WMSR Today
Over ninety years since it was founded, the White Mountain Ski Runners is going strong. Since the beginning, members affectionately refer to the club as the “White Mules,” named after a prohibition drink, since the club was founded the year prohibition ended. The club has a strong sense of community and members often forge enduring friendships. It is also a positive environment for children, where they learn and practice interacting with all ages and contributing to the community.
For over sixty-five years, the club has proudly maintained its large, red shingle-style lodge on Neighbors Row in Intervale, NH. During the ski season, the club runs member-hosted weekends with communal meals, packed lunches to be taken out on adventures, and a wonderful Saturday evening cocktail hour in front of the fire before Saturday night’s dinner.
Historically, the focus has been on alpine skiing at the Mt. Washington Valley ski areas. Today, members head to the slopes for alpine skiing, to cross country ski at one of the many Nordic ski areas, to backcountry ski, hike and ice climb in the Whites, to snow-shoe or even fat bike in adjacent Whittaker Woods. The variety of outdoor fun in Mt. Washington Valley is only limited by one’s imagination!
When the snow is gone, the club is actively enjoyed by members throughout the spring, summer and fall, when the weekends are not formally hosted. There is as much to do in the Whites in the warm months as in the winter. Members enjoying hiking, rock climbing, mountain biking, tennis and all types of paddling on the Saco River. There is nothing like spending a warm day outdoors in the Whites and coming back to the house for a cold drink on the wraparound porch, with a view of the western ridgeline and Whitehorse Ledge.
History
The White Mountain Ski Runners, one of the oldest ski clubs in the United States, was founded in Boston, Massachusetts in October 1933.
The philosophy of the club was to promote the new sport of downhill skiing in the East, to share in the fun, and to build new friendships based on the thrill of downhill skiing.
In the first month, the WMSR had 100 members and incorporated. They also gained membership in the Eastern Amateur Ski Association, set up race dates, and leased Fred Weeks’ farmhouse on Gunstock Mountain. Many of the first members were Appalachian Mountain Club members who wanted to ski the trails they had walked in the summer. As word caught on of this new club, the membership swelled. In 1994, there were 400 members.
The name "White Mule" came from a potent Prohibition drink with lots of spirit and plenty of KICK. The early members of the "White Mules" shared the fun and wild times riding the Snow Train from Boston or driving over muddy, rutted roads just to walk up the slopes with skins on their skis! Imagine climbing the Fire Trail up Mt. Washington or Cranmore, Tenney or the east side of Cardigan Mountain. Finally, a rope tow was built on a steep foothill near Guilford, NH by Ted Cooke. This was the THIRD built in the WORLD, and the only one in the region. Some early members described the rope tow as very hard on the shoulder sockets and extremely hard to get on and off – but much better than climbing.
In the early years the WMSR club fee was $5.00. This fee covered membership in the club, membership in the Eastern Amateur Ski Association, and a subscription to the “Ski Bulletin,” a weekly WMSR publication that predicted ski conditions and other timely news.
In the tradition of promoting downhill skiing, the members sponsored large East Coast races such as the Webber Cup and the Willis Plate. These trophies are now on display in the Ski Museum in Franconia, NH. The Hall Trophy, sponsored by the club until the mid-1970s, dates back to 1940 and was awarded to the winner of the Junior Downhill Race. During the late 1940s and 50s the older members wanted to continue the tradition of love for the winter sports, shared in a family setting with fun and “togetherness” .
Until the Club bought our current home for the WMSR on Neighbors Row in 1963, the members had always rented lodges in various locations – Franconia, Jackson, and Littleton, NH. Today, as many as 51 members and guests can share the cozy quarters on Neighbors Row. Members volunteer to host the weekend taking reservations, planning the menus and buying food. Everyone pitches in to prepare the meals and clean up. Young and old members work together sharing stories and keeping traditions alive.