Flaming W
On September 18, 1937, the sophomore class officers of Weber College – President Pat Quinn, Vice President Ruth White, and Secretary Frank Patterson – sponsored the first Flaming W hike to promote school spirit. Approximately ninety participants left Weber College at 7:30 p.m., located on Jefferson Avenue, drove to the foothills of Taylor Canyon and hiked up to Malan’s Peak. They lit 100 cans of kerosene in the shape of a W using burlap sacks for wicks. Activities for the evening included roasting hotdogs and marshmallows, singing, school yells, stories, stunts, and lectures by faculty. The hikers returned at 12:30 a.m.
The annual Flaming W hike continued until the start of World War II, with the hike being canceled in 1942. From 1943-1944 the annual hike was held in Coldwater Canyon with no fires allowed because “the forest service objected to a flaming W at this season.” In 1945, the hike and flaming W returned to Malan’s Peak with more than 200 people attending. Over the years, the W was made out of logs and fuel, railroad fuses, or railroad flares. In 1956, the W was made using electric lights because of a drought and several local fires.
In 1957, the hike was moved to the mountainside east of the Harrison campus. Although precautions were taken, the Flaming W spread and became a wildfire. Students, faculty, staff, the forest service, and fire departments from Ogden, Weber County, and South Ogden fought the fire. The fire was mostly contained by 10:30 p.m. Firefighters posted a night guard, and the fire was finally put out the next morning. This was the last year the Flaming W was lit by fire.
In the early years, the hike was an activity held before the start of fall quarter. By 1951, it was moved to coincide with Freshman Week activities, and in 1960, it became a Homecoming Week tradition.
