Paula Peterson
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Martin Hollay, almost 97, of South Lake Tahoe -
Friends and family walking the Martin Hollay Trail. Photo from Heavenly. -
A new Hungarian flag to replace his tattered one on the trail. Photo from Heavenly. -
Martin Hollay, friends and family on top of the rock that bears his name. Photo from Heavenly. -
Martin in front of the peak that is named after him. Photo from Heavenly. -
Martin during the ceremony with Mayor Austin Sass. Photo from Heavenly.
Not many can boast of skiing the mountains around Lake Tahoe for six decades, but Martin Hollay of South Lake Tahoe can do just that and he’s not done yet.
At a very young 96-years-old (he turns 97 this fall), Hollay’s contributions to Heavenly Mountain Resort were recognized Monday as the ski resort dedicated Martin’s Hiking Trail, Martin’s Trees and a granite peak near Maggie’s Run in the name of their former employee and ski patrolman.
A group of friends and family greeted Hollay at the Blue Sky Terrace, they mid-mountain gondola station, for a celebration of his contributions to Heavenly.
The Hungarian native has lived in South Lake Tahoe for 60 years and can still be found skiing almost daily or gardening his yard a stone’s through from the California Base Lodge. He got in 96 days of skiing at Heavenly this year, just short of his annual goal of 100 days. He had to take a trip to Mammoth this year to get in those missing four days as to not make goal.
Hollay spent his winters heading up the ski patrol and his summer working on ski runs. In 1973, Hollay planted a grove of trees after the Meadow Dam and Reservoir wiped out many trees. That group of trees now bear his name.
He was also a glove maker and hand stitched many gloves for those who skied and worked the slopes for decades. He donated his equipment to the Lake Tahoe Historical Museum where it is still on display along with his book, I was so Lucky: The Life of Martin Hollay.