Ski Bluewood

Ski Bluewood, formerly known as "Bluewood Ski Area," is an alpine ski area in the northwestern United States, in southeastern Washington. Located in Columbia County, at the northern end of the Blue Mountains in the Umatilla National Forest, the elevation at the base area is 4,545 feet (1,385 m) above sea level, with a summit of 5,670 feet (1,728 m) for a vertical drop of 1,125 feet (343 m). The northward-facing slopes are about four miles (6.5 km) north of the Oregon border and fifty miles (80 km) west of Idaho, part of the headwaters of the Touchet River, the main tributary of the Walla Walla River.

Ski Bluewood
Ski Bluewood is located in Washington (state)
Ski Bluewood
Ski Bluewood
Location in Washington
Ski Bluewood is located in the United States
Ski Bluewood
Ski Bluewood
Ski Bluewood (the United States)
LocationUmatilla National Forest
Columbia County,
Washington, U.S.
Nearest major cityDayton - 22 mi (35 km)
Walla Walla - 52 mi (84 km)
Coordinates46.082°N 117.851°W / 46.082; -117.851
Vertical1,125 ft (343 m)
Top elevation5,670 ft (1,728 m)
Base elevation4,545 ft (1,385 m)
Skiable area530 acres (2.1 km2)
Runs24
- 27% easiest
- 43% more difficult
- 30% most difficult
Longest run2.2 miles (3.5 km)
Country Road
Lift system2 triple chairs - (fixed-grip)
2 Magic Carpet
Lift capacity3,950 / hr.
Terrain parks1
Snowfall300 inches (760 cm)
Snowmakingnone
Night skiingnone
Websitebluewood.com

The only surface access to the base area of the mountain is through Dayton, 22 miles (35 km) to the northwest and nearly 3,000 feet (900 m) below on North Touchet Road. Though the summit is only about twenty miles (30 km) due east of Walla Walla as the crow flies, Ski Bluewood is about an hour's drive as Dayton is thirty miles (50 km) northeast on U.S. Route 12. In addition to Walla Walla, Bluewood is the closest alpine ski area (in mileage) to the Tri-Cities to the west, and the closest chairlift-served area to Lewiston-Clarkston.

History

Originally conceived in the 1960s,[1] and created by Skyline Basin Associates during the 1970s,[2][3] the ski area's original name (as a concept) was "Skyline Basin."[4][5] After years of planning, fundraising, and approval procedures, the ski area opened as "Bluewood Ski Area" in January 1980.[6][7]

The second season of 1980–81 was a very poor snow year,[8] with only three days of skiing,[9] and the fledgling ski area filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August 1981.[9][10] Auctioned off two years later and acquired by Rainier Bank,[11] it was purchased for $550,000 in October 1983 by Portland executive Stan Goodell, a former president of the ski patrol at Mount Hood. To distance itself from the past financial difficulties, Goodell renamed it "Ski Bluewood" and relocated to Dayton to run the area himself.[12][13]

An expansion in the summer of 1986 added parking and the Triple Nickel, a triple chairlift to serve the instructional area with a vertical rise of 400 feet (120 m).[14] It joined the existing lifts, the Skyline Express triple chair and Easy Rider platter lift, which was relocated.[15][16]

Alpine skiing

Of its 24 runs, Bluewood has 4 green circles (easiest), 12 blue squares (more difficult), and 8 black diamonds (most difficult). Additionally, there is one terrain park and six backcountry runs. The area is open five days per week, Wednesday through Sunday, plus holidays. Bluewood has a reputation for dry powder snow, tree skiing, and a family-friendly atmosphere.

Will Brandenburg, a World Cup racer with the U.S. Ski Team, learned to ski and race at Bluewood in the 1990s.

Base Facilities

Ski Bluewood facilities include a full-service ski/snowboard rental department, retail shop, patrol services, ski and snowboard learning center, cafe, and pub.

Bluewood is one of the few resorts in the country that is 100% self-sufficient, generating all of its own electric power via diesel generators. There are two diesel generators in the basement, one that runs the lodge at night and the other that runs the lodge and the two electric chair lifts during the day. The main chairlift (Skyline Express) has its own separate diesel powered generator, connected via a clutch and fluid coupler. The Triple Nickel and pama lifts are electric and uses power from the main diesel generators, located in the basement of the lodge.

References
  1. "Bids being accepted for new ski resort". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. March 5, 1969. p. 13.
  2. Tripple, Frankie (January 15, 1971). "Ski area near Dayton to feature easy drive, challenge". Lewiston Morning Tribune. p. 19.
  3. "Ski area permit planned". Spokane Daily Chronicle. July 11, 1973. p. 35.
  4. Campbell, Gay (December 17, 1979). "Uphill racer". Spokesman-Review. p. 6.
  5. Levenson, Bob (December 10, 1979). "Legislators blast loan guarantee". Spokesman-Review. p. 6.
  6. Earl, Larry W. (December 28, 1990). "Ski Bluewood is one of the state's best-kept secrets". Spokesman-Review. Weekend. p. 10.
  7. Baechler, Phil (March 8, 1980). "Schuss! The blues are gone from Bluewood". Spokesman-Review. p. A10.
  8. Tri-City Herald - Bluewood area hardest hit by snow drought - 1981-01-13 - p.25
  9. "Effort underway to save ski resort". Bend Bulletin. UPI. November 11, 1982. p. C10.
  10. Tri-City Herald - Bluewood offer - 1981-07-05 - p.2
  11. "Bluewood ski area to be sold". Spokesman-Review. Associated Press. May 11, 1983. p. A7.
  12. Tri-City Herald - Sale should keep Bluewood ski area operating all season - 1983-10-09 - p.C1
  13. "New Bluewood owner out to make resort go". Lewiston Morning Tribune. Associated Press. November 16, 1983. p. 4C.
  14. "Ski Bluewood to add lift, parking". Spokesman-Review. staff and wire reports. April 3, 1986. p. A13.
  15. Tri-City Herald - Work on Ski Bluewood lift beginning July 1 - 1986-04-04 p.D2
  16. Halstead, Jeff (March 20, 1987). "A gem in the Blue Mountains". Spokane Chronicle. Weekend. p. 9.
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