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.
14-681: Snowmass is a ski resort located in the Town of Snowmass Village near Aspen, Colorado . The ski area is owned and operated by the Aspen Skiing Company as part of the Aspen/Snowmass complex. It was opened on December 17, 1967 . Snowmass is the largest of the four Aspen/Snowmass mountains, comprising 3,362 acres (1,361 ha). The mountain is most notable for its wide cruiser runs, family-friendly atmosphere, and extensive ski-in/ski-out lodging. Despite its family reputation,
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
42-400: A day need lodging for sleep, rest, food, safety, shelter from cold temperatures or rain, storage of luggage and access to common household functions. Lodging is a form of the sharing economy . Lodging is done in a hotel , motel , hostel , or inn , a private home (commercial, i.e. a bed and breakfast , a guest house , a vacation rental , or non-commercially, as in certain homestays or
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
126-427: The home of friends), in a tent, caravan/ campervan (often on a campsite ). Lodgings may be self-catering, whereby no food is provided, but cooking facilities are available. Lodging is offered by an owner of real property or a leasehold estate , including the hotel industry , hospitality industry , real estate investment trusts , and owner-occupancy houses. Lodging can be facilitated by an intermediary such as
140-503: 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: Lodging Lodging refers to the use of a short-term dwelling , usually by renting the living space or sometimes through some other arrangement. People who travel and stay away from home for more than
154-852: The most vertical feet of skiing of any ski area in the United States, but only when the Cirque poma is running. There are 17 lifts at Snowmass: 7 high-speed quads (Two Creeks, Elk Camp, Alpine Springs, Sheer Bliss, Coney Glade, Sam's Knob, High Alpine), two high-speed six packs (Village Express, Big Burn), two gondolas (the Sky Cab - better known as the "Skittles" and Elk Camp Gondola), two quads (Meadows and Assay Hill), 1 double (Campground) and two pull lifts (Scooper and The Cirque). 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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#1732772457036168-532: The resort also contains several terrain parks, extensive extreme skiing terrain, mogul runs , and gladed terrain. Snowmass has undergone massive changes in recent history, including a new gondola cnnecting the base and mall in 2005 and new gondola at the new Base Village in 2006. Snowmass has also constructed a new restaurant near Elk Camp, replacing Cafe Suzanne with a large, brand-new restaurant in 2012. Today, Snowmass continues its extensive improvements to on-mountain infrastructure and lift repairs. Snowmass has
182-413: 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 )
196-499: 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
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