In the 1940's and 50's, Climax not only had the highest post office and standard-gauge railroad in the nation, but also one of the state's premier ski areas. The trails of the first area in Colorado to be lit for night skiing were located on the slopes of Chalk Mountain just above where you're standing.
Climax Ski Area opened in 1937 with no lifts and only a few runs cleared by volunteers. The Continental Ski Club was formed by mine employees in 1941 ("Continental" referred to the Continental Divide; the area was also sometimes called the "Continental Ski Course").
The ski club cut more runs in 1941, and installed a rope tow with the company's help. Equipment from light bulbs to hardware to the diesel engine that powered the rope tow found its way from the mine to the slopes.
Climax Ski Area drew as many as five hundred skiers on weekends, including 10th Mountain Division soldiers from nearby Camp Hale during World War II. The nation's only air defense warden to be assigned duty at a ski area served at Climax, prepared to douse the lights in the event of a blackout alert.
The area was dismantled in 1962 when the buildings of the town of Climax were moved to Leadville, one year after a new ski area called Vail opened for business about thirty miles away.

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