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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Outpeople: Kuhlmann family ingrained at Sitzmark Ski Area

Irene Kuhlmann, 88, has been a regular at Sitzmark Ski Area near Tonasket, Washington, with her kids, grandkids and great grandkids since the 1950s. (Rich Landers / The Spokesman-Review)

Not long after Sitzmark Ski Area opened its rope-tow-served slopes in 1951 near Tonasket, Washington, the Kuhlmann family became a foundation.

“We were just some farmers and ranchers providing recreation for our families during winter,” said Irene Kuhlmann, 88, who’s as well known at the tiny resort as the locally famous cinnamon rolls.

The first grooming at the resort was done with sleds pulled by chained-up tractors. The ruts made for interesting obstacles to negotiate long before terrain parks were fashionable.

The 80-acre hill has been served by a chairlift since the 1980s, and slopes down from the 4,950-foot summit are groomed by snowcat, but the simple lodge, rental shop and outhouses are flashbacks to the most simple days of alpine skiing.

Irene’s late husband Melvin was involved in grooming and running the ski hill while she focused on getting the kids out to the ski school, starting with her first daughter at age 3.

“I didn’t have time to start skiing until I was 60,” she said. “I learned when my first daughter was 36. I’m not sure the skis even had edges. I’d turn by doing the stem christie.”

Although a bad back prompted her to hang up her skis and take up snowshoeing at age 81, Kuhlmann continues to be a fixture at the ski shop, where her family helps run the show.

“This place has brought together a lot of camaraderie over the years,” she said. “We used to have night skiing and music – the skiers had their own band for the big New Years party.

“We taught all the kids and grandkids to ski up here, although some have gone to snowboarding.

“That’s OK,” she added. “They’re still on the hill and not someplace else.”