By Don Rittner
Edited by Don Rittner


Pages 275-276

Early in the 1930's I read about the Snow Train running on weekends out of Boston. They would take skiers to parts of the White Mountains for the day and then return them to Boston by evening.

I wrote to Fred Grant, Passenger Agent of the Boston and Maine Railroad, to determine whether he would be interested in running a similar train from the Schenectady area into the Green Mountains of Vermont. His reply was to the affirmative, so I formed a Snow Train Committee in the Mohawk Valley Hiking Club and recruited others from the outdoor oriented clubs in Schenectady. We circulated petitions and were able to show Fred Grant that there was a substantial group of winter sports enthusiasts in Schenectady, and it should be worth his effort to arrange for us to journey to Vermont.

We decided to go to Wilmington, Vermont, where a number of us had been cross-country skiing. The branch line of the B&M took off of the main line just beyond the Hoosac tunnel. Since the B&M did not have a line in Schenectady, we planned to board the train in Scotia. Thus, in the winter of 1931, all was in readiness for our first train. The date was set, my committees were ready but- there was no snow! This meant postponing the trip to the next weekend and notifying everyone by postcard of the new plans. You guessed it- there was no snow the second week! This meant another batch of postcards.

These were the days before computer labels!

And so it went, week after week, until we abandoned our plans for the winter!

Meanwhile, however, we had developed a substantial following and, as a result, it was decided to form a new club to concentrate on winter sports activities. This was done and in 1932, the Schenectady Wintersports Club was organized. I was elected President, an office I held for several years.

As the winter of 1934 approached, we decided to try to operate snow trains again. This time we planned to utilize the Delaware and Hudson Railroad. The previous fall of 1933, I flew with Dr. Irving Langmuir in his open seat Waco airplane to areas within an hour or so of Schenectady. We explored the hills of the Catskills within range of the railroad and found good-looking terrain around Mount Utsayantha near Schenevus. When the time came to make decisions, Mr. Fred Gelhooley, Passenger Agent for the D&H, proposed that we consider North Creek in the Adirondacks.

The first Snow Train from Schenectady to North Creek on March 4, 1934. Photo spread from the Delaware & Hudson Magazine, Vol. 16; No. 3, March 1934.

Since I know the North Creek area very well, I enthusiastically endorsed this plan and made firm plans to go there. I formed many committees, the largest being the First Aid Committee.

Since I had heard of the casualties that accompanied the Boston Snow Trains, I proposed having skiers trained in First Aid techniques, equipped with toboggans, splints, bandages and other similar gear, and a doctor ready for any emergency.

On March 4, 1934, the first New York Snow Train made up at the Schenectady Station and headed for North Creek. At the last minute, a second engine was hooked on since the turnout was much greater than had been anticipated. Upon arrival at the "Crick," the villagers and surrounding mountaineers had a fleet of trucks at the station. As each truck was loaded, it took off and headed for the Barton Mines, located near the top of Gore Mountain. Reaching that spot, everyone clamped on their skis and headed for the several mountain trails that had been established by the North Creek Ski Club Members, with our cooperation. The Pete Gay and Rabbit Pond runs were available at that time. These were old wood roads established many years earlier by loggers. The overgrown trails had been cleared of brush and while rather narrow, had grades that were not unduly steep. As a result, everyone had a fantastic time. Trucks located at the base of the two trails were ready to take the skiers up the mountain for a second, and even third, run during the day. Thus it was that Bill Gluesing's saying, "Ride up- Slide down," became the popular slogan for North Creek.

At the end of the day, members of the First Aid Committee, headed by Miss Lois Perret, a registered nurse, "swept the trails" making sure that there were no injuries or laggards on the trail to delay train departure. As we left for home, I checked for casualties and - none! The most serious was a sprained wrist! Thus was born the first Ski Patrol in the United States.

Those witnessing the State-run Gore Mountain Ski Center, with its acces road, miles of wide machine-groomed trails, lifts ranging from T-bar to gondola, and a massive snow-making network, and which often accommodates 5,000-7,000 skiers on a weekend, will find it hard to believe the primitive nature of the early days. But I dare say we had more fun!