14

Craig was the energetic president of the Revelstoke Ski Club and was often the main organizer or committee chairman for the ski tournaments. In 1938 Craig approached Parks Canada about building a lodge on the summit of Mt. Revelstoke. Parks agreed but stipulated that the structure needed to be more than just a rustic cabin. Craig purchased the old Three Valley Hotel, dismantled it and salvaged the wood. The wood was transported to the top of Mt. Revelstoke and a beautiful lodge was constructed, named "Heather Lodge" by Don McCrae as it was surrounded by stunning, heather meadows. Don McCrae managed the lodge and it became a favorite weekend outing for many in the Revelstoke Ski Club and became popular with visitors as well. It was a beautiful log structure with 10 bedrooms and complete with prepared meals. It took most people just 3 or 3-1/2 hours to ascend the trail to the top. Some would stay for the day, but many would stay for the weekend or longer. They would ski "daylight to dark" then play ping pong and cards at night in the lodge.

15

Skiing in Mt. Revelstoke Park
late 1930's
Mount Revelstoke, Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Barbara Vigue

16

Heather Lodge in winter
c. 1940
Mount Revelstoke, Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Revelstoke Museum and Archives

17

Skiers at Heather Lodge
late 1930's
Mount Revelstoke, Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Barbara Vigue

18

Skiing on Mt. Revelstoke
c. 1940
Mount Revelstoke, Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Revelstoke Museum and Archives

19

"Skeen and Skheard" was an amusing newspaper column written by a Revelstoke Ski Club member and reporting the humorous antics of the previous weekend. Such tidbits to be found included the number of ski tips broken (and by whom!); record fast descents or record slow ascents; and any other gossip that the author deemed the entire town should know. "Skeen and Skheard" was written between 1939-1941 but other Ski Club columns had various names over the years: "Ski Chatter," "Skidaddle," "Stemwinder," "Ski-Dos," "Slope Dope," "On the Run," "On the Slope," and "Ski Slants." Mary McCrae wrote "Stemwinder" and "Ski-Dos" in the mid and late 1940's.

Alex McCrae married Mary Burridge and they had their honeymoon at Heather Lodge in November, 1941. They were both avid skiers, spending as much time as possible at Heather Lodge with their friends. Alex helped Don run the lodge and they both cooked. The winter of 1938-39, the lodge was not quite finished but despite that a large turkey and all the fixings were hauled up the mountain to feed 25 hungry skiers on New Years Day. This became a tradition every year.

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Honeymoon at Heather Lodge: Mary Burridge McCrae and Alex McCrae
November 1941
Mount Revelstoke, Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Barbara Vigue

21

Skiers at Heather Lodge
c. 1940
Mount Revelstoke, Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Revelstoke Museum and Archives

22

Skiers on the summit of Mt. Revelstoke
c. 1940
Mount Revelstoke, Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Barbara Vigue

23

A snippet from Jan. 5, 1940: "There's a collection of broken skis gathering on the mantel over the fireplace, but we're trying hard to keep ours from appearing there, even though it is an honour to have broken a ski on top of Mt. Revelstoke."

24

Ski school group on top of Mt. Revelstoke
c. 1940
Mount Revelstoke, Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Revelstoke Museum and Archives

25

Paul Salva on instruction
1930's and onward
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Paul Salva

26

In January 1939, Bill, Don and Alex McCrae and Jim McDonald left Revelstoke to ski to Golden around the Big Bend. The highway was due to open the following year, so the lads skied the 193 mile distance. Alex became ill into the trip and had to return after mile 73 but the other 3 made it and were feted out as champions for such an arduous undertaking. In the following January, 1940, Don and Bill McCrae and Jim McDonald again set off on a "skiing marathon:" a 500 mile trek from Revelstoke north to Jasper via the Big Bend and Tete Jaune Cache and then south to Banff, arriving in time for the Banff Winter Carnival. This trek was broadcast all over Canada and the boys had many good tales to tell of their adventure.

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Round the Bend Skiers
1939
Revelstoke, British Columbia

Credits:
Revelstoke Museum and Archives