Mountain High facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain High |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Mountain High
Location in California
Mountain High
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Big Pines, Los Angeles County, California |
| Nearest city | Wrightwood, California |
| Coordinates | 34°22′29″N 117°41′36″W / 34.37472°N 117.69323°W |
| Vertical | 1,600 ft (490 m) |
| Top elevation | 8,200 feet (2,500 m) (East) 8,000 feet (2,400 m) (West) 7,800 ft (2,400 m) (North) |
| Base elevation | 6,600 feet (2,000 m) (East) 7,000 feet (2,100 m) (West) 7,200 ft (2,200 m) (North) |
| Skiable area | 290 acres (1.2 km2) |
| Longest run | 1.6 miles (2.6 km) |
| Terrain parks | Yes |
| Snowmaking | Yes (partial) |
| Night skiing | Yes (partial) |
Mountain High is a popular winter resort located in the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles County, California. It is one of the most visited resorts in Southern California. You can find it along State Route 2, just west of Wrightwood. The resort has different elevations for its three areas:
- Mountain High East Resort: from 6,600 feet (2,000 m) to 8,200 feet (2,500 m)
- Mountain High West Resort: from 7,000 feet (2,100 m) to 8,000 feet (2,400 m)
- Mountain High North Resort: from 7,200 feet (2,200 m) to 7,800 ft (2,400 m)
Contents
A Look Back at Mountain High's History
In the 1920s, more and more people moved to Southern California. They loved to hike and ski in an area called Big Pines, which is close to where Mountain High is today. In 1929, people even started building what was then the world's biggest ski jump there! They hoped to attract the 1932 Winter Olympics.
The West Resort: A Pioneer Ski Area
The Mountain High West Resort is one of the oldest ski areas in the country. It was first known as Blue Ridge. It opened in 1937 with a simple rope tow. In 1947, it built the second chairlift in all of California! In 1975, new owners bought it and renamed it Mountain High.
The East Resort: From Holiday Hill to Mountain High
The Mountain High East Resort first opened in 1948 and was called Holiday Hill. Back in the 1960s, a lift ticket only cost $1.50! In 1979, the owners of Mountain High bought Holiday Hill. For a while, it was mostly used for parking for the West Resort. It would also open for skiing when there was enough snow.
The North Resort: From Ski Sunrise to Snow Play
The Mountain High North Resort started as Table Mountain Ski Area in 1938. Later, in 1975, its name changed to Ski Sunrise. After several years with not much snow and no snowmaking machines, it was sold in 2004 to the owners of Mountain High. Today, the North Resort is used for ski lessons, tubing, and other snow play activities. This helps reduce crowds at the West Resort. Table Mountain has also been used for important scientific studies in the past.
Exploring the Mountain High Resort Areas
Mountain High is divided into three different areas along State Route 2. If you buy a lift ticket for one area, it works at all three! A shuttle bus usually runs between the West and East resorts, making it easy for skiers and snowboarders to move around.
The Mountain High West Resort
The West Resort sits at an elevation of 7,000 feet (2,100 m) to 8,000 ft (2,400 m). It's the most popular of the three areas. Much of its terrain is set up as Mountain High's Terrain Park. This park has many unique features like the Slayer Box and the Paradox, which are great for snowboarding. The West Resort also has excellent "glade skiing" and snowboarding in an area called "The Reef." This area only opens when there's a lot of snow. Because it's a bit higher up, the West Resort is often the first ski area in Southern California to open and the last to close each season.
The Mountain High East Resort
The East Resort is located at 6,600 feet (2,000 m) to 8,200 ft (2,500 m). This area has longer runs and more open spaces, giving you a classic mountain skiing or snowboarding experience. The longest run at Mountain High is called Goldrush. It's 1.6 miles (2.6 km) long and is found at the East Resort. It's also the longest run in all of Southern California!
The Mountain High North Resort
The North Resort is at an elevation of 7,200 feet (2,200 m) to 7,800 ft (2,400 m). This area is mainly for beginners and intermediate skiers and snowboarders, as well as for snow play. It has one quad chair lift and three handle tows. It's also home to the North Pole Tubing Park, where you can have fun sliding down hills on tubes!
Sky High Disc Golf Course
The Mountain High North Resort isn't just for winter fun! During the summer, it opens up for disc golf. The "Sky High" course offers three different courses, each with nine holes. These courses wind through the beautiful Angeles National Forest. The disc golf course was first created in 1999 when the resort was still known as Ski Sunrise.
Images for kids
-
A view of Mountain High Resort in winter.
-
Another look at the Mountain High ski area.
-
Playing disc golf at Sky High in the summer.
