Mount Baker Ski Area
Encyclopedia
Mt. Baker Ski Area is a ski resort
located in Whatcom County, Washington
, United States
at the end of State Route 542. The base elevation is at 3,500 feet (1,070 m), while the peak of the resort is at 5,089 feet (1,551 m).
The ski area is home to the world's greatest recorded snowfall in one season: 1140 in (95 ft; 29 m). This record breaking snowfall occurred during the 1998-99 season. Mt. Baker also enjoys the highest average annual snowfall of any resort in the World, with 641 in (53.4 ft; 16.3 m). .
Mt. Baker ski area is known for numerous challenging inbounds routes and for the many backcountry opportunities which surround it. The backcountry is accessible from several chairlifts and access is permitted from the resort following the Mt. Baker Ski Area backcountry policy.
Chair 1 runs from the Heather Meadows upper base area to the top of Panorama Dome — there is a midpoint station on this lift where other riders can catch it halfway down the mountain, allowing for speedy runs on Austin, Pan Face, North Face, Chicken Ridge, and the famed Chute. Also accessible from Chair 1 is the Canyon, and the rest of the Chair 6 terrain.
Chair 2 is located at the Heather Meadows upper base area. This is a chair for beginners.
Chair 3 allows customers to access either the Chairs 4/5/6/Raven Hot area or return back down to Chairs 2 and 3.
Chair 4 runs from the 4/5/6/Raven Hot area and back up to the top of Chair 3.
Chair 5 replaced two parallel double chairs and accesses intermediate terrain, as well as the experts-only Gabl's run and the Elbow backcountry area.
Chair 6 runs to the top of Panorama Dome.
Chair 7 is the only chair that leaves from the White Salmon base area. From Chair 7, one can access Chair 8, or the 4/5/6/Raven Hot area.
Chair 8 is the longest chair on the mountain and features longer groomed runs as well as access to the Hemispheres and Shuksan Arm backcountry areas.
Additionally, there are two handle tow surface lifts for beginners; one located at White Salmon and one at Heather Meadows.
As of 2010, Mt. Baker has one terrain park, called the Pinky Park, located at the top of chairs 3 and 4. It includes a few smaller jumps as well as a variety of boxes.
trophy as well as an embroidered Carhartt
jacket.
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
located in Whatcom County, Washington
Whatcom County, Washington
Whatcom County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. Its name ultimately derives from the Lummi word Xwotʼqom, meaning "noisy water." As of 2010, the population was 201,140. The county seat is at Bellingham, which is also the county's largest city...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the end of State Route 542. The base elevation is at 3,500 feet (1,070 m), while the peak of the resort is at 5,089 feet (1,551 m).
The ski area is home to the world's greatest recorded snowfall in one season: 1140 in (95 ft; 29 m). This record breaking snowfall occurred during the 1998-99 season. Mt. Baker also enjoys the highest average annual snowfall of any resort in the World, with 641 in (53.4 ft; 16.3 m). .
Mt. Baker ski area is known for numerous challenging inbounds routes and for the many backcountry opportunities which surround it. The backcountry is accessible from several chairlifts and access is permitted from the resort following the Mt. Baker Ski Area backcountry policy.
The Mountain
The lifts at Mt. Baker are not named - they are referred to by number. All are fixed grip quads that do not feature safety bars or footrests. Chairs 3 and 4 access the same point from different sides of the mountain using a continuous loop of cable (haul rope); there is a mid-station at the top for unloading only.Chair 1 runs from the Heather Meadows upper base area to the top of Panorama Dome — there is a midpoint station on this lift where other riders can catch it halfway down the mountain, allowing for speedy runs on Austin, Pan Face, North Face, Chicken Ridge, and the famed Chute. Also accessible from Chair 1 is the Canyon, and the rest of the Chair 6 terrain.
Chair 2 is located at the Heather Meadows upper base area. This is a chair for beginners.
Chair 3 allows customers to access either the Chairs 4/5/6/Raven Hot area or return back down to Chairs 2 and 3.
Chair 4 runs from the 4/5/6/Raven Hot area and back up to the top of Chair 3.
Chair 5 replaced two parallel double chairs and accesses intermediate terrain, as well as the experts-only Gabl's run and the Elbow backcountry area.
Chair 6 runs to the top of Panorama Dome.
Chair 7 is the only chair that leaves from the White Salmon base area. From Chair 7, one can access Chair 8, or the 4/5/6/Raven Hot area.
Chair 8 is the longest chair on the mountain and features longer groomed runs as well as access to the Hemispheres and Shuksan Arm backcountry areas.
Additionally, there are two handle tow surface lifts for beginners; one located at White Salmon and one at Heather Meadows.
As of 2010, Mt. Baker has one terrain park, called the Pinky Park, located at the top of chairs 3 and 4. It includes a few smaller jumps as well as a variety of boxes.
Legendary Banked Slalom
Started in 1985, this slalom snowboard race through the natural half pipe has evolved into an international event. The LBS attracts many pros from around the world as competitors and allows amateurs of all ages and abilities to compete on the same course over the same period with the professionals. The winner of each category receives a much coveted duct tapeDuct tape
Duct tape, or duck tape, is cloth- or scrim-backed pressure sensitive tape often sealed with polyethylene. It is very similar to gaffer tape but differs in that gaffer tape was designed to be cleanly removed, while duct tape was not. It has a standard width of and is generally silver or black...
trophy as well as an embroidered Carhartt
Carhartt
Carhartt, Inc., is a U.S.-based clothing company founded in 1889. It is still a family-owned company, owned by the descendants of company founder Hamilton Carhartt, with its headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan.-Carhartt in the United States:...
jacket.