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The Ski Camp at the Old Mill Site was the first commercial ski lodge to operate on Vancouver's North Shore mountains. During the two ski seasons the ski camp was open, snow levels were disappointingly low due to a prolonged period of above average temperatures. This prompted Rudolph Verne, the driving force behind the venture, to move the ski camp to First Lake in the Fall of 1926. On January 16th, 1927, Verne and his Scandinavian partners officially opened the Hollyburn Ski Camp. The heart of the ski camp was Hollyburn Lodge, which continues to operate to this day. For more information about the Ski Camp at the Old Mill Site read these three articles on the "Mtn History" page: Eilif Haxthow's "Hollyburn Journal (1925)", "The Hollyburn Pacific Ski Club of Vancouver, BC", and "Hollyburn Ski Lodge".
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Eilif Haxthow on Hollyburn Mtn, 1925
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Eilif Haxthow (1905-1965) was an accomplished outdoorsman, skier, fisher, hiker, wood carver, oil painting artist and photographer who took the time to write about his experiences on Hollyburn.
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Repairing buildings at the old Nasmyth mill site, Fall, 1924
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This sketch is one of many that Eilif Haxthow drew in his Hollyburn journal. (Eilif Haxthow Collection)
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Eilif Haxthow's "home on the Ridge", 1925
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The buildings at the abandoned Nasmyth mill site had board and batten siding. Eilif Haxthow's skis can be seen on the porch. (Eilif Haxthow Collection)
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The Ski Camp at the Old Mill Site, 1925
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The cookhouse at the Nasmyth shinglebolt mill was fixed up and renamed "the restaurant" by Eilf Haxthow and his companions. Note the crossed skis above the door. (Eilif Haxthow Collection)
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Inside 'the Restaurant', the former cookhouse at Nasmyth's shinglebolt mill, 1925
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Another evocative sketch which Eilif Haxthow drew in his Hollyburn journal. (Eilif Haxthow Collection)
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Flo and Ida, Hollyburn Mtn, 1925
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Flo and Ida were among the first visitors at the Old Mill Ski Camp. (Eilif Haxthow Collection)
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Horses at the Old Mill Ski Camp at the Old Mill, May, 1925
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On May 15th, 1925, a 'Pollough Pogue' story about Fred Scott and Captain Lindermere's ride up the Hollyburn trail was published in the Daily Province (Eilif Haxthow Collection)
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Beginning skiers at the Old Mill Ski Camp, circa 1926
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A prolonged El Nino warming trend llimited snowfall levels on Hollyburn during the 1924/1925 and 1925/1926 ski seasons. (George-Armstrong-Hills Collection)
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Rudoph Verne with a group of beginning skiers, Hollyburn Mtn, circa 1926
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The young skiers posing with Rudolph Verne were the among first of many beginning skiers on Hollyburn Mtn. (George Armstrong-Hills Collection)
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Skiers on Hollyburn Mtn, circa 1926
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In the late 1920's ski clothing and equipment were pretty basic. It was not until the 1930's that clothing and boots specifically designed for skiing were available in Vancouver. (George Armstrong-Hil
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Remnants of the Nasmyth shinglebolt mill, circa 1933
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In early 1930's, fire destroyed the main building at the former Nasmyth shinglebolt mill. (Brian Creer Photo)
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Former site of the Old Mill Ski Camp, 1932
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By 1932, there were few traces of Vancouver's first commercial ski operation. (Gerry Hardman Collection)
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