Ski Bluewood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ski Bluewood |
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 Ski Bluewood
Location in Washington (state)
Ski Bluewood
Location in the United States
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| Location | Umatilla National Forest Columbia County, Washington, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Dayton - 22 mi (35 km) Walla Walla - 52 mi (84 km) |
| Coordinates | 46°04′55″N 117°51′04″W / 46.082°N 117.851°W |
| Vertical | 1,125 ft (343 m) |
| Top elevation | 5,670 ft (1,728 m) |
| Base elevation | 4,545 ft (1,385 m) |
| Skiable area | 530 acres (2.1 km2) |
| Runs | 24 - 27% easiest - 43% more difficult - 30% most difficult |
| Longest run | 2.2 miles (3.5 km) Country Road |
| Lift system | 2 triple chairs - (fixed-grip) 2 Magic Carpet |
| Lift capacity | 3,950 / hr. |
| Terrain parks | 1 |
| Snowfall | 300 inches (760 cm) |
| Snowmaking | none |
| Night skiing | none |
| Website | bluewood.com |
Ski Bluewood is a fun ski area in southeastern Washington, in the United States. It's located in Columbia County, within the Umatilla National Forest. This cool spot is at the northern end of the Blue Mountains.
The base of the ski area is about 4,545 feet (1,385 m) above sea level. The highest point you can ski from is 5,670 feet (1,730 m), giving you a vertical drop of 1,125 feet (343 m)! The slopes face north, which helps keep the snow nice and fresh. Ski Bluewood is close to the Oregon border and not too far from Idaho. It's also part of the area where the Touchet River begins.
To get to Ski Bluewood, you usually go through Dayton. Dayton is about 22 miles (35 km) northwest of the ski area. Even though Walla Walla is only about 20 miles (32 km) away in a straight line, it takes about an hour to drive there. Ski Bluewood is the closest ski area for people living in the Tri-Cities and Lewiston-Clarkston.
A Look Back in Time
The idea for this ski area started way back in the 1960s. It was first called "Skyline Basin." After lots of planning and getting money, the ski area finally opened in January 1980. Its first name was "Bluewood Ski Area."
After a tough winter with very little snow in 1980-1981, the ski area faced some money problems. But don't worry, it got a fresh start! In 1983, a person named Stan Goodell bought it. He was a ski expert from Portland. To show it was a new beginning, he changed the name to "Ski Bluewood." He even moved to Dayton to run the place himself!
In 1986, Ski Bluewood grew bigger. They added more parking and a new chairlift called the Triple Nickel. This new lift helped skiers get to the learning areas. It joined the other lifts, the Skyline Express triple chair and the Easy Rider lift.
Hitting the Slopes
Ski Bluewood has 24 different runs for you to enjoy!
- Easiest (Green Circles): 4 runs, perfect for beginners.
- More Difficult (Blue Squares): 12 runs, great for intermediate skiers.
- Most Difficult (Black Diamonds): 8 runs, for advanced skiers who love a challenge.
There's also a fun terrain park where you can practice tricks. Plus, for adventurous skiers, there are six backcountry runs. The ski area is open five days a week, from Wednesday to Sunday, and also on holidays. Ski Bluewood is known for its light, dry snow, great tree skiing, and a friendly vibe for families.
Did you know that Will Brandenburg, a famous World Cup skier for the U.S. Ski Team, learned to ski and race right here at Bluewood in the 1990s?
What You'll Find Here
At Ski Bluewood, you'll find everything you need for a great day on the mountain:
- A place to rent skis and snowboards.
- A shop to buy gear.
- Ski patrol services to keep everyone safe.
- A learning center for ski and snowboard lessons.
- A cozy cafe for food and drinks.
- A pub for older visitors.
One cool thing about Bluewood is that it makes all its own electricity! It uses special generators to power the lodge and the chairlifts. This means it's super self-sufficient.
Bluewood Ski Patrol
The Bluewood Ski Patrol is a team of highly trained healthcare professionals. Many of them are volunteers. They are experts in outdoor emergency care. The patrol works to keep everyone safe on the mountain.
Their jobs include:
- Making sure people follow safety rules.
- Giving emergency medical care if someone gets hurt.
- Managing any incidents that happen.
- Helping with avalanche safety.
- Assisting with chairlift evacuations if needed.
- Helping with search and rescue.
Both paid and volunteer patrollers work together at Bluewood. This teamwork helps them give the best care and service to everyone visiting the ski area. Most of the patrol members are skiers, but there are some snowboarders too. New patrollers get special training, which usually takes about a season to finish. Being a part of the patrol means putting in a certain number of days each season. In return, patrollers get benefits from Ski Bluewood, like being able to get the first chairlift ride up and the last run down!
