Alpine Meadows has renamed three of its popular mountain trails, thanks to more than 1,000 suggestions from the Tahoe and Truckee communities. The winning names were contributed by Greg Jellinek (Dancefloor), Melanie Jackson (Werner’s Schuss), and Daryl Nolch (Boomerang).

Red Trail has been renamed Dancefloor, a trail name from Alpine’s yesteryear which is often heard from the mountain’s tenured skiers. Blue Trail has been renamed Werner’s Schuss, in honor of Werner Schuster, the legendary Director of Ski School from the early ’60s to the mid-’70s and Vice President of Marketing through 1997. Green Trail has been renamed Boomerang. Its direction and shape, if viewed from above, indeed resembles the well-known Aboriginal throwing stick.

Why were the trails renamed? Underwhelming but true, the colors which served as trail names were given because they were the colors of the survey tape used during the trails’ construction during the ’60s. In search of unique new names, the contest ran for two weeks during early September through Alpine’s new website blog page. All entries were then collected and presented to a judging panel at Alpine Meadows, who made the final decisions.



“As expected, the suggestions were plentiful and very creative,” said Jim Kercher, Alpine Meadows General Manager. “There was so much great input, and the judging panel debated for a lengthy time.”

The contest winners received a sunset snowcat ride for up to eight people, a midweek pass for winter 2008/2009, and a full-day mountain tour for up to five people including line-cutting privileges. The new names will grace the trails, mountain trail maps and website. Visit SkiAlpine.com or call 583-4232 for more information about Alpine Meadows.