Appalachian Ski Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Appalachian Ski Mountain |
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 Appalachian Ski Mountain
Location in the United States
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| Location | Watauga County, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Boone and Blowing Rock |
| Coordinates | 36°10′26″N 81°39′43″W / 36.174°N 81.662°W |
| Vertical | 365 feet (111 m) |
| Top elevation | 4,000 feet (1,219 m) |
| Base elevation | 3,635 feet (1,108 m) |
| Skiable area | 27 acres (11 ha) |
| Runs | 11 |
| Lift system | 3 chairs, 2 surface |
| Terrain parks | 3 |
| Snowfall | 60 inches (150 cm) |
| Snowmaking | 100% |
| Night skiing | 100% |
| Website | appskimtn.com |
Appalachian Ski Mountain is a fun ski area in the eastern United States. It is one of three ski mountains in the Watauga County area of western North Carolina. You can find it off of US 321, between the towns of Blowing Rock and Boone.
Contents
A Quick Look at Appalachian Ski Mountain
Appalachian Ski Mountain is a great place for skiing and snowboarding. It has 11 different ski trails for all skill levels. You'll find trails for beginners, intermediate skiers, and advanced riders. The mountain also has three special areas called terrain parks.
Mountain Stats
- Top Elevation: The highest point is 4,000 feet (about 1,219 meters) above sea level.
- Base Elevation: The lowest point is 3,635 feet (about 1,108 meters) above sea level.
- Vertical Drop: This means the difference between the top and bottom is 365 feet (about 111 meters).
- Longest Trail: The longest trail is Orchard Run, which is half a mile (800 meters) long.
Getting Up the Mountain
To reach the top of the trails, Appalachian Ski Mountain has several lifts:
- Two quad chairs (these carry four people).
- One double chair (this carries two people).
- A handle tow.
- A conveyor lift (like a moving sidewalk for skiers).
Night Skiing and Snowmaking
The entire ski area is lit up for night skiing, so you can keep riding after the sun goes down! Also, 100% of the mountain is covered by snowmaking. This means they can make their own snow when it's cold enough, even if natural snow hasn't fallen. This helps them stay open for a long season.
Cool Terrain Parks
Appalachian Ski Mountain has three awesome terrain parks. These parks are special areas with features like jumps, rails, and boxes for skiers and snowboarders to try tricks.
Types of Parks
- AppalTop
- Appaljack
- Appal Jam
One of these is North Carolina's only Burton Progression Park. This is a special park designed to help riders learn new tricks safely. The park staff often rebuilds one of the parks each week. This keeps things fresh and exciting for riders!
Park Pass Rules
Since the 2010-2011 season, if you want to use the upper-level terrain parks, you need a special park pass. To get one, you'll watch a short video about park safety. Then, you'll take a quick quiz to show you understand the rules. There's a small fee for the pass. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian needs to be with you to sign the paperwork. These rules help keep everyone safe while having fun!
Terrain Park Features You Might See
Here are some of the cool features you can find in the parks:
| Rails | Boxes | Other |
|---|---|---|
| 35' Flat Rail | 24' Trapezoid Box | 10' x 16' Red Bull Wallride |
| 19' Round Flat Rail | 6'7" Kicker Box | 4'6" Red Bull Can Bonk |
| 10' Double Barrel Flat Rail | 8' Flat Box Top | 8' DVS Picnic Table |
| 12' Flat Rail 2' tall | 20' Rainbow Box | 19' Lift Tower Jib |
| 12' Flat Rail | 12' Flat Box | 16' Adjustable Wall |
| 16' Flat Rail | 12' Juice Box | 6' Pole Jam |
| 36' M Rail (Triple Kink) | 16' Juice Box | 19' Lift Tower Jib |
| 20' Down Handrail | 20' Flat Box | 19' Lift Tower Jib |
| 20' Handrail | 20' C Box | 41' Lift Tower Jib |
| 20' C Rail | 20' C Box | 20' Ledge Wedge |
| 25' Flat Down Flat Rail | 30' Down Flat Down Box | |
| 24' Flat Down Rail | 30' ATP Logo Box | |
| 25' Trapezoid Rail | 24' Shark Fin Box | |
| 24' Flat Rail | 24' Flat Box | |
| 24' Flat Rail | 24' Flat Box | |
| 24' Flat Rail | 16' Flat Box | |
| 20' Down Flat Kink Rail | 20' Flat Box | |
| 32' S Rail | ||
| 32' Rainbow Rail | ||
| 24' Elbow Rail | ||
| 30' Down Flat Down Kink Rail | ||
| 15' Flat Down Rail | ||
| 10' Up Rail |
Other Fun Things to Do
Appalachian Ski Mountain offers more than just skiing and snowboarding!
Rentals and Shops
At the bottom of the lodge, you can rent all the gear you need. This includes skis, snowboards, helmets, bibs, gloves, jackets, and goggles. They have a huge selection of equipment!
The lodge also has a restaurant where you can grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner. There's a gift shop and a ski shop too, in case you need anything or want a souvenir.
Ice Skating
If you want a break from the slopes, Appalachian Ski Mountain has a large outdoor skating rink. It's 6,000 square feet (about 557 square meters) and is open for night skating. You can rent ice skates right there at the base lodge.
Ski and Snowboard Lessons
Appalachian Ski Mountain is home to the French Swiss Ski College. This school teaches people of all ages and abilities how to ski and snowboard. They offer lessons in groups or one-on-one. Appalachian is also the only ski area in the southeastern U.S. that offers special lessons for terrain parks.
Annual Events
Appalachian Ski Mountain hosts some exciting events each year:
- Fireworks: Enjoy fireworks on December 31st (New Year's Eve) and sometimes on February 14th (Valentine's Day, if it's on a weekend).
- Shred for the Cup Rail Jam: A competition where riders show off their skills on rails.
- Shred for the Cup Slopestyle Final: Another competition, often with jumps and other features.
- Meltdown Games: A fun event usually held near the end of the season.
