Willoughby: Interactions that add up

Repeating anecdotes of my father’s interactions with André Roch helps tell the bigger story of how one Aspen generation in a short time turned their time and energy into making Aspen a ski town. 

For my father, it began when his father, Fred D. Willoughby, at the time the mayor of Aspen, tasked Father with helping to host the visiting partners of the soon-to-be-formed Highland Bavarian. One partner, Tom Flynn, had grown up in Aspen, and his family had a mining claim in Little Annie Basin, and he had convinced the others that the basin would be a great place to have a ski area. As mayor, he had been trying to do anything to improve Aspen’s Depression economy, but since the company he headed, the Midnight Mine, owned most of the basins’ land, he saw it as a possible help in keeping the company alive. Father helped with the tour of the basin and surrounding area. 

That was successful. Later, Fred D. tasked Father and his brother Frank with providing that same kind of touring/hosting for the skiing/avalanche expert, André Roch, that the Highland Bavarian hired to advise them. Father knew every inch of Aspen Mountain, on the surface and underground, both in summer and in winter.

He fashioned his own skis as a young teen and put them to work delivering mail each weekend to the Midnight and Little Annie boarding houses, and he had explored much of the Castle Creek Valley in the winter on his skis. That became important because Roch was tasked with finding the best location, especially applying snow conditions and avalanche possibilities to the criteria, and wanted to explore the Ashcroft-end of the valley.

Father and Roch were the same age in 1936, 30 years old. Roch was outgoing, an optimist, and had both an understanding of and love for snow and mountains. They bonded quickly, as did many of that generation of Asperities, women and men. The Highland Bavarian tasked him with giving them ski lessons that they eagerly signed up for.

Roch inspired them to form what became the Aspen Ski Club and led them on excursions into many of Aspen’s skiable areas. In addition to the ski lessons, Roch gave Father and his brother Frank climbing instruction (see photo). Roch, at that time, had already accomplished a few peak firsts. After his time in Aspen, he accomplished quite a few more and was the photographer for the 1952 Swiss attempt at Everest that paved the way for the year-later, first ascent. Roch led Father and Frank on a winter assent of Castle Peak, for Father a very scary experience although he had total confidence in Roch.

The summer before Roch left, he prepared his report and lift and run designs to the Highland Bavarian. He lived with my father and mother during that period. While there, Roch did paintings, a hobby of his, of the Castle Creek Valley peaks in winter, using photographs he had taken on trips with Father and the Ski Club. They spent many hours enjoying each other’s company. Roch continued to communicate with them after he left. What he left behind were admirers of him and the belief that Aspen could be a ski town.

Tim Willoughby’s family story parallels Aspen’s. He began sharing folklore while teaching at Aspen Country Day School and Colorado Mountain College. Now a tourist in his native town, he views it with historical perspective. Reach him at redmtn2@comcast.net.