Mount Baldy Ski Lifts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mount Baldy Ski Lifts | |
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| Location: | |
| Nearest city: | Mount Baldy Village, California; ~45miles from Los Angeles |
| Top elevation: | 8600 |
| Base elevation: | 6500 |
| Skiable area: | 800 acres (3.2 km²) |
| Runs: | 26 |
| Longest run: | 2.5 miles |
| Lift system: | 4 2-chair lifts |
| Snowfall: | 170" ± 75" |
| Web site: | [1] |
Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts, or "Baldy" for short, is a family owned and operated ski resort located in San Bernardino County, California, USA on Mount San Antonio (AKA Mount Baldy). The venerable resort sports an anachronistic, "funky" vibe uncommon in today's slick, corporate skiing world. The resort is run by the Ellingson family, who also operate the Mount Baldy Lodge, one of two restaurants in the village. The ski resort claims to be "The largest and steepest resort in Southern California," with 26 runs spanning 3 mountains featuring a peak elevation of 8,600 feet. Baldy spans 800 acres (3.2 km²) with an impressive 2,100 foot vertical drop, and is located just 45 miles from Los Angeles, making it the closest resort to the city.
Its vintage ski lifts were installed half a century ago by Harwood Developments. They were operated as Mount Baldy Ski Lifts Inc, and managed by Herbert Leffler from 1953 until his retirement in 1969. An investment group under the leadership of Charles Lewsader purchased the resort in 1969.
Portions of the the resort face west and south, which can cause the snow to melt or turn to ice. The annual snowfall is highly variable but generally low, and, because the resort is so steep, snow that manages to accumulate tends to slide off the mountain very easily. Extreme avalanche danger, though rare in Southern California's benign climate, can exist on the steep slopes near the lower chairlift for brief periods during and just after heavy storms. These factors, combined with inadequate snowmaking resources, make it difficult for the resort to develop a good base on which to build up enough snow for normal operation. As a consequence the resort operates sporadically in the beginning of the season, sometimes having only one run open.
After Christmas, Baldy tends to get hit with enough snow to provide full coverage of the mountain, and base depths can approach three feet. When Baldy has good coverage it often compares well with better known ski resorts in the Sierra Nevada, and the steep Alpine terrain provides a locally unique, "big mountain" experience. Because so many people divert to other mountains with faster lifts and more groomed runs, Mount Baldy is typically dominated by experienced snowriders who enjoy the technical challenges available there.
