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But Foeger couldn't be stopped
entirely. Night skiing was also introduced in the winter of 1957-58 (with the
help of Al Flory again). The following year saw the installation of the 'Jet'
T-bar and more trails; and the new 'Bonaventure' (Muehler) double-chairlift
to the saddle on the west flank of Jay Peak, opening-up skiing on all three
peaks (of the northeast basin) for the 1960-61 season. And on it went.
And of course there was always promotion: to bring in investment, and skiers.
Walter did not shrink from the task of attracting either. Somewhat of an amateur
artist, he created an oil painting of his concept of the future area (the painting
was featured in SKI Magazine, and later became known locally as 'Walter's Picasso')
for an early Kiwanis fund-raiser at the Hotel Reba, in North Troy.
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| Walter's
'Picasso' which first appeared
in the December 1957 issue of
Ski Magazine, and put on display
on promotional tours in Montreal,
Boston and New York |
| -
Photo courtesy Dana Blanchard,
Newport |
His efforts aided the Kiwanis Club and Father George St. Onge of North Troy
in amassing $15,000 on one drive alone (Fr. St. Onge's unflagging 'boosting'
and belief in the future of the area were honored by the 'St. George's Prayer'
trail ( now just an unused remnant remains above the "Northway"
trail) running from the top of the old 'Bonaventure' chairlift to intersection
with the 'Montreal' trail). Walter made the rounds at the fall ski shows,
traveling from Boston, to New York, to Philadelphia, to Montreal, tirelessly
promoting the area. He took along his Austrian charm, his obvious skiing expertise,
and the ski films of Jay Peak and Natur Teknik made by Montgomery Center filmmakers
Bill and Libby Sylvester. As a result of these efforts the crowds came, sometimes
almost overwhelming even the resources of enterprising Elinor Huckabone, of
North Troy, clerk of Jay Peak Accommodations, Inc.
They came because Jay was a serious skiing mountain, in a true snowbelt, with
1800 feet of ski-able elevation - all of it above the magic 2000-foot mark.
And Jay was "a skier's mountain" (only the hardy need apply), Walter
saw to that. Frank Donahue of Richford (father of Jay Peak ski racer Dave
Donahue, and, at 81, the oldest standard bearer of Natur Teknik on the slopes
of Jay today) attests: "I remember standing with Walter at the base of
the 'Bonaventure' chairlift watching Mountain Dick (Lucier) load skiers on
one of those cold Jay mornings. A lady from Stowe turned to Dick and asked
about blanket robes for the ride up. Dick seemed at a loss for a reply, when
Walter, who had been nearby, intervened, proudly proclaiming in his commanding
voice, 'I am zorry, vee haf no blankets', he told the disappointed customer,
'vee are tough here at Chay Peak', pounding his barrel chest".
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