Peter W. Seibert, founder of the world-famous Vail mountain resort, has died at age 77.

Seibert will be remembered most for making Vail Mountain one of the premier destinations for skiers around the world. What is less well known is the long-term passion he held for skiing that saw him overcome severe wounds in WWII, to continue his love for the sport.

It was while working at Loveland Ski Resort in 1957, that Seibert and longtime friend Earl Eaton took a look at what is now called Vail Mountain. After a seven-hour climb and what was probably the mountain's first descent on skis, Seibert and Eaton became determined to build "the most beautiful ski resort in the world."

On 9 Jan 1960, Seibert gathered a group of nine men together for the first meeting of the board of directors for what ultimately became Vail Resorts Inc, America's largest ski company. Seibert remained chief executive officer of Vail until 1977.

A life-long passion for skiing

Seibert was born on 7 Aug 1924, in Sharon, Mass. His first introduction to skiing came at just 7 years old when he strapped on his first pair of skis.

"Never have I experienced a more complete sense of joy and adventure than when I first stuck my hunting boots into the leather toe straps and proceeded down the modest hills outside of town," Seibert wrote in his book, "Vail: Triumph of a Dream," published in 2000. "My life changed completely because of those first real skis."

In 1943, Seibert, then an 18-year-old ski racer, joined the U.S. Army and volunteered for the 10th Mountain Division, where he trained for high-altitude winter combat.

On 3 March 1945, as a platoon sergeant in Italy he was nearly killed by mortar shells, shattering both arms and severely injuring his face and his right leg. Army doctors told Seibert he may never walk again.

After 17 months of rehabilitation, he was released from the army, determined to prove the doctors wrong. "One way or another, skiing was going to be my life," Seibert wrote.

After the war, Seibert settled in Aspen, where he worked for the ski patrol and began to ski race again, before taking his fateful walk up Vail Mountain in 1957.

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