Mission Ridge Ski Area facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mission Ridge Ski Area |
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Chair 4 (left) at Mission Ridge Ski Area
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 Mission Ridge Ski Area
Location in Washington (state)
Mission Ridge Ski Area
Location in the United States
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| Location | Chelan County, Washington |
| Nearest city | Wenatchee: 12 miles (20 km) |
| Coordinates | 47°17′31″N 120°23′56″W / 47.292°N 120.399°W |
| Vertical | 2,250 feet (686 m) |
| Top elevation | 6,820 feet (2,079 m) |
| Base elevation | 4,570 feet (1,393 m) |
| Skiable area | 2,000 acres (8.1 km2) |
| Runs | 36 10% easiest 60% more difficult 30% most difficult |
| Lift system | 4 chairlifts 2 tows - one for terrain park |
| Lift capacity | 4,910 / hr |
| Terrain parks | 1 main one but most of the time there are 3 |
| Snowfall | 200 inches (16.7 ft; 5.1 m) |
| Snowmaking | yes |
| Night skiing | 4 - 9 pm |
| Website | Mission Ridge.com |
Mission Ridge Ski Area is a fun place to ski and snowboard in the United States. It is located near Wenatchee, Washington. This ski area is on the east side of the Cascade Range mountains. The bottom of the mountain is about 4,570 feet above sea level. The very top is 6,820 feet high. Mission Ridge gets about 200 inches of snow each year. It also has over 300 sunny days, which is great for skiing!
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Skiing and Snowboarding Fun
Mission Ridge has 6 lifts to help you explore its 2,000 acres of skiable land.
- One high-speed chairlift that is super fast. It even has bubbles to keep you warm! This lift was put in during the summer of 2020.
- Three regular double chairlifts.
- Two rope tows. These are like ropes that pull you up the hill. One of them is for the terrain park.
Terrain Parks for Tricks
Mission Ridge has a cool place called the B-24 terrain park. This is where you can practice jumps and tricks. Usually, there are three terrain parks open, but there is one main one.
Skiing After Dark
You can even ski at night at Mission Ridge! They have had night skiing since 1978. They also use special machines to make snow when it doesn't snow enough naturally. This helps keep the slopes ready for you.
What's at the Base of the Mountain?
At the bottom of Mission Ridge, you'll find the Hampton Lodge. This building has a restaurant where you can grab a bite to eat. There's also a shop if you need gear or souvenirs. If you don't have your own skis or snowboard, you can rent them here.
Other helpful places at the base include:
- Centers where you can take ski or snowboard lessons.
- A childcare center for younger kids.
- A first aid station in case anyone gets hurt.
A Look Back at Mission Ridge's History
The name "Mission Ridge" was chosen in 1964. The ski area first opened in the fall of 1966. It started with two chairlifts in an area called Squilchuck Basin.
The B-24 Bomber Story
An interesting part of Mission Ridge's history involves a B-24 Liberator bomber plane. This plane crashed there on September 30, 1944. In 1985, a piece of the plane's wing was moved down to the lodge. Later, in 1992, it was moved back up the mountain. You can now see it above an area called "Bomber Bowl."
Famous Skier Who Trained Here
A very famous skier named Bill Johnson used to train at Mission Ridge. He won a gold medal in downhill skiing at the 1984 Winter Olympics!
