Bluewood Ski Area
Encyclopedia
Ski Bluewood, formerly known as "Bluewood Ski Area," is an alpine
ski area in southeastern Washington, United States
. Located in Columbia County, at the northern end of the Blue Mountains
in the Umatilla National Forest
, the elevation
at the base area is 4545 feet (1,385.3 m) above sea level, with a summit of 5670 feet (1,728.2 m). The northward-facing slopes are about four miles (7 km) north of the Oregon
border and 50 miles (80.5 km) west of Idaho
, part of the headwaters of the Touchet River
, the main tributary of the Walla Walla River
.
The only surface access to the base area of the mountain is through Dayton
, 22 miles (35.4 km) to the northwest and nearly 3000 feet (914.4 m) below on North Touchet Road. Though the summit is only about twenty miles (32 km) due east of Walla Walla
as the crow flies
, Ski Bluewood is about an hour's drive as Dayton is 30 miles (48.3 km) northeast on U.S. Route 12
. In addition to Walla Walla, Bluewood is the closest alpine ski area to the population centers of Lewiston
-Clarkston
to the northeast and the Tri-Cities
to the west.
The second season of 1980-81 was a very poor snow year, and the fledgling ski area filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
protection in August 1981. Auctioned off two years later and acquired by Rainier Bank, it was purchased for $550,000 in October 1983 by Portland
executive Stan Goodell, a former president of the ski patrol at Mount Hood
. To distance itself from the past financial difficulties, Goodell renamed it "Ski Bluewood" and relocated to Dayton to run the area himself.
An expansion in the summer of 1986 added parking and the Triple Nickel, a triple chairlift to serve the instructional area with a vertical rise of 400 feet (121.9 m). It joined the existing lifts, the Skyline Express triple chair and Easy Rider platter lift
, which was relocated.
Bluewood is one of the few resorts in the country that is 100% self-sufficient, generating all of their own power via diesel generator
s. The main chairlift (Skyline Express) is also diesel powered via a clutch and fluid coupler. The Triple Nickel lift is electric and uses power from the main diesel generators in the basement of the lodge.
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
ski area in southeastern Washington, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Located in Columbia County, at the northern end of the Blue Mountains
Blue Mountains (Oregon)
The Blue Mountains are a mountain range in the western United States, located largely in northeastern Oregon and stretching into southeastern Washington...
in the Umatilla National Forest
Umatilla National Forest
The Umatilla National Forest, in the Blue Mountains of northeast Oregon and southeast Washington, covers an area of 1.4 million acres . In descending order of land area the forest is located in parts of Umatilla, Grant, Columbia, Morrow, Wallowa, Union, Garfield, Asotin, Wheeler, and Walla Walla...
, the elevation
Elevation
The elevation of a geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point, most commonly a reference geoid, a mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface ....
at the base area is 4545 feet (1,385.3 m) above sea level, with a summit of 5670 feet (1,728.2 m). The northward-facing slopes are about four miles (7 km) north of the Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
border and 50 miles (80.5 km) west of Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, part of the headwaters of the Touchet River
Touchet River
The Touchet River is the largest tributary of the Walla Walla River in southeastern Washington in the United States.The upper Touchet was a traditional summer meeting place for trade and games for the Palus, Nez Perce and Walla Walla tribes. The name Touchet derives from the similarly pronounced...
, the main tributary of the Walla Walla River
Walla Walla River
The Walla Walla River is a tributary of the Columbia River, joining the Columbia just above Wallula Gap in southeastern Washington in the United States. The river flows through Umatilla County, Oregon and Walla Walla County, Washington. Its drainage basin is in area.-Course:The headwaters of the...
.
The only surface access to the base area of the mountain is through Dayton
Dayton, Washington
Dayton is a city in and the county seat of Columbia County, Washington, United States. The population was 2,526 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, 22 miles (35.4 km) to the northwest and nearly 3000 feet (914.4 m) below on North Touchet Road. Though the summit is only about twenty miles (32 km) due east of Walla Walla
Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
as the crow flies
As the crow flies
"As the crow flies" or beelining is an idiom for the shortest route between two points; the geodesic distance.An example is the great-circle distance between Key West and Pensacola, at either end of the U.S...
, Ski Bluewood is about an hour's drive as Dayton is 30 miles (48.3 km) northeast on U.S. Route 12
U.S. Route 12 in Washington
U.S. Route 12 is a major east-west U.S. Highway, running from Aberdeen, Washington, to Detroit, Michigan. It spans across the state of Washington, and is the only numbered highway to span the entire state from west to east, starting near the Pacific Ocean, and crossing the Idaho state line near...
. In addition to Walla Walla, Bluewood is the closest alpine ski area to the population centers of Lewiston
Lewiston, Idaho
Lewiston is a city in and also the county seat of Nez Perce County in the Pacific Northwest state of Idaho. It is the second-largest city in the northern Idaho region, behind Coeur d'Alene and ninth-largest in the state. Lewiston is the principal city of the Lewiston, ID - Clarkston, WA...
-Clarkston
Clarkston, Washington
Clarkston is a city in Asotin County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington. It is part of the Lewiston ID-WA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 7,229 in 2010....
to the northeast and the Tri-Cities
Tri-Cities, Washington
The Tri-Cities is a mid-sized metropolitan area in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, consisting of three neighboring cities: Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. The cities are located at the confluence of the Yakima, Snake, and Columbia rivers in the semi-arid region of...
to the west.
History
Originally conceived in the 1960s and created by Skyline Basin Associates during the 1970s, the ski area's original name (as a concept) was "Skyline Basin." After years of planning, fundraising, and approval procedures, the ski area opened as "Bluewood Ski Area" in January 1980.The second season of 1980-81 was a very poor snow year, and the fledgling ski area filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
Chapter 11, Title 11, United States Code
Chapter 11 is a chapter of the United States Bankruptcy Code, which permits reorganization under the bankruptcy laws of the United States. Chapter 11 bankruptcy is available to every business, whether organized as a corporation or sole proprietorship, and to individuals, although it is most...
protection in August 1981. Auctioned off two years later and acquired by Rainier Bank, it was purchased for $550,000 in October 1983 by Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
executive Stan Goodell, a former president of the ski patrol at Mount Hood
Mount Hood Skibowl
Mount Hood Skibowl is a recreation area on Mount Hood located near Government Camp, Oregon. It is the largest night ski area in the United States, and the total skiable area encompasses an area of . The resort is the closest ski venue to Portland, with an elevation of at the lodge, rising to...
. To distance itself from the past financial difficulties, Goodell renamed it "Ski Bluewood" and relocated to Dayton to run the area himself.
An expansion in the summer of 1986 added parking and the Triple Nickel, a triple chairlift to serve the instructional area with a vertical rise of 400 feet (121.9 m). It joined the existing lifts, the Skyline Express triple chair and Easy Rider platter lift
Platter lift
A platter lift , platter pull or button lift is a surface lift, a mechanized system for pulling skiers and snowboarders uphill, along the surface of the slope. In Europe they are also known as Poma lifts...
, which was relocated.
Alpine Skiing
Of its 24 runs, Bluewood has 4 green circles (easiest), 12 blue squares (more difficult), and 8 black diamonds (most difficult). Additionally, there is one terrain park and six backcountry runs. The area is open five days per week, Wednesday through Sunday, plus holidays. Bluewood has a reputation for dry powder snow, tree skiing, and a family-friendly atmosphere.Base Facilities
Ski Bluewood facilities include a full-service ski/snowboard rental department, retail shop, patrol services, ski and snowboard learning center, cafe, and pub.Bluewood is one of the few resorts in the country that is 100% self-sufficient, generating all of their own power via diesel generator
Diesel generator
A diesel generator is the combination of a diesel engine with an electrical generator to generate electrical energy....
s. The main chairlift (Skyline Express) is also diesel powered via a clutch and fluid coupler. The Triple Nickel lift is electric and uses power from the main diesel generators in the basement of the lodge.
External links
- Bluewood.com - official site
- Ski Bluewood Alpine Race Team