Comments on: I dunno, I just like it

By: Martha Bridegam

Martha Bridegam — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 06:45:43 +0000

Width of skirts is the damn problem. Most skirts constrict the stride unless they’re the ballet kind. It would be like skiing while your ankles were tied together with a two-foot rope

By: Bill Gardner

Bill Gardner — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 07:16:51 +0000

Lizard Breath @14:
Leaving modesty aside… the answer is “not as warm as pants.” Skiing at speed throws up a lot of snow. Skirts would tend to catch it. That would get uncomfortable.

By: John Quiggin

John Quiggin — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:57:41 +0000

The original buildings weren’t pulled down (I think some dating from the 1950s were removed) but they have gradually fallen down. There were quite a few more standing back in the 1970s when I first went skiing there.

The whole area has lots of bits and pieces from the gold rush era.

By: Jackie M.

Jackie M. — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:08:48 +0000

ah, they all have leggings. And I expect their velocity was being limited by their skis more than their skirts.

By: watson aname

watson aname — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:46:03 +0000

what would be the problem?

I can think two minor problems: more wind resistance, and cold, cold landings.

By: LizardBreath

LizardBreath — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:10:51 +0000

Skiing in skirts, however, is just a bit implausible, unless you keep the velocity really low.

Why? Not as warm as pants, (I figure you’d want layer on layer of wool stockings underneath), but other than that, what would be the problem?

By: Mr

Mr — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 14:01:32 +0000

Interesting that those are considered “snowshoes.” I assume that is a contemporary label.

By: watson aname

watson aname — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:44:31 +0000

Is it possible that anyone enjoying this not know about the Shorpy photo archive?

By: Bloix

Bloix — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:39:27 +0000

Laura, you’re right – they are all children. I think the two with the longer skirts may be a few years older – perhaps there was an age at which girls switched from short skirts to more adult dress.

By: Alan

Alan — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:26:42 +0000

:-) at Doug T for the Eliot quotation.

By: Laura

Laura — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:10:02 +0000

Bloix they are all children.

Kiandra is not what I would call a ghost town. There’s nothing there but dints in the ground where stumps were. Its buildings were pulled down by the Snowy Mountains Parks management, in their wisdom. There is a long tradition in those parts of ripping towns down and shifting them elsewhere.

By: Doug T

Doug T — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:31:30 +0000

Bin gar keine Russin, stamm’ aus Litauen, echt deutsch.
And when we were children, staying at the archduke’s,
My cousin’s, he took me out on a sled,
And I was frightened. He said, Marie,
Marie, hold on tight. And down we went.
In the mountains, there you feel free.
I read, much of the night, and go south in the winter

By: Jessica Pellien

Jessica Pellien — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:19:51 +0000

The hats seem an even worse bet than the skirts if any speed were gained. Thanks for posting.

By: Emma

Emma — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:57 +0000

Damn. Sorry. Links are as follows: Fresh + New Dictionary of Sydney Must try harder.... Emma

By: Emma

Emma — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 23:56:42 +0000

The Powerhouse has been a real leader in putting its collection online and making it freely available—and as a result has had increased interest, visits, downloads of its great research material and also sales of the photos in high res. The online manager there, Seb Chan, has a great blog at which discusses all kinds of open access and museum issues. For Australian historians and researchers, having this collection online is a huge boon. We’ll be using it in the upcoming digital historical encyclopedia of Sydney that I work on, launching later this year. See for more info.
Emma