| Mt. Baker Ski Area | |
| Location: | Glacier, Washington, U.S. |
| Nearest City: | Bellingham west, 75 min drive |
| Pushpin Map: | Washington#United States |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Coordinates: | 48.862°N -121.654°W |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Vertical: | 1589feet |
| Top Elevation: | 5089feet |
| Base Elevation: | 3500feet White Salmon Base Area 4300feet Heather Meadows Base Area |
| Skiable Area: | 1000acres |
| Number Trails: | 31 - 24% easiest - 45% more difficult - 31% most difficult |
| Liftsystem: | 8 chairs, 2 rope tows |
| Snowfall: | 641inches |
| Snowmaking: | no |
| Nightskiing: | no |
| External Link: | mtbaker.us |
Mt. Baker Ski Area is a ski resort in the northwest United States, located in Whatcom County, Washington, at the end of State Route 542. The base elevation is at 3500feet, while the peak of the resort is at . It is about 10miles south of the 49th parallel, the international border with Canada. Despite its name, the Mt. Baker Ski Area is actually closer to Mount Shuksan than Mount Baker.
The ski area is home to the world's greatest recorded snowfall in one season, 1140inches, during the 1998–99 season.[1] Mt. Baker also enjoys one of the highest average annual snowfall of any resort in the world, with 641inches.[2] [3] [4]
The ski area is known for numerous challenging in-bounds routes and for the many backcountry opportunities that 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 lifts at Mt. Baker are not named but referred to by number. All are fixed-grip quads. 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 Lodge 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 Lodge upper base area. This is a chair for beginners. Chair 3 allows customers either to access the Raven Hut Lodge area or return down to Chairs 2 and 3. Chair 4 runs from the Raven Hut Lodge 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 Lodge base area. From it, one can access Chair 8 or the Raven Hut Lodge 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.
In the 2020-21 season, the Ski Area added a Freestyle Feature Zone, located off of Chairs 3/4.
Future expansion is limited, according to an interview with the General Manager, Duncan Howat:[5]
See main article: Legendary Banked Slalom. Started in 1985, this slalom snowboard race through the natural halfpipe has evolved into an international event. The Legendary Banked Slalom attracts many professionals 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 in each category receives a duct tape trophy and an embroidered Carhartt jacket.
Mt. Baker Ski Area is often featured in ski and snowboard films and still photography due to its picturesque setting, plentiful snowfall, and the availability of easily accessed advanced terrain. The Call of The Wild was filmed at Mt. Baker in 1934–35.
Featured in Season 5, Episode 14 of the TV series, "Frasier", entitled "The Ski Lodge".
The ski season typically begins in late November and ends in late April. Usual operating hours are 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
| Year | Opening Date | |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 19-Nov [6] | |
| 2014 | 20-Dec | |
| 2013 | 21-Nov | |
| 2012 | 21-Nov | |
| 2011 | 18-Nov [7] | |
| 2009 | 12-Nov | |
| 2008 | 14-Dec [8] | |
| 2007 | 29-Nov [9] |