Bristol Mountain Ski Resort
Encyclopedia
Bristol Mountain Ski Resort, also known as Bristol Mountain Winter Resort, is a ski resort
located in South Bristol, New York
in the Finger Lakes
region. It is located 30 miles (48.3 km) from the center of Rochester, New York
, the nearest major city to the resort, and about 10 miles (16.1 km) from Canandaigua
on State Route 64
. Currently, Bristol Mountain Resort features many trails ranging from easiest (green circle) to difficult (double black diamonds). Bristol Mountain has a vertical rise of 1,200 feet, claiming to have the highest vertical of any ski resort between the Rocky Mountains and the Adirondacks. Bristol also offers two terrain parks and cross country skiing at the resort's summit. Also at the top is a ski shop and rental facility. Bristol Mountain Resort also operates in conjunction with Roseland Waterpark
, open during the summer season in Canandaigua. As of 2010, they have two high speed detachable chairlifts. The Comet Express lift was installed for the 1999/2000 season and the Galaxy Express for the 2009/2010 season. Both make a full pass in about four minutes. In the autumn they offer Fall Sky Rides using the Comet Express High Speed Quad chairlift slowed down to take 15–20 minutes. Once at the top the riders may stay on and ride or hike down the trails.
. 50 of 360 acres (1.5 km²) was cleared, the base lodge built for the December 12 opening. Snowmaking
capabilities and a new lift was added in 1965. In 1967, then Senator
Robert Kennedy skied at Bristol. In 1968 Bristol Mountain was the world's largest illuminated ski resort. By the 1970s, Bristol was getting over 100,000 skiers per year and opened seven days a week. They progressively made snowmaking improvements and by 1985 they had 100 percent coverage and guaranteed over 100 days of skiing per season.
In 1969 the rate for skiing was seven dollars, with four dollar nights. Even then they had the longest vertical drop between the Adirondacks and the Rockies. However, back then they only claimed the drop to be 1,000 instead of 1,200 feet. Surprisingly, they were open later then, closing at 10:30 instead of 10:00.
In 2009–2010, the new high speed detachable chairlift (Galaxy Express High Speed Quad) was added. A new trail, Lower North Star, which ends at the bottom of the Galaxy chairlift was added for the 2010–2011 season. The new lift replaces an older, non detachable, lift that started half way up the mountain in the same place. The new trail is 2,600 feet long and 120 feet wide, adding a little over seven acres to the mountain.
The summit of Bristol Mountain has been a broadcasting site for the Rural Radio Network
since 1948, before the ski resort was ever formed. The station now known as WFXF
signed on June 6, 1948 as WVBT, licensed to Bristol Center, New York and transmitting from Bristol Mountain on 101.9 MHz. It was the next-to-last link in the Rural Radio Network chain of FM stations broadcasting to farmers across upstate New York. WVBT changed call letters to WRRE and changed frequency to 95.1 in the early 1950s. When the Rural Radio Network became the Ivy Network under new owners in 1960, WRRE became WMIV. It would retain those calls under the network's next identity, the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), broadcasting religious programming from studios in Ithaca between 1968 and 1981. WMIV was sold to Empire Broadcasting and in early 1982, it changed format to adult standards and it's call letters to WYLF. This station operated from a studio in a converted house on Route 332
in Farmington
. On July 28, 1986, WYLF was sold and became WZSH. On December 26, 1991, WZSH became WRQI, "Rock-It 95," programming a rock format. In 1993, Rock-It 95 added the syndicated Howard Stern Show to its lineup, bringing the station attention and ratings in the larger Rochester market. WRQI made several attempts to improve its main signal on 95.1 as well, briefly moving from its historic Bristol Mountain site to a tower in Farmington owned by Rochester Telephone Company
, but was forced to return to Bristol after interference complaints from the tower's neighbors. On April 21, 1995, WRQI became WNVE, "The Nerve," a modern rock/alternative station. In 2001, WNVE left its Bristol Mountain transmitter site for the last time, changing city of license from South Bristol
to Honeoye Falls, New York in a swap with sister station WLCL
(107.3), which took the South Bristol city of license and the Bristol Mountain transmitter site. On July 4, 2004, Clear Channel moved WNVE from 95.1 to the lesser Bristol Mountain 107.3 signal. Replacing it on 95.1 was the former 107.3 classic rock format, "The Fox," with new call letters WFXF. The Bristol Mountain station now broadcasts on 107.3 as sports radio WHTK-FM.
Trails: 34; 33% Novice; 49% Intermediate; 18% Advanced
Chairlifts: 5 total, including two high speed detachable chairlifts. There is also a conveyor surface lift
to a beginner slope known as Launching Pad which only rises 60 feet
Surface Lifts
Vertical: 1200 feet (365.8 m)
Summit elevation: 2200 feet (670.6 m)
Skiable Acres: 160
Average Annual Snowfall: 120 inches
Night Skiing: Yes. 96% of the trails have trail lighting
Snowmaking: 97% of terrain has snowmaking
capabilities (all trails except Quantum Leap)
s. The Morning Star park features a half-pipe 450’ long with 14’ high walls. The easier Shooting Star Progression Park includes a 100' half-pipe with 3–4' walls made out of snow instead of earth. The longest trail/run is about two miles and is made up of three trails, starting at Milky Way, then to Eclipse, and Infinity. All three are easy trails; this goes around the backside of the mountain.
The trail names all have to do with space. This is due to that fact that Bristol Mountain first opened in the 1960s, during the space race
.
* = Short Connecting Run
man died in a snowboarding accident at Bristol Mountain. 48 year old Elliott A. Eklund was pronounced dead at Thompson Hospitol in Canandaigua at 8:20 after striking a tree on Bristol Mountain's Shooting Star run at about 7:30. This is the first death that has occurred at the resort since 2001, when a 36-year-old Palmyra man died after skiing into a tree.
Coincidentally, on February 16, 1988, 17-year-old David Elliot of Penfield died after being injured in a skiing accident at Bristol Mountain.
Ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing and other winter sports. In Europe a ski resort is a town or village in a ski area - a mountainous area, where there are ski trails and supporting services such as hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, equipment rental and a ski lift system...
located in South Bristol, New York
South Bristol, New York
South Bristol is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 1,645 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from its separation from the Town of Bristol.The Town of South Bristol is in the southwest part of the county...
in the Finger Lakes
Finger Lakes
The Finger Lakes are a pattern of lakes in the west-central section of Upstate New York in the United States. They are a popular tourist destination. The lakes are long and thin , each oriented roughly on a north-south axis. The two longest, Cayuga Lake and Seneca Lake, are among the deepest in...
region. It is located 30 miles (48.3 km) from the center of Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, the nearest major city to the resort, and about 10 miles (16.1 km) from Canandaigua
Canandaigua (city), New York
Canandaigua is a city in Ontario County, New York, USA, of which it is the county seat. The population was 11,264 at the 2000 census...
on State Route 64
New York State Route 64
New York State Route 64 is a north–south state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with NY 21 in the hamlet of Bristol Springs within the town of South Bristol, Ontario County...
. Currently, Bristol Mountain Resort features many trails ranging from easiest (green circle) to difficult (double black diamonds). Bristol Mountain has a vertical rise of 1,200 feet, claiming to have the highest vertical of any ski resort between the Rocky Mountains and the Adirondacks. Bristol also offers two terrain parks and cross country skiing at the resort's summit. Also at the top is a ski shop and rental facility. Bristol Mountain Resort also operates in conjunction with Roseland Waterpark
Roseland Waterpark
Roseland Waterpark is the largest waterpark in the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. Bristol Mountain owns the waterpark, which is designed in a Victorian era architecture with associated gardens, fountains and trellises. The water is heated to around 70+° for optimal swimming conditions....
, open during the summer season in Canandaigua. As of 2010, they have two high speed detachable chairlifts. The Comet Express lift was installed for the 1999/2000 season and the Galaxy Express for the 2009/2010 season. Both make a full pass in about four minutes. In the autumn they offer Fall Sky Rides using the Comet Express High Speed Quad chairlift slowed down to take 15–20 minutes. Once at the top the riders may stay on and ride or hike down the trails.
History
Bristol Mountain was established in 1964 after the land was bought in South Bristol, New YorkSouth Bristol, New York
South Bristol is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 1,645 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from its separation from the Town of Bristol.The Town of South Bristol is in the southwest part of the county...
. 50 of 360 acres (1.5 km²) was cleared, the base lodge built for the December 12 opening. Snowmaking
Snowmaking
Snowmaking is the production of snow by forcing water and pressurized air through a "snow gun" or "snow cannon", on ski slopes. Snowmaking is mainly used at ski resorts to supplement natural snow. This allows ski resorts to improve the reliability of their snow cover and to extend their ski...
capabilities and a new lift was added in 1965. In 1967, then Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Robert Kennedy skied at Bristol. In 1968 Bristol Mountain was the world's largest illuminated ski resort. By the 1970s, Bristol was getting over 100,000 skiers per year and opened seven days a week. They progressively made snowmaking improvements and by 1985 they had 100 percent coverage and guaranteed over 100 days of skiing per season.
In 1969 the rate for skiing was seven dollars, with four dollar nights. Even then they had the longest vertical drop between the Adirondacks and the Rockies. However, back then they only claimed the drop to be 1,000 instead of 1,200 feet. Surprisingly, they were open later then, closing at 10:30 instead of 10:00.
In 2009–2010, the new high speed detachable chairlift (Galaxy Express High Speed Quad) was added. A new trail, Lower North Star, which ends at the bottom of the Galaxy chairlift was added for the 2010–2011 season. The new lift replaces an older, non detachable, lift that started half way up the mountain in the same place. The new trail is 2,600 feet long and 120 feet wide, adding a little over seven acres to the mountain.
Rural Radio Network
Rural Radio Network
The Rural Radio Network was an interconnected group of six commercial FM radio stations spread across upstate New York and operated from Ithaca, NY -- the first all-radio, no-wireline network in the world...
since 1948, before the ski resort was ever formed. The station now known as WFXF
WFXF
WFXF, also known as "The Fox", is a classic rock FM radio station in the Rochester region of upstate New York.- History :- Rural Radio Network/Ivy Network/CBN :...
signed on June 6, 1948 as WVBT, licensed to Bristol Center, New York and transmitting from Bristol Mountain on 101.9 MHz. It was the next-to-last link in the Rural Radio Network chain of FM stations broadcasting to farmers across upstate New York. WVBT changed call letters to WRRE and changed frequency to 95.1 in the early 1950s. When the Rural Radio Network became the Ivy Network under new owners in 1960, WRRE became WMIV. It would retain those calls under the network's next identity, the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), broadcasting religious programming from studios in Ithaca between 1968 and 1981. WMIV was sold to Empire Broadcasting and in early 1982, it changed format to adult standards and it's call letters to WYLF. This station operated from a studio in a converted house on Route 332
New York State Route 332
New York State Route 332 is a north–south state highway that extends for through Ontario County in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 20, NY 5, and NY 21 just south of...
in Farmington
Farmington, New York
Farmington is a town located in the northern part of Ontario County, New York, United States. The population was 10,585 at the 2000 census. Farmington is about twenty-five miles southeast of Rochester, New York...
. On July 28, 1986, WYLF was sold and became WZSH. On December 26, 1991, WZSH became WRQI, "Rock-It 95," programming a rock format. In 1993, Rock-It 95 added the syndicated Howard Stern Show to its lineup, bringing the station attention and ratings in the larger Rochester market. WRQI made several attempts to improve its main signal on 95.1 as well, briefly moving from its historic Bristol Mountain site to a tower in Farmington owned by Rochester Telephone Company
Rochester Telephone Company
“Rochester Telephone Company” may refer to:*Rochester Telephone , a company founded in 1920 and changed its name to Frontier Corporation....
, but was forced to return to Bristol after interference complaints from the tower's neighbors. On April 21, 1995, WRQI became WNVE, "The Nerve," a modern rock/alternative station. In 2001, WNVE left its Bristol Mountain transmitter site for the last time, changing city of license from South Bristol
South Bristol, New York
South Bristol is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 1,645 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from its separation from the Town of Bristol.The Town of South Bristol is in the southwest part of the county...
to Honeoye Falls, New York in a swap with sister station WLCL
WLCL
WAYI is an American radio station licensed to Sellersburg, Indiana, USA, the station serves the Louisville, Kentucky area.The station is currently owned by S.C.I. Broadcasting, a division of Cumulus Media.-History:...
(107.3), which took the South Bristol city of license and the Bristol Mountain transmitter site. On July 4, 2004, Clear Channel moved WNVE from 95.1 to the lesser Bristol Mountain 107.3 signal. Replacing it on 95.1 was the former 107.3 classic rock format, "The Fox," with new call letters WFXF. The Bristol Mountain station now broadcasts on 107.3 as sports radio WHTK-FM.
Statistics
While Bristol is often claimed to have had 160 skiable acres, Bristol states that with the addition of the latest trail they are up to 138 skiable acres. 160 is probably the total cleared acreage, including the summit and base area. Bristol's new detachable chairlift, the Galaxy high speed quad, will only run during peak times such as afternoons and weekends. Bristol Mountain usually has a winter operating season of about four months (December to March), sometimes opening by late November and closing sometime in April. Early and late in the season only a few trails and lifts are open. In 2010, they opened on December 5, but only the Comet Express lift was running and only Rocket Run was open, from noon to four pm.Trails: 34; 33% Novice; 49% Intermediate; 18% Advanced
Chairlifts: 5 total, including two high speed detachable chairlifts. There is also a conveyor surface lift
Surface lift
A surface lift is a type of cable transportation system used to transport skiers and snowboarders where riders remain on the ground as they are pulled uphill.Types of surface lifts include the Poma lift, J-bar, T-bar, rope tow, and magic carpet....
to a beginner slope known as Launching Pad which only rises 60 feet
- Galaxy Express High Speed Quad (new for 2009/2010)
- Comet Express High Speed Quad
- Morning Star Quad
- Rocket Triple
- Sunset Double
Surface Lifts
- Lunar Launch Magic Carpet
Vertical: 1200 feet (365.8 m)
Summit elevation: 2200 feet (670.6 m)
Skiable Acres: 160
Average Annual Snowfall: 120 inches
Night Skiing: Yes. 96% of the trails have trail lighting
Snowmaking: 97% of terrain has snowmaking
Snowmaking
Snowmaking is the production of snow by forcing water and pressurized air through a "snow gun" or "snow cannon", on ski slopes. Snowmaking is mainly used at ski resorts to supplement natural snow. This allows ski resorts to improve the reliability of their snow cover and to extend their ski...
capabilities (all trails except Quantum Leap)
Trails
Bristol Mountain Ski Resort has 34 slopes and trails, including two terrain parks and two half-pipeHalf-pipe
A half-pipe is a structure used in gravity extreme sports such as snowboarding, skateboarding, skiing, freestyle BMX, and inline skating. The structure is wood, concrete, metal, earth, or snow. It resembles a cross section of a swimming pool, essentially two concave ramps , topped by copings and...
s. The Morning Star park features a half-pipe 450’ long with 14’ high walls. The easier Shooting Star Progression Park includes a 100' half-pipe with 3–4' walls made out of snow instead of earth. The longest trail/run is about two miles and is made up of three trails, starting at Milky Way, then to Eclipse, and Infinity. All three are easy trails; this goes around the backside of the mountain.
Easy
- Eclipse (Continuation of Sunbelt)
- Hale Bop*
- Halley's Run*
- Infinity
- Launching Pad ("Bunny Hill")
- Milky Way
- Nova
- Shooting Star- progression terrain park
- Skyway*
- Spacewalk*
- Sunbelt
More difficult
- Asteroid*
- Beta*
- Big Dipper*
- Galaxy
- Lower Meteor
- Lower North Star (new for 2010–2011)
- Lower Rocket
- Morning Star- advanced terrain park
- Orion's Belt
- Outer Orbit
- Shuttle*
- Southern Cross
- Sunset
- Sunset Way*
- Universe
- Upper North Star
- Ursa Minor*
Experts only
- Comet
- Quantum Leap
The trail names all have to do with space. This is due to that fact that Bristol Mountain first opened in the 1960s, during the space race
Space Race
The Space Race was a mid-to-late 20th century competition between the Soviet Union and the United States for supremacy in space exploration. Between 1957 and 1975, Cold War rivalry between the two nations focused on attaining firsts in space exploration, which were seen as necessary for national...
.
* = Short Connecting Run
Cross Country Skiing
Bristol also has cross country skiing available at the Summit Nordic Center, consisting of two trails, one of which has snowmaking and lights for night skiing. The Summit Nordic Center is not directly accessible from Bristol Mountain's downhill base lodges; visitors must use the separate entrance by driving up the mountain to South Hill Road off of County Road 32.Deaths
On February 16, 2010, a PenfieldPenfield, New York
Penfield is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 36,242 at the 2010 census.The town was incorporated in 1810 by the proprietor, Daniel Penfield, who purchased the town lands in 1795 and moved to the area in 1809. Penfield is a suburb of Rochester, New York...
man died in a snowboarding accident at Bristol Mountain. 48 year old Elliott A. Eklund was pronounced dead at Thompson Hospitol in Canandaigua at 8:20 after striking a tree on Bristol Mountain's Shooting Star run at about 7:30. This is the first death that has occurred at the resort since 2001, when a 36-year-old Palmyra man died after skiing into a tree.
Coincidentally, on February 16, 1988, 17-year-old David Elliot of Penfield died after being injured in a skiing accident at Bristol Mountain.