In the bustling spring of 1884, Leadville’s streets teemed with miners, merchants, and teamsters hauling ore in every creaky wagon they could find. Among them was a burly driver known simply as Dutch Henry—his surname spelled with a “Y.” Legend has it Henry stood at today’s corner of Fourth and Harrison, spotting one particularly rickety wagon in the line-up and admitting, “I am ashamed to tell it, but that is mine.”
Why Two Spellings?
Over the decades, locals alternated between “Dutch Henri” and “Dutch Henry” when referring to the popular sledding hill east of town. Recent research—including an 1884 city directory and the 2004 deed transferring the facility to Lake County—confirms the historic spelling uses a “Y.” Lake County Recreation Director Amber McGee explains that, out of respect for his descendants and in the absence of official naming documents, the county now consistently uses Dutch Henry Hill.
Who Was Dutch Henry?
Born Henry Dietrich, his Dutch ancestry earned him the nickname “Dutch Henry.” As a teamster, he led mule-drawn ore wagons over steep mountain roads, then helped organize drivers for better safety and pay—solidifying his place in Leadville lore.
Celebrating Youth Alpine Skiing at Alpine
As Dutch Henry Hill wraps up its winter season, Leadville’s young skiers have also been busy on the slopes above town. Despite COVID-19 challenges, Cloud City Mountain Sports (CCMS)—formerly the Cloud City Ski Team—fielded robust Devo and Youth Ski League (YSL) programs:
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Devo Program (Ages 6–10): Twenty-six athletes across three skill groups (Carving Critters, Speedy Cheetahs, Tigers) trained under coaches Barry Vande Zande and Sabrina Hurwitz. Each improved their times at the four Cooper Cup races.
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YSL (Ages 8–14): Twenty-seven racers mastered gates, moguls, and trees. At Ski Cooper’s home race on February 7, CCMS athletes claimed multiple podium sweeps:
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Girls U10–U14: Helen Fiedler, Chloe King, and Kasey Glaser each swept their fields.
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Boys U10–U12: Owen King and Wilson Anderson consistently finished in the top three.
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An away meet at Sunlight Mountain on March 21 brought more medals, with newcomers like Evie Nooft and Hobbes Mallozzi joining the honors list.
Meanwhile, veteran racers Gwen Ramsey and Rowynn Slivka tackled high-level International Freeski & Snowboard Association events, overcoming injuries to secure top-50 finishes in downhills, super-Gs, and giant slaloms at Aspen, Crested Butte, and Vail.
Big Mountain Adventures
CCMS’s big-mountain crew—Jake, Matt, and Taylor Cairns—tested their skills on Steamboat’s chutes, Telluride’s Black Iron Bowl, and Breckenridge’s Peak 6. Highlights included Jake’s 5th-place finish at Steamboat and Matt’s 10th at Breck’s Rocky Mountain Freeride Championships. Younger skier Asher Horning even earned a podium spot at Ski Cooper’s U12 big-mountain championship.
Despite shortened seasons and new protocols, Leadville’s youth skiers found ways to train, compete, and support each other—proving that even in extraordinary times, the Cloud City’s next generation of racers continues to shine.
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Historic Ore Wagon: Remnants of 1880s freight wagons dot the Lake County landscape—once Dutch Henry’s livelihood.
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YSL Podium: Helen Fiedler celebrates her sweep at Ski Cooper’s home race.
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Big Mountain Freeride: Matt Cairns tackles Breckenridge’s steep lines in the Rocky Mountain Championships.
