A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing , snowboarding , and other winter sports . In Europe, most ski resorts are towns or villages in or adjacent to a ski area –a mountainous area with pistes (ski trails) and a ski lift system. In North America , it is more common for ski areas to exist well away from towns, so ski resorts usually are destination resorts , often purpose-built and self-contained, where skiing is the main activity.
14-593: The Gschwandtkopf is a mountain south of the ski resort of Seefeld in Tirol in the Austrian state of Tyrol . It is 1,495 metres high. There are two inns at the summit: the Ötzi Hut and the Sonnenalm . The Gschwandtkopf rises prominently above the surrounding Seefeld Plateau by some 300-400 metres. The summit is located about 1.5 kilometres south-southwest of the centre of Seefeld, about 1.5 km west-northwest of
28-524: A basic first aid facility, and some kind of ski patrol service to ensure that injured skiers are rescued. The ski patrol is usually responsible for rule enforcement, marking hazards , closing individual runs or areas as conditions require, and removing (dismissing) dangerous participants from the area. The typical ski area base includes a ticket office, ski lodge , ski school , equipment rental/repair shop, restaurant/bar, shopping, shuttle bus stop and parking. Some ski resorts offer lodging options on
42-516: A day lodge at each base area and also at mid-mountain, summit, or remote locations within the ski area. Ski lodge can also refer to a resort area hotel such as Timberline Lodge in Oregon, or a ski club owned building with meeting space and overnight accommodations for members. Notable ski lodges include Skoki Ski Lodge in the Skoki Valley of Alberta, Canada's Banff National Park which
56-646: A derivation of the Old Norse skíð via Norwegian , the choice of French is likely attributed to the early popularity of such activities in the French Alps , with which it was then linked. As rising temperatures, receding glaciers and declining snowfall affect the environment, resort development and operations also have an environmental impact on land, lakes, streams, and wildlife. Amenities and infrastructure such as concrete buildings, ski lifts, access roads, parking lots, and railways have contributed to
70-740: A large slope. They also need to receive sufficient snow (at least in combination with artificial snowmaking , unless the resort uses dry ski slopes ). High concentrations of ski resorts are located in the Alps , Scandinavia , western and eastern North America , and Japan . There are also ski resorts in the Andes , scattered across central Asia , and in Australia and New Zealand . Extreme locations of non-indoor (at least one ski lift outside) ski resorts include: The ski industry has identified advancing generations of ski resorts: The term ski station
84-450: Is a term for entertainment, nightlife or social events that occur specifically at ski resorts. These add to the enjoyment of resort-goers and provide something to do besides skiing and snowboarding . The culture originated in the Alps, where it is most popular and where skiers often stop at bars on their last run of the day while still wearing all their ski gear. Though the word "ski" is
98-455: Is also used, particularly in Europe, for a skiing facility which is not located in or near a town or village. A ski resort which is also open for summer activities is often referred to as a mountain resort . Ski areas have marked paths for skiing known as runs, trails or pistes . Ski areas typically have one or more chairlifts for moving skiers rapidly to the top of hills, and to interconnect
112-411: The urbanization of mountainous zones. In recent years, the use of snow cannons by many ski resorts has increased to compensate for reduced levels of snowfall. In order to sustain good quality snow coverage, snowmaking requires large amounts of water and sometimes the creation of artificial lakes . Snow cannons also introduce a noise element. The required infrastructure can affect erosion through
126-646: The foot of its northern slopes. It is also one of several ski areas at Seefeld. There is an eponymous chairlift from Seefeld to the summit and two shorter T-bar lifts at the bottom of the piste: the Olympialift and the Brunnenlift . Until 2013, another chairlift, the Sessellift Reith , used to run from Auland to the top. The majority of downhill runs are easy (blue) but there is at least one marked medium (red) route. There are also three lifts on
140-516: The increased area of impervious surfaces , redirecting the flow of water runoff . Many resorts are taking steps to reduce their energy and water consumption and waste production, increase recycling, and restore habitats. Initiatives aimed at addressing environmental concerns include: Ski lodge A ski lodge or day lodge is a building located in a ski area that provides amenities such as food, beverages, seating area, restrooms, and locker rooms for skiers and snowboarders. Larger resorts have
154-598: The neighbouring Brennenkopf (1,494 m) linking the village of Mosern with the ski area on the Geschwandtkopf. There is a rodelbahn from the top to Auland. Around the base of the mountain are several cross-country skiing runs which are part of an extensive network in the Seefeld area. Ski resort Ski resorts are located on both Northern and Southern Hemispheres on all continents except Antarctica . They typically are located on mountains , as they require
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#1732787921985168-413: The slopes themselves, with ski-in and ski-out access allowing guests to ski right up to the door. Ski resorts often have other activities, such as snowmobiling , sledding , horse-drawn sleds , dog-sledding , ice skating , indoor or outdoor swimming and hot tubbing , game rooms, and local forms of entertainment, such as clubs, cinema, theaters and cabarets . Après-ski (French for after skiing )
182-499: The various trails. Rope tows can also be used on short slopes (usually beginner hills or bunny slopes). Larger ski areas may use gondola lifts or aerial tramways for transportation across longer distances within the ski area. Resorts post their trail map illustrating the location of lifts, trails, services and the ski area boundary, and during the ski season issue a daily snow conditions report listing open trails, operating lifts and weather status. Ski areas usually have at least
196-644: The village of Auland and 2.5 kilometres east-northeast of Mösern. The mountain is bounded to the west and northwest by the Möserer Tal valley, to the east and northeast by the Seefeld Plateau and to the south by the Hoher Wand , a high rock face above the Inn valley . At the northeastern foot of the Geschwandtkopf is the picturesque bathing lake of Wildsee . The Geschwandtkopf has an Olympic ski jump at
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