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.
20-692: Mt. Baw Baw Alpine Resort is a small Australian downhill ski resort located approximately 120 kilometres (75 mi) east of Melbourne and 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of the Latrobe Valley in Victoria . The Alpine Resort is an unincorporated area which is surrounded by the Baw Baw National Park and the Australian Alps Walking Track passes nearby. The summit of Mount Baw Baw (1567m) falls within
40-458: A " destination resort " that provides accommodations and activities or a "resort town" that offers amenities near outdoor areas. They include winter sports like skiing , snowboarding , and ice skating and summer activities such as hiking , golf , and tennis . Sightseeing and related activities, such as leaf peeping to appreciate fall colors, are also common where foliage turns. In hot climates, hill and mountain resorts are visited for
60-524: 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
80-646: 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
100-740: 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
120-410: A mainland Australian region). Summers are cool with temperatures rarely rising above 25 °C (77 °F); summers can also be very cold, with a maximum temperature of just −0.4 °C (31.3 °F) recorded on 25 December 2006, and 1.0 °C (33.8 °F) on both 11 Jan 2012 and 16 Feb 1998. During the 2009 Victorian heatwave most of the state saw highs of above 45 °C (113 °F), while
140-450: 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
160-455: 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
180-410: Is considered an ideal resort for novice downhill skiers and boarders and for families. The resort also provides access to over 10 km of groomed cross country ski trails. Mount Baw Baw has a subpolar oceanic climate ( Cfc ). The mountain summit receives more annual precipitation than most places in mainland Australia, with frequent and heavy snow between May and October but can occur at any time of
200-708: The Himalayas and in mountainous areas of South India known as "hill stations", where they could escape the summer heat of the plains. In the 18th century, in China , the emperors of the Qing dynasty built the Chengde Mountain Resort as a retreat from the summer heat of Beijing . In Pakistan , the Galyat areas are a popular summer destination. They are also a favorite spot for a cold snowy experience in
220-411: 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
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#1732780860464240-556: The boundaries of the resort and is accessible by lift or walking trail. The resort is also a base for cross-country skiing on the Baw-Baw Plateau. The resort is the closest downhill ski resort to Melbourne and takes 2.5 hours to reach. Road access to the resort is via the Mount Baw Baw Tourist Road (from the west) or the unsealed South Face Road (from the east). In 2018, Mt. Baw Baw is set to become
260-484: The cooler temperatures at higher elevations. In the United States and Canada the term "mountain resort" usually denotes a resort visited all year round, both for winter sports and summer activities, such as hiking , golf , tennis , and mountain biking . Some North American mountain resorts - both resort towns and individual venues - include: In British India , the colonial rulers developed resorts in
280-624: 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: Mountain resort A mountain resort is a place to holiday or vacation located in an elevated and typically at least relatively isolated area. The term resort implies integral hotel or inn accommodations, restaurants, and either or both sports facilities or scenic attractions like birdwatching . These can be part of
300-636: The second ski resort in Australia to operate a TechnoAlpin Snow Factory capable of producing snow in any outdoor temperature. The Mt Baw Baw alpine resort has 7 surface lifts which provide access to its 15 ski runs and toboggan areas: Maltese Cross T-Bar, Summit T-Bar, Big Hill Poma, Painted Run T-Bar, Tank Hill Platter, Hut Run Platter and the Magic Carpet. The resort categorises 25% of runs as beginner, 64% intermediate and 11% advanced. Mt Baw Baw
320-413: 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 )
340-427: The temperature on Mount Baw Baw's summit reached a comparatively cool maximum of just 31.3 °C (88.3 °F). The resort is operated by Alpine Resorts Victoria who are responsible for management of all 6 Victorian ski resorts. 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
360-499: 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
380-656: The winter. Murree, Ayubia, Nathiagali, and Kalabagh are some of the popular places. Other places like the Northern Areas which include Gilgit Baltistan and Kashmir are also a choice. In the Philippines , the American colonial government built its first summer capital in Baguio to escape Manila 's heat. In Turkey , city dwellers traditionally spent summer vacations at mountain resorts known as yaylas to escape
400-412: The year (as well as a persistent snowpack ). Frequent, heavy cloud cover and strong winds mean that minimum temperatures rarely drop below −5 °C (23 °F), whereas maximum temperatures are frequently at or below 0 °C (32 °F); the mountain is often shrouded in low cloud or mist in winter, thereby reducing diurnal range. The mean afternoon relative humidity of 80%, is extreme (especially for
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