Adirondack Women of Winter: Ski Pioneers Lois Perret and Frederica "Freddie" Anderson
Trailblazing women are the focus of a Tannery Pond Center talk about the evolution of skiing in the Adirondacks.
As part of the celebrations for the 90th anniversary of North Creek’s Snow Train, Tannery Pond Center will host an evening discussion with Jim Schaefer on trailblazing women of skiing who helped make the Adirondack region a ski destination. Schaefer’s talk features the legacy of Lois Perret Schaefer (Jim’s mom), who led the organization of the first ski patrol at the North Creek Ski Bowl, and Freddie Anderson, a renowned ski instructor for over 70 years in the Adirondack region, and at 12 years old, was one of the passengers on the very first Snow Train.
Exploring the considerable accomplishments of female skiers in the Adirondack Mountains.
Lois Perret, RN (1901-1992) was asked to head the First Aid Committee of the Schenectady Wintersports Club in preparation for the Snow Trains that were planned for the 1933-34 ski season. She recruited competent skiers, trained them in Red Cross standards for ski-related injuries, and crafted supplies for aiding injured skiers. Many believe Lois’s team was the first organized ski patrol in America.
In 1938, when Charles Minot “Minnie” Dole agreed to organize what was to become the industry standard National Ski Patrol, he replicated many of Lois’s practices and procedures, including the Red Cross training and equipment protocols. The “Memorial Lois Perret, RN Ski Patrol Award” is given in Lois’s honor to recognize outstanding service to members of the Gore Mountain Ski Patrol since 2003.
Frederica “Freddie” Anderson (1921-2022) first started skiing at 3 years of age. Freddie and her family rode the First Snow Train from Schenectady to North Creek. She would later become one of NY’s first certified ski instructors. While she was an instructor at Gore Mountain for 25 years, Freddie is probably most well-known for founding and directing the Schenectady Ski School, which she led for an incredible 64 years, teaching tens of thousands of people to ski. When she was 90, she rode the 2011 Snow Train, retracing the original route from Schenectady to North Creek.
Read more about these fascinating women in our article, The Adirondacks’ Trailblazing Women of Skiing.
2023-2024 Lois Perret (Schaefer), RN Memorial Ski Patrol Award Presentation.
In conjunction with this talk, Jim Schaefer will present this year’s award named for his mom. Nominees in the past have been recognized for their exceptional service to the Gore Mountain Ski Patrol during their career, providing care for injured skiers, riders, bikers, and hikers on and off trails at the Gore Mountain Ski Resort.
The Memorial Award was first presented in 2003 to Dr. Dan O’Keeffe II, who was an original member of the 1933 First Aid Committee.
For more event information, visit Tannery Pond Center’s webpage dedicated to 90th Anniversary events.
Places to explore near North Creek.
Beautiful hand-crafted jewelry using authentic Adirondack Garnet gemstones.