Soldier Mountain
Encyclopedia
Soldier Mountain Ski Area is an alpine
ski area in south central Idaho
in the Sawtooth National Forest
. It is 12 miles (19 km) north of Fairfield
in very rural Camas County
. The elevation
of its summit is 7177 feet (2187 m) above sea level and the vertical drop is 1425 feet (434 m). The area has two chairlifts in series on its east-facing slopes. A handle tow
is near the base.
After watching the 1948 Winter Olympic
tryouts in nearby Sun Valley
, Bob Frostenson and his friend, Harry Durall, decided they couldn’t turn their backs on the sport of skiing. That summer they raised $10,000, began work on a base lodge, and purchased two rope tows
, the first powered by a 1938 Chevrolet
engine. They cut timber, installed lifts, and built lodges by hand.
The first chairlift
was installed in 1971, and the upper chairlift (Bird's Eye) was added in 1974. Soldier has 1150 acres (4.65 km²) of variable terrain including a terrain park, glades, bowls, and tree skiing. Soldier maintains snowmaking capabilities, although it has not operated since 1996. Soldier Mountain is open from Thursday through Sunday, except for the Christmas holiday season when it is open daily.
Actor Bruce Willis
,is an owner of Soldier Mountain. Willis' company has submitted a comprehensive plan for the ski area to the U.S. Forest Service
.
Four miles (6.4 km) west of Soldier's summit is Smoky Dome, with an elevation
of 10,095 feet (3077 m). In between there are several peaks well over 9,000 feet (2743 m): Peak 1 at 9,147 feet (2788 m) and Peak 2 at 9,529 feet (2904 m) are used in Soldier's backcountry skiing
operations, served by snow cat
. Speculation is that Willis plans lift service to some of these areas.
An early morning fire on Monday, March 30, 2009, destroyed the 61 year old base lodge.
The cause was attributed to electrical wiring, and occurred the night following the final day of the ski season. Following the construction of a new 4500 square feet (418.1 m²) base lodge, Soldier Mountain reopened ten months later, on January 28, 2010.
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 south central 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....
in the Sawtooth National Forest
Sawtooth National Forest
Sawtooth National Forest is in Idaho and Utah was protected in 1905 by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt as the Sawtooth Forest Reserve. Today the forest administers over 2.1 million acres of some of the most remote forestland in the lower 48 states, and there are over 1,000 lakes and 3,000...
. It is 12 miles (19 km) north of Fairfield
Fairfield, Idaho
Fairfield is the county seat of and the only city in Camas County, Idaho, United States. The population was 395 at the 2000 census, nearly half of the rural county's population.-Geography:...
in very rural Camas County
Camas County, Idaho
Camas County is a county in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2000 Census, the rural county had a population of 991 . The county seat is Fairfield....
. 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 ....
of its summit is 7177 feet (2187 m) above sea level and the vertical drop is 1425 feet (434 m). The area has two chairlifts in series on its east-facing slopes. A handle tow
Ski tow
thumb|right|A rope tow or ski tow.A ski tow, also called rope tow or handle tow, is a mechanised system for pulling skiers and snowboarders uphill....
is near the base.
After watching the 1948 Winter Olympic
Alpine skiing at the 1948 Winter Olympics
At the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland, the six alpine skiing events were held from Monday, February 2 to Thursday February 5, 1948.After these games, the combined event was dropped as an Olympic medal event for four decades, until 1988...
tryouts in nearby Sun Valley
Sun Valley, Idaho
Sun Valley is a resort city in Blaine County in the central part of the U.S. state of Idaho, adjacent to the city of Ketchum, lying within the greater Wood River valley. Tourists from around the world enjoy its skiing, hiking, ice skating, trail riding, tennis, and cycling. The population was 1,427...
, Bob Frostenson and his friend, Harry Durall, decided they couldn’t turn their backs on the sport of skiing. That summer they raised $10,000, began work on a base lodge, and purchased two rope tows
Ski tow
thumb|right|A rope tow or ski tow.A ski tow, also called rope tow or handle tow, is a mechanised system for pulling skiers and snowboarders uphill....
, the first powered by a 1938 Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
engine. They cut timber, installed lifts, and built lodges by hand.
The first chairlift
Chairlift
An elevated passenger ropeway, or chairlift, is a type of aerial lift, which consists of a continuously circulating steel cable loop strung between two end terminals and usually over intermediate towers, carrying a series of chairs...
was installed in 1971, and the upper chairlift (Bird's Eye) was added in 1974. Soldier has 1150 acres (4.65 km²) of variable terrain including a terrain park, glades, bowls, and tree skiing. Soldier maintains snowmaking capabilities, although it has not operated since 1996. Soldier Mountain is open from Thursday through Sunday, except for the Christmas holiday season when it is open daily.
Actor Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis
Walter Bruce Willis , better known as Bruce Willis, is an American actor, producer, and musician. His career began in television in the 1980s and has continued both in television and film since, including comedic, dramatic, and action roles...
,is an owner of Soldier Mountain. Willis' company has submitted a comprehensive plan for the ski area to the U.S. Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
.
Four miles (6.4 km) west of Soldier's summit is Smoky Dome, with an 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 ....
of 10,095 feet (3077 m). In between there are several peaks well over 9,000 feet (2743 m): Peak 1 at 9,147 feet (2788 m) and Peak 2 at 9,529 feet (2904 m) are used in Soldier's backcountry skiing
Backcountry skiing
Backcountry skiing is skiing in a sparsely inhabited rural region over ungroomed and unmarked slopes or pistes, including skiing in unmarked or unpatrolled areas either within the ski resort's boundaries or in the backcountry, frequently amongst trees , usually in pursuit of fresh fallen powder...
operations, served by snow cat
Snowcat
A snowcat is an enclosed-cab, truck sized, fully tracked vehicle designed to move on snow. Snowcats are often referred to as 'trail groomers' because of their use for grooming ski trails or snowmobile trails...
. Speculation is that Willis plans lift service to some of these areas.
An early morning fire on Monday, March 30, 2009, destroyed the 61 year old base lodge.
The cause was attributed to electrical wiring, and occurred the night following the final day of the ski season. Following the construction of a new 4500 square feet (418.1 m²) base lodge, Soldier Mountain reopened ten months later, on January 28, 2010.
Lifts
| Lift Name | Vertical Drop |
Length | Type | Ride Time |
Hourly Capacity |
Gradient | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High Trail | 876' (267 m) |
3740' (1140 m) |
Double Chair | 23.4% (13.2 deg.) |
1971 | ||
| Bird's Eye | 599' (183 m) |
2265' (690 m) |
Double Chair | 26.4% (14.8 deg.) |
1974 | ||
| Corral | 50' (15 m) |
300' (91 m) |
Handle Tow | 16.7% (9.5 deg.) |
External links
- Soldier Mountain.com - official site
- Visit Idaho.org - official state site - Soldier Mountain
- Ski Lifts.org - photos of Soldier Mountain's chairlifts
- TerraServer USA.com - USGS topo map & aerial photo
- Idaho Summits.com - The Soldier Mountains - photos
- Idaho Summits.com - Smoky Dome - 10,095'