Hardscrabble

Rice Lake businessman Cap Hagen spotted the Hardscrabble hill while flying his own plane, and he and his wife Ruth opened Mt. Hardscrabble in the early 1950s; the Midwest Lost Ski Areas Project gives 1952. It drew Minnesota skiers as well as locals, up to 5,000 on a peak New Year's weekend, and was known for the broad Run Beautiful and the more demanding, mogul-covered Tempo. A postcard the Wisconsin Historical Society dates to 1952 advertised a T-bar, eight tows and 11 runs; MWLSAP lists five rope tows and two T-bars in 1978 and a vertical of 400 feet, or 350.^1,2,3

Two of its first ski patrollers, Jim Gruenhagen and Marlow Fredrick, bought the area from Ruth Hagen in 1978, and Jim and Clare Gruenhagen later ran it alone, adding lights for night skiing and chairlifts. Fire took the original lodge in 1983, and a new building stood by 1985. After a run of snowless winters the area was sold in 1991; the Rice Lake Chronotype says it closed for good in 1994, while MWLSAP gives 2003 and Skimap.org holds a trail map dated 2000.^1,2,4