Lane
Location
The main run down beside the tow (a classic example of Meany understatement.) n9
Origin
This was logged from virgin timber in 1931 and was very much narrower than at present. This gave an appearance somewhat like a narrow road, or “lane” through the woods. nw
Very early on the lane was thick with trees. A retired doctor hired loggers to clear the lane but they did a bad job and left big stumps and logs. The Lodge Committee worked really hard for many years getting rid of the stumps, but The Lane was named by the doctor.” n9
History
1931
A retired doctor donated funds to contract with two loggers from Easton to fall the trees from the cornice down to the clearing for $100 and so the lane was created. ma56 The trees were virgin lumber and the lane was much narrower, giving the appearance of a narrow lane through the woods. nw
The loggers left 3’-4’ high stumps and downed trees all criss-crossed. hw
1932
Unfortunately the loggers were careless, or the trees perverse, for they fell in a jumble, requiring another $100 the following summer to clean up the slash and reduce the fire hazard, which also improved the skiability.
Logs from downed trees laid parallel on fall line of slope. hw
1935
For the benefit of the lazy and not-too-proud-to-ride, investigations have been made concerning the possibility of installing a rope “ski tow” up the lane. Such a device … would take much of the effort out of our skiing and rapidly improve our technique because of the opportunity for abundant practice and downhill running. ma35
At first the lower lane was used as a practice slope, the remainder being only a convenient means of going to and from the upper slopes of Meany Hill. The more expert used its entire length to some extent but three or four climbs and descents were enough for even the strongest on any one day. ma56
1938
Constructed Mach Tow. The head pulley was mounted 70% uphill for a 280’ vertical. hw
1940
The worst pileups of logs were flattened out on the remainder of the “lane” so there will be fewer bumps and a smoother hill this next winter. Finally a ski jump was constructed, the whole lane brushed off and a new and flatter zig-zag trail constructed on the north side of the “lane,” for the benefit of all those who do not like to “take ‘er straight.” ma40
1943
300 feet were added to the length of the tow, making it 1,100 feet long with a vertical lift of 300 feet.
1944
Began program to remove all logs from “Lane” and sawed stumps down flush with ground. hw
1945
- Continued program to remove logs and stumps from Lane. hw
1949
1957
Safety gate wiring improved. hw
1962
Lower Lane bulldozed to improve approach to Mach tow. hw
1982
During work party season, Meany women took charge of the “Ox” and the two hill “brush” saws. Thanks to the gals, the whole lane, from top to bottom, had been brushed. This took two year to do but it is now skiable on six inches of snow! The ladies on the “Ox” lifted and hauled firewood, propane tanks, giant pumpkins, dozens of mattresses, Cat ski boxes, tractor treads, brush, garbage, you name it. Meanwhile, Meany men overhauled both tractors (Sno-cats). hr
2013
December 31, 2013 was not a good snow day.
2022
Twenty twenty two brought the best snow year in recent memory. All of holiday week was in the teens with a range of 5-21°F. Day after day we received fresh dumps of delightful powdery snow, sometimes closing the pass, frequently knocking out our power. On January 3rd, WSDOT announced 236”, the highest snowfall in 20 years. The unusual cold and heavy snowfall kept the snow clung to the trees, causing just shy of 60 to fall across the roads leading into Meany. Pass closures prevented many arrivals. A dozen days at Meany were running on generator power. April dropped another 10’ of late-season snow, (totaling 444” for the year) resulting in the Lane being snow covered until the first week of June.ms