George Hall, A Remembrance
By John Hake
To say that George Hall is widely known and well liked at the Bear Valley cross country ski area would be an understatement. For Bear Valley regulars, season pass-holders, and the “usual suspects” (you know who you are), George was a committed and talented skier who put his mark on local races over the years. He was also an active supporter of Bear Valley who routinely showed up for trail workdays in the fall to prepare for the coming season. His recent death has surprised many of us, but he has left us with many fond memories. When I think of George, I imagine him in several places familiar to those who cross country ski at Bear Valley.
Naturally, the place where most would encounter George would be where we all start and end our skiing, at the trailhead. I found that George usually started the morning a bit on the later side, after he had spent the first part of the day perusing the New York Times. The trailhead is a busy place, and George had many friends with whom to discuss the weather, snow conditions, or the grooming. While this might be the most likely place for a friendly exchange with George, there are many other places one might see him and two stand out in my mind.
Far from the crowds, I would sometimes encounter George on Osborne Ridge. There the number of skiers thins out dramatically, and the conversation gets more specific: How far does the grooming extend on Ridge Runner? How are the conditions on Corkscrew? Seen any bear tracks? On the ridge, the rolling terrain allows for some V2 technique with longer glides. I always admired George’s long, smooth, graceful glides and loved to ski these sections with him when the opportunity arose. He made an excellent partner for enjoying the view from the ridge and exciting descents down the corkscrew. It seemed to me that the ridge was a place we both really enjoyed, and it was always more enjoyable when I could ski it with him.
But my favorite place to encounter George was at the Warming Hut where a leisurely lunchtime on a relatively quiet day was the right time for extended conversations. I think of George as a bit of a polymath, well-versed on many topics. As he would stride onto the deck at lunchtime, I always looked forward to our wide-ranging conversations: Patagonian geology, principles of waste management, the construction of outdoor ice rinks, or a recent article in the morning Times. Or maybe the article he didn’t quite get to yet but planned to read that afternoon. I admired George for his curiosity about the world and his lifetime love of learning. He discussed these topics not with an expert’s authority but with a genuine desire to understand and with humility. He asked a lot of good questions! This, among George’s many fine qualities, was the one I liked best and will miss most.
And this will be where I visualize George in my mind’s eye, on the Warming Hut deck, having a fun and engaging conversation in the warm Bear Valley sunshine, after a glorious morning ski. I can think of no better way for me to remember this kind, friendly man with a keen curiosity about many things. We miss you already George.
George Hall, as we remember him, always smiling, always curious. (Photo by Vic Guillot)
Click here to learn more about Project Warming Hut.
