50 Years Deep: The Kirkwood Story

Kirkwood's deep history is explored through the eyes of longtime community members. This mountain has always been a labor of love for the people who have lived, worked, and skied here. It is the home of our hearts.
A film by Steve Seime

[@leaveittobaker]

Love Kirkwood! Great memories. I remember a trip there in the late 80's with my family and a friend of mine. We were hitting the off trail stuff, serves me right, and was doing stupid stuff. We thought we were indestructible. I skied off a little cliff, and everything below me was rock. Let's just say my shin meeting the rocks didn't go so well. The ski patrol was awesome. They came up and got me, strap me to a ski board, brought me down to the little hospital in there, and did the best they could at cleaning up my wound. I remember my late Dad coming down to check on me and asked to see the damage. He almost passed out after seeing the ripped tendon, muscle, and my bone showing. What a crazy memory.

[@kirkwoodbharris5110]

You know its a special place when your parents name you Kirkwood :)

[@djdksf1]

The Wood's been my home mountain since I started skiing. It was a crushing blow when Vail took it over, but you can still feel these vibes when you talk to the OGs and the locals. It's an indomitable mountain with an indomitable spirit. Absolutely world class snow and terrain. Don't hang in the Vail-owned village for lunch or apres, go to the 7,800 club under the Kirkwood tower by chair 1. That's the real Kirkwood!

[@user-ij2wn1pk1p]

Can’t disagree much with most of what you say, however patroller presence and avy mitigation has certainly improved since Vail took over. Luv the Wood.

[@blkcoupequattro]

Years back my mom and dad had bought a brand new 1973 Mercedes 220D when the were in Europe, they had the car shipped to Richmond after spending time driving the car in Europe summer of 1973. By the fall of 1973 my father had mounted new Micheline snow tires, we were ready for Tahoe/Kirkwood. I'm currently in 50th year skiing at this resort, ruth be told, I walked down a few times as kid there, but fond memories at the Big K..... Somewhere there is bright green hat with a the big blue K stenciled on it, I just wish I could find it now, my dad wore it...

[@Cjwyo]

Love this place. Live in Reno and won’t ski anywhere else

[@PaulTawfik]

Mt. Rose?

[@airmagic2199]

I HAVE SO MUCH LOVE FOR KIRKWOOD!!!! Nothing like being snowed in with both passes closed and Blue! Fantastic Mountain. Fantastic People. GRATITUDE!!!!!

[@jetinstyle]

Worked there 04/05 season through 08/09 for Coop and Carolyn. Best times ever! Living in Australia now and wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for Kirkwood and Coop giving me a job all those years ago.

[@jerryneff6018]

I worked Heavenly with Robey Lizama. Joined the Army in 1972. Being stationed at SF Presidio I I skied Kirkwood from its opening in 1972. I was then lucky enough to work at Kirkwood in 1974 as a lift operator.

[@davidtreichelpppj5304]

Wow this was AWESOME Thanks . I call KIRKWOOD my home too ... Back 25 years ago I used to wake up at 4 am in CAMPBELL and say , " You can get going to KIRKWOOD and hear the Powder Cannons going off of you can go back to sleep. I drove all that way no problems and what do you know ? avalanche bombs going off and POWDER SNOW Yes !

[@bobgarcia182]

I'm skiing here right now. This place has always been special. Thanks for the great video!

[@grizzkid795]

I had a season pass there in 1975 and they stayed open till Memorial day. There was never a lift line and you could ski powder a couple days or more after a storm if you were willing to hike a bit. You had to hike to the Wall from Cornice. I would often hitchhike to Kirkwood from near Jackson with my skis. Not too many people doing that now days, ha!

[@lanceschamberg8764]

I love kirkwood. I didn’t experience 88 in a storm. I did experience LCC going to Alta in a storm. It was white a knuckle ride. Can’t imagine that long of a ride on the 88 in a terrible storm.

[@kirkwilson5900]

I worked there 89-92. Best times of my life. Lived in every quadrant of the animal house. If you know, you know. I tell people I went to the University Of Kirkwood ...U.OK? I'm OK lol. Inside joke. And yeah my name really is Kirk. Everyone asked me if the place was named after me. Nope. But it was a good conversation starter. I made name tags and I would have of with that. "Kirk of Wood"

[@Krunch2020]

I worked there in the ‘77/ ‘78 season thanks to my friend Graham Simmons RIP. The Wall was amazingly steep before they put in the lift, especially for a beginner! We had to hike over from chair 6. I remember a sign at the top of Olympic, “No Short Skis.” Thanks to Rick Nunez and Charles Richardson for helping me get started skiing. Kurt Housh

[@grizzkid795]

Yeah, the sign said, "No skis under 200cm." One time I traversed out past the boundary signs and was caught by the ski patrol. He asked how long my skis were and I think I said 200 or so and he said, "OK, you're cool."

[@zacharyclark2]

Awesome video

[@fizzled95]

I used to work there in the Marketing Department back in the early 2000s back in the Tim Cohee, Mike D, and Tracy Miller days. What an amazing experience I'll never forget.

[@stephaniewilson2564]

And oh by the way, Vail owns it. Now if they could just honor that tradition they hammer home by setting aside an area for overnight self contained camping like in the pre-Vail days.

[@jonschlottig9584]

They better that's ridiculous they don't.

[@user-wo3pr2in4b]

Still have my 1983/84 season pass as a treasured memento.

[@rhp_6926]

Started skiing Kirkwood when it was brand new. Moved to Truckee and skiied the Tahoe area for a number of years. Moved from there to the Bay Area and have been riding and skiing Kirkwood since. Kirkwood used to be great, right until they sold out to Vail Corp. Not the same these days.

[@MrMountain707]

Now if they could just make the parking lots bigger

[@JamminWithJer]

Get there earlier mayne

[@AllenSmithe]

Where would all those people go? Only so much space on the mountain before it gets dangerous