Appalachian Ski Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Appalachian Ski Mtn. |
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 Appalachian Ski Mtn.
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, 3 surface |
| Terrain parks | 3 |
| Snowfall | 60 inches (150 cm) |
| Snowmaking | 100% |
| Night skiing | 100% |
| Website | appskimtn.com |
Appalachian Ski Mountain is a fun place to ski and snowboard 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 near the towns of Blowing Rock and Boone.
Contents
History of Appalachian Ski Mountain
How Appalachian Ski Mountain Started
In 1962, a place called Blowing Rock Ski Lodge opened. This was around the same time that commercial skiing began in North Carolina. It was one of the first places where people could go skiing in the state's western mountains.
Changing the Name
A few years later, in 1968, the name of the ski lodge changed. It became known as Appalachian Ski Mtn., which is what we call it today.
Exploring the Mountain Trails
Ski and Snowboard Trails
Appalachian Ski Mountain has 13 exciting trails for skiing and snowboarding. There are 2 trails for beginners, 6 for intermediate skiers, and 3 for advanced skiers. Plus, there are 4 special areas called terrain parks.
Lifts and Mountain Height
To get up the mountain, you can use two quad chairs, a double chair, a handle tow, and two conveyor lifts. The longest trail, called Orchard Run, is about half a mile (800 meters) long. The bottom of the mountain is 3,635 feet high, and the top is 4,000 feet high. This means you get to ski down a vertical drop of 365 feet!
Night Skiing and Snowmaking
Every part of the ski area is lit up for night skiing. This means you can keep having fun even after the sun goes down. Also, 100% of the mountain is covered by snowmaking.
How Appalachian Ski Mountain Makes Snow
Keeping the Slopes Snowy
All the slopes at Appalachian Ski Mountain have snowmaking equipment. The people who run the ski area try to make snow when the slopes are closed. They also make snow during times when fewer people are skiing. This helps keep the snow fresh and ready for you.
Snow All Season Long
Appalachian Ski Mountain often makes snow until almost the very last day of the season. This is if the weather is cold enough. Because of this, the ski area has stayed open for its full planned season for many years. It's common for the snow to be over 100 inches deep during the busiest part of winter. This is often more snow than you might find at some ski resorts out west!
Fun in the Terrain Parks
What are Terrain Parks?
Appalachian Ski Mountain has 3 special areas called terrain parks. These parks have cool features like jumps, rails, and boxes for skiers and snowboarders. One of them is North Carolina's only Burton Progression Park. This is a special park designed to help you learn new tricks safely. The three parks are named AppalTop, Appaljack, and Appal Jam.
Keeping Parks Fresh and Safe
The staff at Appalachian Ski Mountain rebuilds one of the parks every week. They do this after skiing hours to make sure the parks are always new and exciting. There are always at least two staff members in the terrain parks to help keep everyone safe.
Terrain Park Rules for Safety
Since the 2010-2011 ski season, if you want to use the upper-level terrain parks, you need a special park pass. To get a pass, you watch a short video about park safety and manners. Then, you take a quick quiz. There's also a small fee for the pass. If you are under 18, a parent or guardian needs to be with you to sign the paperwork. This program helps everyone learn how to use the parks safely and have a great time.
Types of Terrain Park Features
The terrain parks have many different features for you to try. You can find various rails to slide on, like flat rails and kink rails. There are also many boxes of different shapes and sizes, such as flat boxes and rainbow boxes. Other fun features include wallrides and jib items, which are objects you can slide or jump on.
Services and Fun Activities
Rentals and Gear
At the bottom of the lodge, you can rent everything you need for skiing or snowboarding. This includes skis, snowboards, and helmets. You can also rent other gear like bibs, gloves, jackets, and goggles.
Food and Shopping
The lodge has a restaurant right next to the slopes. It's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There's also a gift shop and a ski shop inside the lodge. Here you can buy souvenirs or new ski equipment.
Ice Skating Fun
Besides skiing and snowboarding, Appalachian Ski Mountain has an outdoor skating rink. It's a big rink, about 6,000 square feet. You can even go ice skating at night! Just like with ski gear, you can rent ice skates from the base lodge.
Learning to Ski or Snowboard
Appalachian Ski Mtn. is home to the French Swiss Ski College. The instructors there teach all kinds of groups how to ski. They have taught everyone from military groups to athletes with disabilities. They also teach people from warmer places who have never seen snow before! You can take lessons in a group or by yourself every day. Appalachian is the only ski area in the southeastern U.S. that offers lessons specifically for terrain parks.
Annual Events to Enjoy
- Anniversary Weekend - This celebration happens on the first weekend in December.
- Fireworks - Enjoy a spectacular fireworks show on December 31st.
- Meltdown Games - These fun games take place on the closing weekend of the season.
