Merrill Hastings

Merrill first came to Colorado in 1942 as a 10th Mountain Division member and trained at Camp Hale. He returned to Colorado in 1947 as an avid skier, moved to and lived in Vail with his family during the early years, from 1962 to 1973. He joined the construction crew in building Arapahoe Basin. Merrill was the director of Berthoud Pass Ski School and a National Ski Patrolman. He helped start the ski association that evolved into the Rocky Mountain Division of the PSIA. In 1948, he started Skiing Magazine and successfully ran it for 16 years. The decade of the 60s found Merrill actively involved with coverage of the Olympics around the world while also being appointed by Gov. Love as Olympic coordinator for the state of Colorado. His committee’s efforts eventually led to the state’s successful bid for the XII Winter Olympic Games of 1976 (later defeated by Colorado taxpayers). Those who knew Merrill well enjoyed his ever inquiring mind, his feistiness and friendship as he lived his life with great passion, integrity and commitment, while helping people around him, his community, the wilderness and wildlife.