Tall dead trees stand out and
away from the rest of the foliage
like forlorn sentinals, and it’s not
uncommon to see an eagle or
osprey standing watch, looking
for their next meal. Heading
south from one of the parking
areas at Stump Pass, Ski Alley is
predominantly a straightaway
(hence its name), but at the
end breaks out into a startlingly
beautiful fi nger of beach.
Back in the day when
Englewood wasn’t known as
a tourist destination, the rules
of the beach were not quite
as stringent as they are today.
While many recall being warned
to “be good” by park rangers
and the marine patrol, they were
still allowed to utilize the land in
ways we can only dream of now.
Historically, a normal camping
trip to Ski Alley meant swimming
from the beach to “Rag Alley,”
harvesting a bucketful of clams,
making a fi re and eating them,
as well as fresh blue crabs, until
you could eat no more.
Jeffrey Alston grew up in
Englewood, and loves to rehash
his memories of cookouts and
rope swings, and the magic
that a place like Ski Alley could
produce.
July/August • 2020 • GASPARILLA MAGAZINE 51