Mount Shasta Ski Park
Encyclopedia
Mount Shasta Ski Park is a ski resort
located in northern California
, just east of Interstate 5 along SR 89
between the city of Mount Shasta
and the town of McCloud
. The ski area lies about 6 mi (9.7 km) south of the summit of 14162 ft (4,316.6 m) Mount Shasta
, the second highest volcano
in the Cascade Range
. It straddles several small volcanic buttes on the lower southern flanks of the massive stratovolcano
, with chairlifts running to the top of the 6567 ft (2,001.6 m), Douglas Butte, and the 6150 ft (1,874.5 m) Marmot Ridge. The total skiable vertical is 1390 ft (423.7 m), with 20% of the terrain rated beginner, 55% intermediate, and 25% advanced.
The Ski Park was the second ski area constructed on Mount Shasta, but the only one which now survives. The old Mount Shasta Ski Bowl had been built in 1958 in a huge open cirque
much higher up on the southern flank of the volcano, with a lodge at 7800 ft (2,377.4 m) and lifts topping out above timberline at 9200 ft (2,804.2 m). However, the ski area had often been in financial trouble over the next two decades, and a massive avalanche
in January 1978 which destroyed the main chairlift was the finishing blow. The Ski Bowl closed permanently after that, and there was no more lift-served skiing on Mount Shasta until 1985, when local businessmen and developers finally began construction of a new ski area lower down on the mountain, in an area well below timberline and safe from avalanches. The Mount Shasta Ski Park opened on December 14, 1985, and has been successfully operating for over two decades since then. The ski area is located entirely on a 1 m² (1.2 sq yd) single section
inholding
of private land within the checkerboard pattern
of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest
, and road access is via Forest Route 88 across national forest
land.
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 northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
, just east of Interstate 5 along SR 89
California State Route 89
State Route 89 is a California State Highway that travels in the north–south direction, and is the major thoroughfare for many mountain communities. It starts from U.S. Route 395 near Topaz Lake, winding its way up to the Monitor Pass, down to the Carson River, and up again over the Luther...
between the city of Mount Shasta
Mount Shasta, California
Mount Shasta is a city in Siskiyou County, California, located at around 3,600 ft on the flanks of Mount Shasta, a prominent northern California landmark. The city is less than southwest of the summit of its namesake volcano...
and the town of McCloud
McCloud, California
McCloud is a small town and census-designated place in Siskiyou County, California, United States. The population was 1,101 at the 2010 census, down from 1,343 at the 2000 census.-Commerce and tourism:...
. The ski area lies about 6 mi (9.7 km) south of the summit of 14162 ft (4,316.6 m) Mount Shasta
Mount Shasta
Mount Shasta is located at the southern end of the Cascade Range in Siskiyou County, California and at is the second highest peak in the Cascades and the fifth highest in California...
, the second highest volcano
Cascade Volcanoes
The Cascade Volcanoes are a number of volcanoes in a volcanic arc in western North America, extending from southwestern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California, a distance of well over 700 mi ...
in the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
. It straddles several small volcanic buttes on the lower southern flanks of the massive stratovolcano
Stratovolcano
A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a tall, conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions...
, with chairlifts running to the top of the 6567 ft (2,001.6 m), Douglas Butte, and the 6150 ft (1,874.5 m) Marmot Ridge. The total skiable vertical is 1390 ft (423.7 m), with 20% of the terrain rated beginner, 55% intermediate, and 25% advanced.
The Ski Park was the second ski area constructed on Mount Shasta, but the only one which now survives. The old Mount Shasta Ski Bowl had been built in 1958 in a huge open cirque
Cirque
Cirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
much higher up on the southern flank of the volcano, with a lodge at 7800 ft (2,377.4 m) and lifts topping out above timberline at 9200 ft (2,804.2 m). However, the ski area had often been in financial trouble over the next two decades, and a massive avalanche
Avalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
in January 1978 which destroyed the main chairlift was the finishing blow. The Ski Bowl closed permanently after that, and there was no more lift-served skiing on Mount Shasta until 1985, when local businessmen and developers finally began construction of a new ski area lower down on the mountain, in an area well below timberline and safe from avalanches. The Mount Shasta Ski Park opened on December 14, 1985, and has been successfully operating for over two decades since then. The ski area is located entirely on a 1 m² (1.2 sq yd) single section
Section (United States land surveying)
In U.S. land surveying under the Public Land Survey System , a section is an area nominally one square mile, containing , with 36 sections making up one survey township on a rectangular grid....
inholding
Inholding
An inholding is privately owned land inside the boundary of a national park, national forest, state park, or similar publicly owned, protected area...
of private land within the checkerboard pattern
Checkerboarding (land)
Checkerboarding refers to a situation where land ownership is intermingled between two or more owners, resulting in a checkerboard pattern. Checkerboarding is prevalent in the Western United States due to its extensive use in railroad grants for western expansion, although it had its beginnings in...
of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest
Shasta-Trinity National Forest
The Shasta-Trinity National Forest is a federally designated forest in northern California, USA. It is the largest National Forest in California and is managed by the United States Forest Service. The 2.2-million acre forest encompasses five wilderness areas, hundreds of mountain lakes and of...
, and road access is via Forest Route 88 across national forest
United States National Forest
National Forest is a classification of federal lands in the United States.National Forests are largely forest and woodland areas owned by the federal government and managed by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Land management of these areas...
land.
External links
- Mount Shasta Ski Park official site
- Mount Shasta Recreational Forecast (National Weather Service)
- Mount Shasta Avalanche Center (USDA Forest Service)
- Ski Lifts.org photos of lifts at Mount Shasta Ski Park
- Topographic map & aerial photo from USGS via Microsoft Research Maps
- Shasta-Trinity National Forest official website