Mount Baker Ski Area

Infobox ski area
name = Mount Baker Ski Area

picture =
caption =
location = Glacier, Washington, US
nearest_city = Bellingham 52 miles (89 km) west - 1hr 15min Drive
lat_d =
long_d =
top_elevation = 5,089 ft (1,551 m)
base_elevation = 3,500 ft (1,100 m)
skiable_area = 1,000 acres (4 km²)
number_trails = 31
longest_run =
liftsystem = 8 chairs, 2 rope tows
fast_quadchair = 1
quad_chair = 6
triplechair =
doublechair = 1
snowfall = 55 ft (17 m)
external_link = [http://www.mtbaker.us Mt. Baker] |

The Mount Baker Ski Area is a ski resort located in Whatcom County, Washington, United States. The ski area is specifically located on the Shuksan Arm, which connects the 10,778 foot Mount Baker stratovolcano with the 9,127 foot Mount Shuksan, 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 5089 feet (1,551 m).

The ski area is home to the world record of snowfall in one season: 1,140 inches (29 m). This record snowfall fell in the 1998-9 season.

While Mt. Baker ski area is known for numerous challenging routes ("The Chute", "Gabl's", & "Gunners Bowl"/"Canyon"),it is also known for the numerous backcountry opportunities which surround it. The backcountry is accessible from several chairlifts and is permitted through the resort following the Mt. Baker Ski Area backcountry policy.

Mountain statistics

Elevation

* Base (White Salmon Base): 3,500 feet (1100 m), (Heather Meadows Base): 4,300 ft (1,300 m)
* Summit (Chair #8 - Hemispheres Chair): 5,089 feet (1,551 m)
* Vertical: 1,589 feet (484 m)

Terrain

* 1,000 acres — Lift serviced
* Advanced/Expert: 31%
* Intermediate: 45%
* Beginner: 24%

Lifts

The lifts at Mt Baker are not named - they are referred to by number.

# Quad chair 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 the Austin, Pan Face, North Face, Chicken Ridge, and the famed Chute. Also accessible from 1 is the Canyon, and the rest of the chair 6 terrain.
# Quad chair at the Heather Meadows upper base area. This is a chair for beginners, very mellow rolling run.
# Recently upgraded to a quad. This lift reaches the top of runs that can go either to the chair 4/5/6/Raven Hut area or back down to chair 2 and 3.
# Recently changed from the second side of chair 3, chair 4 is the second half of that chair that runs from the 4/5/6/Raven Hut area and back up to the top of chair 3.
# This quad chair replaced two parallel chairs (4 and 5). The chair access intermediate and expert terrain.
# Chair 6 is a fixed grip quad that runs to the top of Panorama Dome. It accesses advanced and expert terrain.
# The only chair that leaves from the White Salmon base area. From 7, one can access 8, or the 4/5/6/RavenHut area.
# Chair 8 takes riders to the terrain park, and all of the same terrain accessible from chair 5. F.

Featured in Films

Mt Baker Ski Resort is often featured in ski and snowboard films due to its picturesque setting. The most recent example is [http://www.funner.us/sentimental-values.html Sentimental Values] By Funner Films.

External links

* [http://www.mtbaker.us Mount Baker Ski Area Website]
* [http://www.funner.us/travels/baker.html Ski Area Checkout on Funner.us, the video production company from Mt. Baker Ski Resort]
* [http://www.wsdot.wa.gov Road Conditions]