Snow Summit

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Snow Summit
Snow Summit Ski Resort.jpg
A Satellite View of Snow Summit Ski Resort, March 2008
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Snow Summit
Location in California
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Snow Summit
Snow Summit (the United States)
LocationSnow Summit
Nearest major city Big Bear Lake, California
Coordinates 34°13′43″N116°53′28″W / 34.2286°N 116.8911°W / 34.2286; -116.8911
StatusOperating
Owner Alterra Mountain Company
Vertical1,209 ft (369 m)
Top elevation8,174 ft (2,491 m)
Base elevation6,965 ft (2,123 m)
Skiable area240 acres (97 ha) [1]
Trails 31 total
Ski trail rating symbol-green circle.svg 10% beginner
Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg 25% low intermediate
Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg 40% intermediate
Ski trail rating symbol-black diamond.svg 25% advanced [1]
Longest run1.25 mi (2.01 km) (Westridge)
Lift system 14 lifts
Lift capacity18,550 passengers/hr
Snowfall 100 in (250 cm)
Snowmaking Yes, 100% of developed terrain, 240 Acres
Night skiing Yes
Website www.snowsummit.com

Snow Summit is a ski resort that was established in 1952 and is in the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California. [2] It is located by Big Bear Lake along with its sister resort Bear Mountain; these two resorts which operate under the same management are collectively known as Big Bear Mountain Resorts (BBMR), alongside the new addition of Running Springs’ Snow Valley. [3]

Contents

Snow Summit is one of the larger ski areas in Southern California, and is considered to be one of the most popular ski and snowboard destinations for patrons from around the Los Angeles area. [4] Snow Summit is a mid-sized resort, with a 1,209 ft (369 m) topographic vertical drop, [5] and 240 acres (97 ha) of skiable terrain, partially covered by snowmaking.

In 2014, Mammoth Mountain Ski Area (owned by Starwood Capital Group at that time under the entity Mammoth Resorts) purchased Bear Mountain and Snow Summit for $38 million. [6] [7] In 2017, Mammoth Resorts, which also included June Mountain, announced its sale by Starwood to a partnership of Aspen Skiing Company and KSL Capital Partners, known as Alterra Mountain Company. [8]

Big Bear Mountain Resort

For decades, Snow Summit and Goldmine Mountain operated independently of one another, less than two miles apart. In 1988, S.K.I., a major ski area operator, bought Goldmine, changed its name to Bear Mountain, and invested millions of dollars in improvements that enhanced its competitive position against Snow Summit. [9] In 2002, Snow Summit purchased Bear Mountain, and the two became one company.

In January 2023, Big Bear Mountain Resort purchased Snow Valley.

Snow Summit, Snow Valley, and Bear Mountain are marketed as areas constituent to Big Bear Mountain Resorts. A lift ticket from either area is honored at the others, and a free bus service between Snow Summit and Bear Mountain shuttles patrons back and forth between the two for that purpose. [10]

Since 2023, there have been rumors of a connection between Snow Summit and Bear Mountain. A plan has been submitted to the U.S. Forest Service, but approval won’t be announced until Spring 2025 according to insider reports.

Snowmaking

Snow Summit's extensive, multimillion-dollar snowmaking system draws water from Big Bear Lake to cover all of the resort's marked terrain with skiable artificial snow — if ambient temperature and humidity are amenable — throughout its winter operating season . [11]

Snow Summit trails

BeginnerIntermediateDifficultExpert
Skyline CreekMiracle MileEgo Trip ParkThe Wall
SundownPipe DreamDicky'sOlympic
Summit RunWestridge Freestyle ParkTommi'sSide Chute
CruiserEast WhyOff Chute
Last ChanceZzyzx ParkLog Chute
Miracle Mile
Timber Ridge
Log Chute
Mainstream
7-Down
Perfect Pitches
Side Show
Sugar Pine
Jo's

References

  1. 1 2 "Mountain Statistics". Snow Summit Official Website. Retrieved on 2013-01-16.
  2. ↑ "Area History - Winter Sports". Big Bear Valley History. Big Bear Valley Historical Society. December 18, 2009. Archived from the original on July 13, 2001. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  3. ↑ Public Relations (2009). "Bear Mountain Press Kit (2009-2010)" (.PDF). Big Bear Mountain Resorts. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Snow Summit Ski Area". Destination 360. 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  5. ↑ "Comparison of Midsized Ski Resorts in US/Canada by True-Up Vertical Descent (Page 2 of 3)". Mountain Vertical. 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  6. ↑ "Mammoth Buys Bear Mountain". On the Snow. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Mammoth Mountain owner buys Bear Mountain and Snow Summit". Los Angeles Times. September 24, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  8. ↑ Martin, Hugo (April 12, 2017). "Mammoth Resorts is being sold to a Colorado ski partnership – LA Times". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Snow Summit History, 1952-Present". Snow Summit. 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Snow Summit and Bear Mountain". Big Bear Mountain Resorts. 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Snowmaking & Grooming". Snow Summit. 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
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