his wife always stayed in the same motel room, so did the band when they played the bar.
Hi I believe ‘Gramps’ behind the bar was my Grampa Bray. Robert Grant- who bartended at the Glen Mountain lodge and later the The Thirsty Boot.