Alan's Ski-ing Holiday In Canada

Among the collections of the Canadian Ski Museum is Alan Hervey d'Egville's memoir of a ski-ing holiday. I too have excused myself for drinking an entire bottle of spirits on the grounds that it had "gone off." Which just demonstrates that there is nothing new under the sun - particularly where excuses are concerned. I should probably state that nighttime ski-ing under the influence of alcohol should not be emulated at home.

The Admiral had provided me with the world's largest flask in case of accidents, and I had a couple of big accidents the moment I arrived. Besides in the inn was a certain Major, with bottles and bottles of De Kuyper's gin. God rest his soul - the Major's I mean, not so much De Kuyper, though I helped the Major out of a great difficulty by drinking nearly a whole bottle to prevent it going mildewed. After dinner we played charades. I was rotten. I must take a course in "How to become a 100 per cent charader and earn big dough on the side. Be popular! Be the life and soul of the party. Send no money! Merely pay the postman three hundred dollars and a few cents postage. The College of Charades. Olikaboof. Wash."

That night we sallied forth to try a bit of road ski-ing by moonlight. Unfortunately there was no moon, but that made no difference till you hit an electric light post or a wandering cow.

The Canadian Ski Annual, Season 1931

The entire article can be downloaded in pdf format.