NORTH POWDER – The Anthony Lakes Ski Area has announced the hiring

of a new general manager, Peter Johnson, continuing the transition of

the Northeastern Oregon ski area from a for-profit corporation to a

nonprofit operation.

Johnson, currently living in Madras, reports for duty at the ski area June 1.

“We received applications from over 30 qualified candidates from all

over the West, out of which we narrowed down and interviewed 10,” said

John Wilson, chairman of the ski area’s board of directors. “We felt

Peter brought something extra with his energy, broad knowledge of the

industry and love of this area. That made him the guy for the job.”

Johnson was raised in Madras, and grew up working summers in either

agriculture or at the local lumber mill, Brightwood. He started Nordic

skiing with his family when he was just 3 years old, and first learned

to downhill ski at age 9 using Nordic skis at the rope tow at Summit

Ski Area on Mount Hood.

He first came to know Anthony Lakes Ski Area when skiing with his family there beginning at age 10.

“I have been skiing out here since I was a kid,” Johnson said. “I am really excited to have the opportunity to work with everyone in the community to make sure Anthony Lakes reaches its full potential.”

He said he has returned year after year because of the friendly and welcoming atmosphere he has experienced at the ski area.

Johnson is a fully certified member of the Association of Professional Patrollers, has a Level II certificate with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education and is a licensed emergency medical technician.

He started his career in the ski industry as a volunteer national ski patroller at Mount Bachelor Ski Area in Bend. After finishing studies at the University of Oregon, he worked year round as a professional ski patroller at Mount Bachelor during the winter and also worked in operations during the summer months.

After three years of fulltime work at Mount Bachelor, Johnson took a position with Doppelmayr USA, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, constructing ski lifts in the summer while still patrolling in the winter. Since 2005, he has worked at more than 25 ski areas across the nation. He has been involved in both managing ski lift construction and in the expansion of ski area operations.

Johnson also has more than 10 years of patrol experience and six years working in ski lift construction.

Johnson says he has spent more and more time at Anthony Lakes during the past five years, enjoying the mountains and the community the Baker region has to offer. Part of what made this position so attractive for him was the positive interactions he has experienced with the residents through the years.

One immediate task for the new manager is working with Baker schools, developing a program for students on Fridays. The Baker School District will change to a four-day week this fall, leaving Fridays open for students to participate in “Ski For the Health of It,” a program being designed to give students an opportunity to learn the fun and health benefits of skiing.

Details are being worked out and the ski area is determined to make the program affordable and attractive for all students. A hoped for outcome by the ski industry from teaching more young people to ski is the development of a lifetime passion for the sport.