Snowshoe Thompson
A HERO OF THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS!
PROBABLY THE FIRST SKIER OF THE WEST.
THIS VIKING SON OF NORWAY, EXEMPLIFIED THE
SPIRIT OF A TRUE PIONEER. STRONG, DARING
FAITHFUL AND COURAGEOUS
HE WAS THE ANSWER TO CALIFORNIA’S MOTTO
“BRING ME MEN TO MATCH MY MOUNTAINS.”
FOR 20 YEARS HE WAS THE WINTER LIFELINE
BETWEEN THE NEW STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND
THE EAST WITH A REGULAR MAIL SCHEDULE
BETWEEN PLACERVILLE, CALIFORNIA AND
GENOA, NEVADA AND OTHER ISOLATED HAMLETS
OF THE MOTHER LODE COUNTRY.
MAIL, NEWS OF THE WORLD, MEDICINE, SUPPLIES
AND EQUIPMENT ARRIVED ON THE STURDY
SHOULDERS OF THIS GIANT SNOW VIKING.
OVER GREAT SNOWDRIFTS THROUGH RAGING
WINTER STORMS WITH PACKS OF UP TO
100 POUNDS, HE MADE HIS APPOINTED
ROUNDS. HIS DARING RESCUES, ERRANDS OF
MERCY AND MANY KINDNESSES MADE HIM A
LEGEND IN HIS OWN TIME. HE WAS BORN
JOHN TOSTENSEN AT TINN IN TELEMARK,
NORWAY APRIL 30, 1827. HE DIED MAY 15,
1876, AT THE AGE OF 49. HE RESTS AT
THE BASE OF THE MOUNTAINS HE LOVED,
BY THE SIDE OF HIS WIFE AND SON IN
THE CEMETERY AT GENOA, NEVADA. A
SIMPLE HEADSTONE, ENGRAVED WITH A
PAIR OF SKIS, MARKS HIS GRAVE.
ERECTED BY SNOWSHOE THOMPSON LODGE NO. 78,
SONS OF NORWAY, YUBA CITY, CA.
