Reader Comments
Below are some emails I've received over the years regarding Hahn Mountain. If you have a story you'd like to share, please contact me. The messages are arranged from top to bottom in the order they were received. Any editing on my part is light. My goal here is to present memories, not check and correct for historical accuracy.
Hi Jeff:
My name is Rick, and I too spent too much of my childhood at Hahn. I really enjoyed your site, it really brought me back. I don't have any memorabilia to share, but I'm sure my family has some pictures from there. There are probably patches, pins, brochures and trail maps, even ski hats with blood on them due to wipeouts on Hahn's slopes somewhere in this house.
We were there every Friday night during ski season from Wyomissing. My brothers and I took lessons from Flying Dutchman ski club back then. It always felt like we knew everyone there, like we owned the place. We'd get away with stuff that would get us arrested at today's slopes. Same was the case for poor old Heidelberg/Blue Marsh ski area. I even recall the 'arcade' they had, and the pinball and high-tech pong games they had. I always wanted to spend my time and my parent's money down there and they'd get so mad.
As a lightweight 3-5 year old, that t-bar was my nemesis! It took forever for me to get up that damned thing, because I was so lightweight it would just pick me up, spin me halfway round, then set me back on the ground. I'd make it backwards... for about 10 feet, then hang on for dear life as it dragged me to the top. A great way to build character, I tell you! I was too small to go on the chairlift by myself, so it was my only option.
I recall the small pine trees that lined the slope that ran parallel to the chairlift. My brother and I would start at the t-bar drop off, pick up some speed, then jump off some random mogul into the top half of those trees, which were probably only 12' tall. They were so soft and spring-y they would bend down, then spring back, throwing us back up the hill. We'd repeat until we eventually got to the bottom! We laughed ourselves silly!
Our skiwear (aka Montgomery Ward one-piece snowmobile suit) never made it through the whole season. I remember my mom/dad and ski instructors yelling at us for laying on the slopes eating snow, saying that someone would ski into us because they couldn't see us. Nowadays, I see snowboarders sitting in the snow and I want to yell at them, too.
A couple years ago I hiked up to The Pinnacle with my future wife and was telling her all these stories about that small ski area up in that area. Just before I got to pinnacle I remembered that there was a sign on a tree at Hahn Mtn that said "pinnacle" with a view of that peak. When our hike got to the pinnacle I was finally looking at the ski area for the first time in over 15 years. Even though it was summer I only saw the lodge as it looked covered in snow, I could smell the french fries and the water hot chocolate, and I could hear the pinball games and the snowguns. I could even feel the bruises I always got from falling down those steps in the lodge when trying to go up and down in my ski boots.
By mid-80's we stopped our Flying Dutchman lessons, and that stopped our trips to Hahn. We started going to Doe, and by the time we graduated from high school and had our driver's licenses, we did longer treks to Little Gap. Both those places aren't the same, but at least they are still open.
Now I have 2 kids that will soon be the same age as I was when I was experiencing this. I hoped to have them grow up in New Hampshire, but as things are, they are now in my old Wyomissing stomping grounds. I can't wait to give them the same experiences.
Now, if you've read this far, I thank you for your patience. I didn't expect to ramble on, but I love to reminisce about the way skiing used to be. My 2 kids are also really into trains. Not just Thomas Tank Engine stuff, but anything that looks like a train. I would love to learn more about the WK&S railroad if you can spare the time.
Thanks again for reading my ramblings. I really enjoyed your site. If I come across any BV/H Mtn memorabilia I'll scan it and send it to you and other lost ski area sites.
Rick
Wyomissing, PA
Hi Jeff,
I skied there back when it opened.
I join the ski patrol there the season of 1970/1971 at age 15.
I knew the owner's son so I used to sleep over in the first aid room on weekend nights. Most of the night I would be out on the mountain with the snowmakers. Somehow I got addicted to snowmaking there since I still make snow but only in my back yard. For photos of my snowmaking and equipment, go to my website http://www.findsnap.com/ and go all the way to the bottom of the page and click on the snowmaking links.
As for Big Valley's snowmaking system in addition to the five rented diesel compressor outside (rented from Quarrymen's Supply) there were also four electric piston type compressors in the building and one water pump.
Most of the original owner's names I can still remember. Yeager, Forry, Cummings, Ratnick.
I'll use your map and try to put in two other original trails as I knew them. There the ones in yellow. The area circled in green originally didn't have lights on it. I don't know the trail names now, but will try to find out.
Also when Hahn took over they regraded the upper Rim Trail, redid the lodge taking out the ceiling tiles and added the deck.
Other local extinct ski areas I know of.
Apple Hill, North of Allentown
Sharp Mountain, Pottsville
Pine Forge, Between Douglassville and Pottstown
Levan's Old Mill, Kutztown
Crystal Ridge, Virginsville
Blue Marsh, Bernville
Thanks,
Scott
Lyon Station, PA
Hello Jeff,
Can you believe I Google this ski area about 5 years ago but found nothing. Now, your site is great!
I skied Hahn Mountain when I was attending college at K-town in the 1982 - 1984 time frame. I remember it being cheap and even having some moguls. I went by there a few years back taking my family for a hike on Hawk mountain, but didn't leave the parking lot believing it was private property and the gun club would not want me looking around. I really did want to hike up the trails. Are any of the lift parts still on the mountain? Do you know what ski areas purchased the lifts?
Thank you for a great memory!
John Richards
PS: I road that train about 10 years ago when my girls where little. Good time
I skied at Hahn Mt. in the late 70's , early 80's. I live in Lititz and would drive up there week days and weekends too. My friends were in a ski club in high school and I think that's how they knew about the place. Lot of memories there, I remember on weekends they had a DJ or band in the lodge and I remember everybody dancing with their ski boots on! When I would go down stairs to use the bathroom the floor was moving up and down when you looked up at it from everybody dancing! I took a drive there a couple of years ago to look around. I was on bing maps tonight looking at an aerial view of the place. Thanks for bringing back some great memories with your web site.
Barry
Jeff:
A friend found your website about Hahn Mountain and we thoroughly enjoyed it!
I have attached copies of my memorabilia.
While I am envious I do not have your poster, I did find a bumper sticker (and I do have the ski patch).
Also attached are brochures from the 82-83 season (on blue paper) and 83-84 season (on green paper) as well as an undated brochure (on "glossy" paper).
My uncle (Henry Peters from Fleetwood) was a ski instructor there at Big Valley and Hahn Mountain. My brothers skied Big Valley in high school and I arrived on the scene when it became Hahn Mountain. We taught all of our friends how to ski there -- it was our Saturday night hang-out place.
Thanks again for bringing back our fond memories.
Linda Peters
Hi Jeff,
A friend of mine just forwarded your site to me. How great! I worked at Hahn the winter of 1977-1978. That was a good snow year. I'm almost sure it was a banner year for Hahn. I worked in the snack bar but knew all the skiiers who would come in to eat. Greg Monroe was the bar tender, and the owner Mr. Hahn (can't remember his first name but can see his face clearly) would always be there eating hot dogs from the kitchen. We served yogurt, which I thought was very modern. The french fries were excellent.
I learned to ski from the Nash boys, Greg, Cliff and Dave, who hung out all the time. They lived around the corner. I remember the skis that we would rent; they had a binding that snapped on the bottom, not like the good skis today. I think they were really dangerous. Of course the skis were way longer then and did not carve nearly as well. But, boy did I have fun. My dad would ski there too, he was a prof at Kutztown State College.
I worked as much as I could. We loved Friday nights because a band would play and it was the only action around. We had fun in the parking lot, the rental place, the first aid station, everywhere we could on that mountain.
I remember skiing one night on the mogul area which was to the right and getting stuck because the new snow was so deep and I wasn't going fast enough (maybe the slope wasn't steep enough, maybe I wasn't good enough). I also remember skiing in jeans and army jacket because that is what I had, nothing fancy like now a days.
What memories. The lady who I worked with was Lavina and also Julie Stark, who lived on the other side of Hahn, Mary Guinther, who lived in Stony Run and is still in the area. I wish I had saved some of the stuff that I had, but that was long ago. I was 22.
I now live in Vermont with a view of Jay peak out the window. My kids race both Alpine and Nordic, they also work at Jay Peak. Ha-ha (what we called it then) was a joke compared , but it holds good memories. Global warming and the expense of snowmaking led to it's demise. What happened to Blue Marsh and Doe Mt?
I also remember the ski mt at Crystal Ridge? We used it for sledding and there was a cave nearby that we could go into. The one at Eagle Point in Kutztown is now overgrown, the Wirtz's owned the property I think, now the Renningers own it. Are you familiar with Piper Hill ( I think) in Pipersville Pa? It is long gone but there is some information about it on line. Here in VT. my husband spent hours at a little mountain here in Newport, which is now sadly out of business. We have snow too, but the insurance is too high. It cost 50 cents a day in the 70's! Tow rope only! It was called Chamberlin-Birch. He still has his long skis.
I moved here because in the elementary schools, there are ski programs. My kids got lessons, equipment and a day at Burke Mt (a great place to ski) for $5.00 a week for 10 weeks. It was part of the school curriculum. Awesome. Us old timers could go as chaperones for free. Of course I took full advantage of it and started skiing again. That too has changed. The schools only go maybe once every other week for $7.00. Not a bad deal. Skiing is important here. It's how we survive the intense cold.
Thanks for the memories.
Lisa Eshleman Foster McCrae
Hi Jeff,
I started as a Jr patroller in 1970 while I was in high school. Loved skiing there and liked the good ski deals I got by being on the patrol. Great comraderie. I came back to the area and the patrol in 1979 with Paul Pretzman as the head patrol leader. It was like a private area. I coached the racing team and was able to set up gates at will. Sunday nights were always spent at the bar with Jim Coyne as bartender listening to Dead music. One Sunday night somebody turned the lifts on for our private pleasure, as the area closed at 4, some skiers even "streaked" down the mountain. Easy area to get to and beautiful natural surroundings made this area special.
I can say without hesitation that there were better mountains, but few mountains that were more fun.
Thanks for the memories.
Rob Hamill
Hi,
Attached is a link to some old photos of Hahn Mt I scanned after I stumbled on to your site.
I grew up and currently live about 3 miles from Hahn Mt.
Hahn Mt and skiing was a big part of my growing up. I am sure we crossed paths at the Mt.
I worked at the mountain for I think like 9 years I think I started when I was 14 or 15 parking cars in the lots on weekends. It was a great job with the best perk of free skiing which was a sport I loved growing up.
I pretty much did every job at Hahn Mt. except snowmaking over the years. I also worked in the summer mowing the slopes, cutting trails back of brush and logs and even operated Caterpillar heavy equipment (955 loader and D5 dozer) widening the trails and top where you got off the lift. I did the kitchen, bused tables, maintained those Franco Belge coal stoves and mostly likely served you coffee or hot chocolate. You name it I did it LOL.
I even lived at the crappy mobile home below the lodge for a few weeks one summer. That is where Dennis Reiss the GM used to live during some of his tenure at the Mt.
The worst job I got stuck was one day it was so bitterly cold and snowed so no one came in to operate the lifts and I was asked to operate the T-Bar helping people get on the bar. It must have been one of those -20 wind chill days. I was so friggin cold I'll never forget it.
I knew Bob Stavin and Sue Butz very well.
Still of course living so close I drive by it almost every day and for many years held out hope someday it would re-open but not a chance anymore.
All the best,
Lloyd Lutz
Hello Jeff
In 2015 I got a chance to go inside the Hahn Mountain Ski lodge. Now most of you remember skiing. I remember my dad Ray and several Hahn employees busting their ass to make it work. I never got to ski there but Stavin said my brother Kevin and I could ski for free. I remember going out there opening day with my dad. We met with Stavin to see how it was going. He said everything went well but they ran out of toilet paper. LOL. They ran to the Hahn plant and got some. My brother spent many hours there welding pipes for the snow. Anyway for me it was a trip through time. I couldn't believe how well it was preserved. I had tears in my eyed looking out those front windows at the slopes. I always said if I became rich I would buy the whole place and move my family there. Well that's not going to happen but I'm thankful that my brother and our two sons got to experience Hahn Mountain. I'll send the other pics in 2 emails as the files are too big. Enjoy and please put on your website.
Don Hartman - 2017
Greetings Jeff,
I suppose every once and awhile we become nostalgic, and I was thinking about Hahn Mt. recently when I discovered your web page. Interestingly, you probably have some of the only recorded photo history of the ski area.
I am now a 58 year old father and everyday guy who is a pilot turned aviation business development guy. I live in Shillington, but I digress.
I started skiing in the mid 60s when my folks moved to Pottsville pa. I quickly became one of the ski brats of the then local area Sharp Mountain. In 74, my folks moved to Orwigsburg (my dad was a surgeon in Pottsville) and my skiing moved over to Hahn, as Sharp had closed by then.
Eventually, I worked part time at Hahn, and became responsible for what I called the "Orwigsburg" connection. There were a whole bunch of us that worked there from the Orwigsburg area. I could write stories about the soap opera that was that ski area.
I operated lifts for a bit, but quickly migrated to the snow crew. I was there during the "Hedco" era. The compressors were gone at this point, and we had to make snow with about 5 or 6 machines.
It was a very interesting time and in hindsight we had a blast. Of course we all only worked there for the free skiing.
I am still an avid skier, and every once and awhile I will run into an older person whom I will recognize from the Hahn area.
Matt Ritter - 2018
Good Morning Jeff,
I was a member of the Big Valley/Hahn Mt. Ski Patrol and for about three years prior to its closing at the end of the '83-'84 season I was the Patrol Leader. It was a unique family-oriented ski area that became our family's winter weekend "home away from home" when our sons were growing up. If you would please send me your mailing address I will send the old brochures and the copy of the Air Products publication that I have.
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. I have done some "binge watching" on your site since Brent sent me the link. You've done a helluva job and watching it brought back a lot of good memories and thoughts about friends and Patrollers I have not seen in years. I stayed on as the Patrol's Leader/Director for a couple of years until my company transferred me to California and Paul Prutzman replaced me until the Patrol was officially disbanded by the NSPS o/a 1986-87? Lastly, it's my understanding that within 2-3 years of closing Hanh Mtn's. lighting system and chairlift were sold to Doe Mountain over in Macungie. They continue to operate on a larger scale under new ownership as Bear Creek Resort.
In addition to the copy of the Air Products "All About Allentown" publication and the old brochures you will find a National Ski Patrol System Eastern Division monograph on how to properly apply and use a "Swami Belt" for self-evacuation and as a safety belay during the evacuation of skiers from a chair in the event of a lift malfunction or skier medical emergency. In the Fall, during our On-The-Hill refresher exercises, Patrollers would practice putting on the belt and with a climbing rope thrown over the rafters in the lodge, practice lowering themselves with and without belaying support. Afterwards the Patrollers would go outside to perform simulated actual skier lift evacs from the area's chairlift at different locations on the mountain.
When the pandemics restrictions are over if you are ever in the Annapolis area perhaps we can get together for a beer and burger, and talk about a great place that played a large part in our families lives.
All the best,
Ed Conaway - April 2020
Hi Jeff,
I recently drove by Kempton and started to reminisce about all the times I skied Big Valley when I was young, so I decided to research the hill and stumbled into your page. THANK YOU for collecting all this for us!!!
Big Valley was my "go to" hill when it opened in 1969 because Scott (your second message in the Readers Comments section) started skiing there and I was good friends with his younger brother. I loved this place and skied from 10A to 10P many a Saturday and quite often skied Friday night and Sunday the same weekend too. I know my parents and Scott's mother would take turns driving us to Big Valley all winter long. What dedication that was - or maybe they simply enjoyed the peace and quiet when we were out of the house - hahaha! While I didn't learn to ski at Big Valley, I honed my skills there. Things I remember about Big Valley is the one chairlift tower, towards the top, had the cable run under the wheels which made a distinct "bump, bump, bump, bump" when the chair went passed it. It was my reminder I was nearing the top. I also have a memory of dropping off the "cliff" at the top of the black diamond (Big Valley slope) and "flying" down the hill as fast as I could. I recall music being piped along the chairlift which is most definitely a thing of the past. I also remember the hustle and bustle of the lodge and buying food and hot chocolate at the snack bar which I ate quickly, so I could get back on the slopes ASAP. However, what I remember most is being carefree and having the time of my life - maybe it had something to do with the late 60s/70s time period or my age at the time, but I truly believe skiing Big Valley as a kid provided me a lifelong love for skiing and the outdoors which I still enjoy to this day.
This is the hill where I graduated from my original St. Moritz wooden skies with cable bindings and screwed in edges and leather ski boots, which I still have on display in my house, to my first fiberglass skies (Yamaha "All Around I") and plastic boots! What a difference that made. I was the happiest kid on the slopes! Well that was many years ago and I've skied all over the USA and Europe since then, but the memories of skiing Big Valley will always be imbedded in my heart.
Thanks so much for putting this site together for us. It brought back a lot of wonderful memories!
Steve - May 2020
Hello Jeff,
I had written to you previously about my Hahn Mt experience. Funny how that place seems to continually surface in conversations. Last evening I attended a wake in Orwigsburg, for the dad of one of my long time and good friends. Our shenanigans from our Hahn days came up. Turns out, this friend was the one who blew up the diesel on the Thiokol PackMaster. Seized more appropriately. Ran it out of oil.
I've noticed at your Hahn web site (which is excellent), that you are a bit short of snowcat photos. During my time, early 80s, there were three. The Thiokol Spryte, which I think came from Sharp Mt. in Pottsville. Since it had like a Ford V8, it was relegated to fueling duties. The Thiokol PackMaster and the Kool-Kat.
The Kool-Kat was fun as all hell to run, when it ran. I remember it being essentially a combine with tracks. It was meant for long haul grooming, not getting the crap kicked out of it at Hahn.
Incidentally, Mike Martin is one of my neighbors.
You're correct Jeff. The "big cat" was a cab over/cab in front combine. Called the Kool-Kat. No idea who made it, but I'm certain it was a new entrant to the market and had that made in a garage appearance. Full hydrostatic drive. When it ran, it was slick, but all too often it was broken. I spent many freezing hours in the maintenance barn with a salamander blowing on it to thaw "growzer bolts". They were the bolts that held the metal cleats to the rubber belts of the track. They were a motherfu with melting ice dripping on you.
Random Internet pic; not Hahn's actual Kool-Kat.
The other two we had, one of which you have pictured, was the Thiokol Spryte that came to Hahn via Sharp Mountain. It fueled the Hedco snow machines.
Hahn's Spryte.
The Thiokol PackMaster was a legit cat, until my friend fried the engine.
Random Internet pic; not Hahn's actual PackMaster.
The place didn't pay for brains. It was a cast of characters. We all skied for free and as many of us were students at the time (I was at PSU), that was reward enough for a mostly really cold job.
Matt Ritter - 2023