Snow Summit

Snow Summit

A Satellite View of Snow Summit Ski Resort, March 2008
Location Snow Summit
Nearest city Big Bear Lake, California
Coordinates 34°13′43″N 116°53′28″W / 34.2286°N 116.8911°WCoordinates: 34°13′43″N 116°53′28″W / 34.2286°N 116.8911°W
Vertical 1,209 ft (369 m)
Top elevation 8,174 ft (2,491 m)
Base elevation 6,965 ft (2,123 m)
Skiable area 240 acres (97 ha)[1]
Runs 31 total
10% beginner
25% low intermediate
40% intermediate
25% advanced[1]
Longest run 1.25 mi (2.01 km) (Westridge)
Lift system 14 lifts
Lift capacity 18,550 passengers/hr
Snowfall 100 in (250 cm)
Snowmaking 100% of developed terrain, 240 Acres
Night skiing Yes
Website www.snowsummit.com

Snow Summit is a ski resort that was established in 1952 and is in the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California.[2] It is located by Big Bear Lake along with its sister resort Bear Mountain; these two resorts which operate under the same management are collectively known as Big Bear Mountain Resorts (BBMR).[3]

Snow Summit is one of the larger ski areas in Southern California, and is considered to be one of the most popular ski and snowboard destinations for patrons from around the Los Angeles area.[4] Snow Summit is a mid-sized resort, with a 1,209 ft (369 m) topographic vertical drop,[5] and 240 acres (97 ha) of skiable terrain, all of it covered by snowmaking.

In 2014 Mammoth Mountain purchased Bear Mountain and Snow Summit for $38 million. [6]

Bear Mountain relationship

For decades, Snow Summit and neighboring Goldmine Mountain, less than two miles apart from each other, operated as two independent ski resorts. In 1988, Goldmine was bought by a major ski company, S.K.I., and was renamed to Bear Mountain. S.K.I. invested millions of dollars in ski resort improvements to Bear Mountain, raising the level of competition facing Snow Summit.[7] In 2002, Snow Summit purchased Bear Mountain, and the two are operated as one company.

Today, Snow Summit and Bear Mountain are marketed as dual resorts, both branded under the Big Bear Mountain Resorts name. Both Snow Summit and Bear Mountain lift tickets can be used at either resort, and there is a free shuttle bus service between the Snow Summit and Bear Mountain that allows patrons to easily connect back and forth to ski or snowboard either of the two resorts on the same pass.[8]

Snowmaking

Snow Summit is known to have an expansive snowmaking system. The resort has invested millions of dollars in a system which sources water from Big Bear Lake and allows for high snowmaking capacity over all of the resort’s marked terrain.[9] In the winter, Snow Summit undergoes aggressive snowmaking to ensure suitable snow conditions throughout its operating season.

Snow Summit trails

Beginner Intermediate Difficult Expert
Skyline Creek Cruiser Ego Trip Park The Wall
Sundown Mainstream Dicky's Olympic
Summit Run Westridge Freestyle Park Tommi's Side Chute
East Why
Zzyzx
Miracle Mile
Off Chute
Log Chute
Timber Ridge
7-Down
Perfect Pitches
Side Show
Sugar Pine
Jo's

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Mountain Statistics". Snow Summit Official Website. Retrieved on 2013-01-16.
  2. ↑ "Area History - Winter Sports". Big Bear Valley History. Big Bear Valley Historical Society. 18 December 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
  3. ↑ Public Relations (2009). "Bear Mountain Press Kit (2009-2010)" (.PDF). Big Bear Mountain Resorts. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
  4. ↑ "Snow Summit Ski Area". Destination 360. 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
  5. ↑ "Comparison of Midsized Ski Resorts in US/Canada by True-Up Vertical Descent (Page 2 of 3)". Mountain Vertical. 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
  6. ↑ "Mammoth Buys Bear Mountain". On the Snow. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  7. ↑ "Snow Summit History, 1952-Present". Snow Summit. 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
  8. ↑ "Snow Summit and Bear Mountain". Big Bear Mmountain Resorts. 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2010.
  9. ↑ "Snowmaking & Grooming". Snow Summit. 2010. Retrieved 29 December 2010.

External links