For their own safety, first-time snowriders are shepherded to a specific area near the base of the resort. The terrain
is not, however, the typical, flat, parking-lot variety to which many other ski areas relegate beginners. The trails
are wide and gentle but with just enough of a pitch to challenge novice snowriders. They are real confidence builders.
The Red, Buttercup, and Daisy chairs provide access to these trails and are located to the left of the lodge as you look up the mountain.
December 29, 1969
Baker lies in one of the highest portions of the Cascade Mountains, surrounded by peaks such as the ski area's namesake Mount Baker (10,750 feet) and neighboring Mount Shuksan (9,270 feet). These colossal mounds rise dramatically from the coastal lowlands much like Mount Rainier and Mount Adams. The two towering peaks and surrounding terrain act like a mainline injection of steroids to the local precipitation levels. Area crewmembers spent much of their time during the winter digging out trail signs 20 feet tall, or even extending them. Baker simply gets buried every single year.
December 29, 1969
Most of Cooper Spur's seven trails are rated intermediate to lower advanced. Round About is the steepest run and tends
to get bumped up after a busy weekend. The rest of the trails are groomed on a regular basis and cover short rolling
slopes that are all below the treeline.
Novice skiers and boarders spend their time in the rope tow area. The slope is
nearly flat and right outside of the lodge.
Snowboarding highlights
December 29, 1969
Anthony Lakes is working harder than ever to attract more and more snowboarders, and the effort is paying off as 35 to 40 percent of their skier visits are one-plankers. With tons of natural snowboard-friendly terrain and a multitude of
manmade features, Anthony Lakes is a freeriding paradise. One of the area's signature runs is a natural quarterpipe
known as The Gully. Boarders can access The Gully by turning left from the top of the double chair and following the
signs to Star Bottle. Technically a 50-foot-long snow-filled creek bed, The Gully sports a 40-foot-high wall of snow.
December 29, 1969
What a difference a decade makes. In 1983, snowboarding wasn't even permitted at Big White. Boarders had to hike up the
mountain in order to ride the area's bountiful terrain. Now that snowboarding is a permanent part of the resort
equation, one-plankers from all over Canada are trekking to Big White in increasing numbers. Certain sections of Big
White can now best be described as winter skate parks.
December 29, 1969
Snowboarders have also benefited from The Summit's new owners, as evidence by a newly purchased halfpipe grooming
machine. The area now sports two halfpipes and a terrain park at Summit West and a halfpipe at Summit Central. All
three pipes and the park are lit for night riding. They are so popular that even after the area shuts down for the
season, boarders continue to ride them as long as the snow remains.
December 29, 1969
At the base of the resort there are four chairlifts and a rope tow providing access to the area. The chairlift circuit
is in good working condition, but there aren't any high-speed quads on the mountain. Despite the chairs being a little
slow, the good news is that there usually aren't any lift lines.
December 29, 1969
Chair Two, the Grubstake, provides an exclusive entrance into 49 Degrees North's snowboard park. With the only Pipe Dragon in
the Inland Northwest, the resort pulls off an Olympic-size halfpipe every year that runs 350 feet long, 12 feet tall,
and 48 feet wide. Above the pipe is a snowboard park replete with natural and manmade obstacles, including tabletops,
spines, a quarterpipe, and hits both big and small. The park continues to grow each year as the new owners dedicate
December 29, 1969
Snowriders who learn to ski and snowboard at Alpental are equipped to ride anywhere in the
world. From the top there is no easy way down. All the trails are steep and demanding. Every named run is rated with at
least one black diamond, and many are double black diamonds. Moreover, the snow conditions at Alpental are erratic - a
result of the fluctuations in temperature, a relatively low altitude, and the frequent rainfall. Which is why Alpental
skiers and boarders have no choice but to become proficient snowriders.
At the peak, the snow can be wind-blown
December 29, 1969
At last Apex has set aside some terrain specifically for snowboarding. The Apex Mountain Dew Boardercross Terrain Park
is now officially open for business, and business is thriving. Area crewmembers have turned the Claim Jumper trail into
a terrain park replete with tabletops, spines, hips, and quarterpipes. Situated at the mountain's lower half, the park
offers 750 feet of challenging fall-line riding and is accessible from the T-bar at the hill's base. The T-bar climbs
December 29, 1969
