Bruce Kehr, founder of Stevens Pass Resort, died last week according to the ski area's website. He was 96.

Here's a letter from Stevens Pass GM John Gifford that was posted on the resort's website:

Last week we learned that Bruce Kehr, an important part of Stevens Pass history passed away on December 2. Bruce was one of the founders of Stevens Pass Winter Resort. Starting in 1937 Bruce and Don Adams together forged a raw mountain location into a ski resort. They were passionate about the sport. They carved trails using hand tools and lots of back breaking, hard work. They built rope tows powered with vehicle engines and inventively using other materials. To power the rope tows, they hiked to each tow, carrying five-gallon cans of gas to fuel the engines every morning before the resort opened for guests. This was an era where ski industry pioneers, who had a dream and not much else, used their resourcefulness, ingenuity, blood, sweat and tears to make those dreams a reality.

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Crystal Mountain hopes to crank up its lifts for the season on Saturday morning, according to a statement released today by resort spokeswoman Tiana Enger.

The statement says the resort still needs 6-8 inches of snow to open, but "management is keeping a close eye on the weather and hopes that the system moving in later this week will produce enough snow."

If Crystal opens, lift ticket prices will be discounted from the full price of $60 because only three lifts will be open.

At least another foot of snow is needed to open the upper mountain.

Mount Baker is hoping to open Sunday or Monday. Mission Ridge near Wenatchee was the first ski area in the state to open on Dec. 3.

News Tribune file photo

Learn the basics of one of the Winter Olympics most cerebral and least dynamic sports on Saturday morning.
The Granite Curling Club in Seattle offers open houses to the public throughout the year. Saturday’s open house starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. The club, one of the few on the West Coast, has members from all over Western Washington. Instructors are on site to teach the game.

Organizers urge you to show up as close to 10 a.m. as possible. The open houses sometimes draw large crowds and organizers anticipate having to stop accepting guests by noon. The Granite Curling Club was founded in 1961. The club is home to several national championship teams.

WHERE: Granite Curling Club, 1440 N. 128th Street, Seattle.

GETTING THERE: From Interstate 5, take Exit 174 and head left on 5th Avenue. Turn left on 130th Street then left on Meridian Avenue and the right on North 128th Street.

COST: $10 per person or $25 per family.

MORE INFO: Visit curlingseattle.org or call 206-362-2446.