Blackjack Ski Resort (Bessemer, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackjack Resort |
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|---|---|
| Location | Bessemer Township, Michigan, United States |
| Nearest city | Bessemer, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 46°30′08″N 90°00′17″W / 46.5021°N 90.0046°W |
| Vertical | 490 feet (150 m) |
| Top elevation | 1,675 ft (511 m) |
| Base elevation | 1,185 ft (361 m) |
| Skiable area | 126 acres (0.51 km2) |
| Runs | 22 |
| Lift system | 4 double chair lifts, 1 rope tow, 1 handle lift |
| Terrain parks | Yes - 3 |
| Snowfall | 17 ft (5.2 m) annual |
Blackjack Resort is a fun ski area located in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. It's close to the town of Bessemer in Gogebic County. This region is known as "Big Snow Country" because it gets a lot of snow every year.
The area gets about 200-inch (5.1 m) of snow on average. This huge amount of snow comes from something called the lake effect from Lake Superior. It means cold air picks up moisture from the lake, then drops it as snow when it hits land. Blackjack is also near other popular ski resorts like Big Powderhorn and Indianhead Mountain.
Skiing and Snowboarding Fun
Blackjack Mountain offers 22 different downhill runs for skiing and snowboarding. These runs cover a total of 126 acres, which is a lot of space to explore!
The runs are designed for different skill levels:
- 20% are for beginners, perfect if you're just starting out.
- 40% are for intermediate skiers, if you're getting more confident.
- 40% are for expert skiers, including one really challenging "double black diamond" trail.
Blackjack is special because it has three different terrain parks. These parks are areas with jumps, rails, and other features for tricks. It also has two glade trails, which let you ski through trees! This is a unique and exciting experience for both kids and adults.
Exciting Snocross Races
Blackjack Mountain has even hosted big events! In 2013, it was the location for one of the Amsoil Championship SnoCross Races. This race was called the Northern Clearing SnoCross and took place on December 6th and 7th, 2013.
What is Snocross?
Snocross is a super exciting type of snowmobile racing. Imagine motocross, but on snow! Riders race powerful snowmobiles over a track with big jumps and sharp turns. It's a thrilling sport that brings world-class athletes to compete. Snocross events are often held in places with lots of snow, making them a top winter attraction for families.
