Alyeska Resort

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Alyeska Resort
Location:	Girdwood, Alaska
Nearest city:	Anchorage, Alaska
Top elevation:	3939 ft
Base elevation:	250 ft
Skiable area:	>1000 acres (4 km²)
Runs:	68
Lift system:	9 (1 tram, 1 high-speed quad, 2 quads, 3 double chairs, 2 conveyor lifts)
Snowfall:	950" (June2008)
Web site:	Official resort website

Alyeska Resort is a ski resort that is located in Girdwood, Alaska, approximately 50 miles (80 km) from the city of Anchorage. Mount Alyeska is part of the Chugach mountain range. It is the biggest ski mountain in the state of Alaska. The Alyeska Ski Corporation was founded in 1954, and the first chair lift and day lodge was opened in 1959. The Roundhouse ski lodge and ski patrol station at the top of the mountain began construction in 1960, and is still standing today.

Currently, Alyeska has six (6) chair lifts and one (1) high-speed tram. Of the 6 chairlifts, one is co-owned by Alyeska and the Tanaka Corporation (Chair 5). Chair 6 is a high-speed detachable quad, while Chairs 4 and 7 are normal quads. Chair 1 is the oldest chair lift on the mountain, and leads all the way up to the Roundhouse.

Both Chair 1 and the tram end halfway up the mountain. Chair 1 ends at the Roundhouse, while the tram ends in a much newer facility. The facility contains a 4-star restaurant, and is connected to the Roundhouse by a short wooden walkway. At the base of the tram is the Hotel Alyeska.

Chair 6 goes to the highest lift served point on the mountain. Several areas above Chair 6 are occasionally opened, but require hiking to access. Plans to build a new chair lift higher up the mountain have been announced.

Mount Alyeska is a fairly challenging mountain, and has a much higher percentage of advanced and expert runs, as compared to most other mountains in North America. It has a small section for the novice, but the rest of the mountain is almost entirely for the intermediate and the advanced skiers.

Alyeska was bought in December of 2006 by John Byrne III, who says he plans to make many new improvements to the resort, concentrating on people who come to ski for the day.