Dodge Ridge Ski Area, Pinecrest, California

Dodge Ridge Ski Area is in the Stanislaus National Forest, 162 miles east of the San Francisco Bay area, northwest of Yosemite National Park and southwest of Lake Tahoe.

(209) 965-3474, info@DodgeRidge.com

SnowPhone: (209) 536-5300

Mail: P.O. Box 1188, Pinecrest, CA 95364

Physical Address: 1 Dodge Ridge Road, Pinecrest, CA 95364

Employment at Dodge Ridge:

Dodge Ridge has full-time and part-time seasonal positions available in all departments.  See the Dodge Ridge Ski Area employment page.

Mountain Facts

Resort Opening:

1950

Vertical Drop:

1,600 ft.

Summit Elevation:

8,200 ft.

Base Elevation:

6,600 ft.

Terrain Acreage:

862

Beginner:

20%

Intermediate:

40%

Advanced:

40%

Total Runs:

67

12 Lifts Total:

1 quad, 2 triples, 5 doubles, 1 T-Bar, 1 rope tow
Conveyor 1 & 2 reserved for snowsports school only (for the safety and security of our children)

Terrain Parks:

3+ Progression terrain parks, located throughout the mountain – snow accumulation dependent

Longest Run:

Stagecoach, 2 miles

Typical Season:

December through April

Earliest Opening Day:

October 30, 2004

Avg. Snowfall Range:

300-500 Inches
2010/11 Season:
643 Inches

Lift Hours:

9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day

GPS Coordinates:

38° 11′ 24.43″ N
119° 57′ 25.19″ W

Over $1.5 million in improvements for the 2015/16 Season at Whitefish Mountain Resort

Montana ski area continues to enhance the guest experience from beginner learning areas to infrastructure at its summit

Whitefish Mountain Resort is looking forward to entering the 2015/2016 season with several exciting mountain improvement projects that will enhance the experiences of its guests on and off the mountain including remodeling its Summit House, their mountaintop lodge. All projects will be complete in time for Opening Day scheduled for Saturday December 6, 2015.aturday, December 6, 2015.

“It’s very gratifying that we are able to continue to reinvest in the resort following last year’s addition of Flower Point and we are looking forward to more exciting upgrades for our guests. Similar to the last two years of improvements at the Base Lodge, this winter we will offer our guests added comfort and amenities in the Summit House,” Whitefish Mountain Resort CEO Dan Graves said. “Additionally we’re making several other improvements around the resort as part of our commitment to upgrading our infrastructure and in direct response to customer feedback.”

The Summit House remodel includes the addition of a mezzanine level with 1,600 square feet and approximately 135 seats, and new windows providing northwestern views. Restrooms have been added to the main floor as well as an expansion of the main entry. Additionally all of the windows were replaced, and a remodel of the entire exterior including new siding, stonework, trim and lighting brings the building into a new era.

As the only mountaintop restaurant in the state of Montana, the Summit House is known for its panoramic views of Glacier National Park and the Flathead Valley. With the new mezzanine level and its windows facing the northwest, the Summit House will now provide its guests with 360-degree views from its 6,817-foot summit. The ski area’s summit can be reached by two of the resort’s high-speed quad lifts, Big Mountain Express and Big Creek Express, and is a gathering place for its guests with skiing in all directions.

Also at the summit, the resort has said goodbye to its iconic yet under-sized patrol cabin to make room for a new Ski Patrol Headquarters building. At 800-square feet the new building is more than four times the size of the old cabin and will enable patrollers to treat minor injuries on-site instead of transporting to the clinic in the Base Area. The building will also include a kitchen accommodating patrollers during their daily shifts, which will allow them to stay at the summit where they can be dispatched to most incidents. To complete the summit upgrade, the two lift maintenance and operation buildings have been given a new exterior to match the Summit House and Patrol HQ.

In addition to projects at the summit of the mountain the resort will be enhancing its beginner terrain near the base of the mountain. Crews moved dirt and blended grades in order to widen the beginner-friendly area accessed by the Easy Rider lift. This project will relieve congestion on for adult lessons as well as provide more variety to kids’ lessons.

The resort has made several changes in the Upper Village to improve the guest experience this season. A new coffee shop is being built just steps away from the resort shuttle and free S.N.O.W. Bus stop so skiers and snowboarders can get their fix on the way to the lifts.

Additionally Snow Ghost Outfitters has moved into a new space just up the boardwalk and Village Rentals has taken over its former spot making both locations centrally located. Also Village rentals will now sell skis, snowboards, boots, bindings and poles while Snow Ghost will focus on soft goods and gifts. Village Rentals is the only shop in Whitefish that offers customers multiple demos in a single day. Customers will now be able to demo, purchase and mount new gear in a single location.

Finally the resort has bolstered its wireless internet by adding new Wi-Fi access points in the Base Lodge, Upper Village and Summit House. Lodging guests and the day skiers will find better coverage and faster service.

About Whitefish Mountain Resort

Since 1947 Whitefish Mountain Resort has welcomed skiers and riders seeking a mountain that is uncrowded, beautiful and affordable. Rising above the town of Whitefish, in beautiful northwest Montana, in the backyard of Glacier National Park (only 35 miles away), the resort charms its guests with a friendly fun-loving vibe, variety of terrain, and virtually no lift lines at an unbeatable value. Whitefish’s Big Mountain is the quintessential skier's mountain averaging more than 300 inches of snow annually on 3,000 acres of bowls, chutes, and glades on all aspects.

When the snow melts, Whitefish Mountain Resort becomes home to thrilling zip line tours, Montana’s only alpine slide, an aerial adventure park, lift-accessed downhill and cross-country mountain biking, and the unique Walk in the Treetops. Since the 1950s visitors have enjoyed Scenic Lift Rides and hiking the mountain’s ski slopes in search of Huckleberries. It is the perfect base camp for a summer visit to Montana’s majestic Flathead Valley home to water sports, fly fishing, whitewater rafting, and of course Glacier National Park. Call 877-SKI-FISH or visit skiwhitefish.com for more details.

28th ANNUAL SKI MAGAZINE READER’S POLL NAMES WHISTLER BLACKCOMB No. 1 SKI AREA IN NORTH AMERICA FOR 2016

Whistler Blackcomb Also Tops Survey Results For Terrain Variety, Off-Hill Activities, Après and Terrain Parks

Whistler Blackcomb has been named the No. 1 overall best ski resort in North America by the 28^th annual SKI Magazine Reader’s Poll. This is the third time in four years and the second year in a row Whistler Blackcomb has topped the survey results. The SKI Magazine Reader’s Poll is the longest running and most comprehensive survey of its kind.

12" - 16" of Snow at Big Sky in September! It's Going to Be a Big Ski and Ride Season!

Ski Patrol at Big Sky Resort reports 16+ inches of snow at the top of Lone Peak and 12" of snow in the Bowl mid-mountain of Lone Mountain. These photos were taken September 18, 2015 by Brin Merkley.

It's going to be a great winter.  Cannot wait to ski and ride Big at Big Sky Resort!

WHISTLER BLACKCOMB TO CELEBRATE 50TH ANNIVERSARY DURING 2015.2016 WINTER SEASON

What’s New Highlights Include Newly Renovated Rendezvous Lodge and New WB+ Platform

Whistler Blackcomb is looking forward to the 2015.2016 winter season for many reasons, not the least of which is an upcoming 50^th anniversary. The resort has been lauded for advancements in the skiing, snowboarding, and mountain biking industries over the years; but this year, Whistler Blackcomb will let the accomplishments speak for themselves.

“Whistler Blackcomb has always been about pushing the envelope,”

says Dave Brownlie, President and CEO of Whistler Blackcomb. “We like to be first, to go big, and to surpass guest expectations over and over again. This season we want to showcase what we’ve achieved over the past 50 years while looking forward at what is yet to come.”

Whistler Blackcomb’s official opening day is scheduled for November 26, 2015. Here is what guests can expect this season:

50 Years of Going Beyond

Originally opening for skiing in the winter of 1965-66 and founded on the dream of one day hosting the Olympic Winter Games, Whistler Blackcomb has been going beyond to leave its mark on the ski and snowboard industry since day one. This will be a celebratory winter season with a number of activations lined up to give Whistler Blackcomb the acknowledgment it deserves for 50 years of striving to be the best, including a 50th anniversary party at the Roundhouse Lodge on December 12 and a 30 minute short film documenting Whistler Blackcomb’s colourful past titled,50 Years of Going Beyond. To learn more about Whistler Blackcomb’s 50^th anniversary, please visit whistlerblackcomb.com/50.

Newly Renovated Rendezvous Lodge

Guests visiting Blackcomb Mountain this winter season will notice the Rendezvous Lodge has had a facelift. The Rendezvous Lodge underwent a massive renovation this summer and will open its doors with an increased capacity and improved functionality. The building has a brand new look to complement the new and fresh customizable menu options in the food court, including Japanese ramen bowls and a Thai inspired wok station where flavourful rice or noodle dishes are finished with authentic sauces and garnishes. The Mexican taqueria will offer made to order burritos, tacos and salads; and the grill is serving up naturally raised, hormone and antibiotic-free chicken and beef burgers, Ocean Wise salmon sandwiches, as well as a plant-based option.

The New Christine’s Restaurant on Blackcomb Mountain

A total revamp of Christine’s restaurant was included in the Rendezvous Lodge renovation this summer, and it has elevated the fine dining experience on Blackcomb Mountain. Christine’s will open for the 2015.2016 winter season with a fresh new look, a new menu and a new chef, coming to Whistler Blackcomb this winter from Hawksworth Restaurant in Vancouver. Steve Ramey, an avid climber, hiker, and snowboarder, is well suited to life in the mountains and will use his culinary prowess to reimagine the menu for Christine’s. 

WB+

Whistler Blackcomb will be introducing WB+ this winter season, a new online interactive platform connected to the ski resort’s RFID technology introduced last year, giving guests the option to create a personal profile in order to collect stats and data about their days on the mountains. By scanning lift passes at the RFID chairlift access gates located around Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains, guests will be able to keep track of personal stats including their number of days on the slopes and total vertical ridden. Customized privacy settings will allow users to make their WB+ profiles accessible to friends, family members and work colleagues, allowing groups to create goals and fun challenges throughout the winter.  WB+ profiles will also allow visitors the option to reload winter lift passes and EDGE Cards online throughout the year to avoid line ups and better manage their remaining days on passes and cards. 

New Snowmaking on the Horstman Glacier

This winter season, Whistler Blackcomb will conduct a new snowmaking pilot project aimed at preserving the Horstman Glacier on Blackcomb Mountain. The pilot project will involve the testing of four low-energy consumption snowmaking guns in the Horstman Hut area to determine if a full-scale snowmaking system is an option to prevent further recession of the Horstman Glacier. A snowmaking system on the Horstman Glacier could improve the early season access to glacier skiing and snowboarding during the winter and preserve our summer glacier experience for guests to enjoy in the future. If the pilot project is conclusive, this unique project will become a significant addition to Whistler Blackcomb’s list of adaptations to ensure long-term resilience against climate change.

New Whistler Blackcomb Website

Whistler Blackcomb will head into the coming winter season with a brand new website. This is the biggest overhaul whistlerblackcomb.com has ever seen and features a whole new look and feel with some exciting enhancements, including a new booking engine to enhance the guest experience, an improved photo, video and blog section, and a new winter/summer toggle so users can easily flip between seasonal content. The new site is also responsive, making it mobile and tablet friendly.

Rossignol Dynastar Lange (RDL) Rental Boutique

Located in the Blackcomb Daylodge at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, the new RDL premium rental boutique offers guests a unique rental experience and exceptional service. The rental boutique offers personalized service from specialists who will guide guests through Rossignol, Dynastar and Lange ski equipment tailored to suit every need. The product offering is diverse and tuned to perfection, including race, powder and backcountry skis, and junior and high-end ski boots that offer support and comfort. The RDL premium rental boutique offers guests the flexibility to try different skis to suit various conditions and terrain.

Early Booking Offers

To celebrate the 50^th anniversary, Whistler Blackcomb is offering early booking Ski & Stay Packages; guests can save up to 40% off before November 15, 2015. Learn more here:whistlerblackcomb.com/bookearly.

Whistler Blackcomb continues to offer early bird family pricing; for example, kids are FREE this winter. Children 12 and under stay, ski, rent and transfer free as long as they are with a paying adult. For more information and other family friendly deals, visit whistlerblackcomb.com/family.

Visitors from across Canada and the world can access early booking deals with discounted flights from Toronto, Montreal, New York, San Francisco, Sydney and more. For more information, visit whistlerblackcomb.com/flights.

About Whistler Blackcomb

Whistler Blackcomb, the official alpine skiing venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, is situated in the Resort Municipality of Whistler located in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia 125 kilometres (78 miles) from Vancouver, British Columbia. North America’s premier four season mountain resort, Whistler and Blackcomb are two side-by-side mountains which combined offer over 200 marked runs, 8,171 acres of terrain, 16 alpine bowls, three glaciers, receives on average over 1,163 centimetres (458 inches) of snow annually, and one of the longest ski seasons in North America. In the summer, Whistler Blackcomb offers a variety of activities, including hiking and biking trails, the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, and sightseeing on the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola. 

Proud to be a venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

Big Sky Montana The Biggest Skiing in America Highlights for Winter 2015-2016

Let It snow! is the song they're already humming at Big Sky Resort as a dusting of snow on Lone Mountain has us excited for winter and sad to see their summer season coming to an end on September 27th.

Terrain Park Total Recall

Swift Current Terrain Park – Summer dirt work has increased the size of the Swift Current Terrain Park by 25%, focusing on reducing the double fall line, improving the jump line with more enhanced jumps and jibs, and will help the park to open sooner. Located about half way from the top of the popular Swift Current chair lift, under the lift line. Closer to the bottom of chair lift is the Swifty 2.0 Terrain Park. 

New Stash Park – Into the woods at skier’s left of Swift Current Terrain Park is a new stash park, The Cache, providing small to medium features in a natural park style. The Cache will replace the traditional Freestyle Forest in the Moonlight Area, which has been redeveloped into a family friendly kid’s adventure area, Lost Frontier.

Terrain Parks Moved and Made New – Multiple terrain parks were moved over the summer to dedicate an efficient

terrain park area off of Wagon Train ski run located in the Moonlight area.  The upper part of Wagon Train will be a large terrain park replacing the Zero Gravity Park traditionally located off of the Park Avenue ski run, allowing Park Avenue to revert back to a world class groomer.  The new Peacemaker Terrain Park will have access from either Pony Express or Six Shooter chair lifts. A new smaller to medium terrain park, Maverick, is where Glacier Way intersects with Wagon Train, replacing the old Pony Park, making this a ski run must for terrain park riders.

Total Terrain Parks: Explorer (beginner), Cowpoke (beginner), Swifty 2.0 (intermediate), Maverick (intermediate), The Cache (advanced), Peacemaker (advanced), and Swift Current (advanced)       

New Family Friendly Kid’s Adventure Area – Lost Frontier is a wonderfully fun and playful area everyone in the family can enjoy located off the top of the Pony Express chair lift in the Moonlight area.

Glades Fresh & Green Improvements

New Glade Ski Run – White Magic intermediate ski run is the new fun and winding glade accessed via Swift Current chair lift on the skier’s right of Crazy Horse ski run below the confluence of Buffalo Jump ski run.  Approximately 3 acres of new terrain has been selectively thinned with deadfall and stump removal to create a new addition to the continually growing list of great glade skiing.

New Ski Way Connection – The new ski connection, named Comet, is a ski way providing easier access from below the Outer Limits ski run, accessed via Challenger chair lift, to the top of Six Shooter chair lift.

Glade Run Improvements – The use of the specialized Fecon mower has provided outstanding improvements on existing runs to provide an enhanced skiing surface which will help open the runs sooner. The Fecon mows re-growth, deadfall, and stumps. Saw crews have been assisting in areas the machine can’t get to which will allow more terrain to open faster. It’s a dirty job, but necessary when opening terrain as fast as possible and reducing fire danger in the summer.

Chair Lift Improvement – Lone Tree chair lift has been converted from a diesel generator to an electric drive which will save thousands of gallons of diesel emission and produce clean, quite power.

New Destination Charging Stations – Tesla car owners often craft their vacations and business trips around charging availability. Big Sky Resort will be hosting Tesla Connectors for our guests in our Summit Hotel garage.

Kids Ski & Play Free

FREE Skiing & FREE Kids Club - Kids 10 years old and younger ski FREE and enjoy Kids Club FREE, an après ski for kids, when staying with their family in Big Sky Resort managed properties of hotels, condos, cabins, or individual homes. Kids 5 years old and younger always ski FREE no matter where they stay.

FREE Skiing with Lesson - Kids 10 years old and younger, regardless of where they stay, ski FREE all day on the day they are enrolled in a lesson with our Mountain Sports School.

FREE ski & boot storage – It’s easy to get kids, and adults, on the slopes with FREE ski storage next Swift Current and Ramcharger chair lifts. Lodge in Big Sky Resort’s Huntley Lodge, Shoshone Condominiums, or the Summit Hotel and receive FREE slopeside ski storage and FREE boot storage with dryers.

FREE Movies - Nightly FREE movies in the Yellowstone Amphitheater rated G or PG.

NewSlopeside Neighborhood

The Homestead Chalets construction is underway for Big Sky’s newest ski-in/ski-out neighborhood. Nestled at the base of Lone Mountain, the 11 Homestead Chalets will each boast 3,500-3,700+/- square feet of beautifully appointed interiors as well as unparalleled ski access to the White Otter chair lift. With spaciously designed interiors, oversized windows, and ample outdoor living spaces, these 5- and 6-bedroom free-standing condominiums have been very well received by the lifestyle real estate buyer. The Homestead Chalets are located on Rising Bull Road near the popular Powder Ridge Cabins and are within a short ski or drive to the Mountain Village amenities.

Everett’s 8800 Restaurant

An elegant, rustic restaurant serving American Alpine Fare at the top of Andesite Mountain providing spectacular views of Lone Peak and ski slopes from the expansive deck and dining area with massive indoor/outdoor fireplaces and stunning décor. Brunch, lunch, and après ski served daily with dinners on Friday, Saturday, and Sundays. Originally constructed in 2007, this beautiful log restaurant opened again in December 2014.  Everett's 8800 is named after Everett Kircher who brought Big Sky Resort into the Boyne Resorts family in 1976 and the elevation on which it stands, 8,800 feet.

The Biggest Skiing in America

Space to Ski - 5,800 seamless skiable acres with 4,350 vertical drop and about 2 acres per skier, that’s more than a football field of room per skier.

More Slope Time - Ski more lines by not waiting in line. An average of 3,000 skiers per day, which is a fraction of skiers at metropolitan resorts of similar size.

Consistent Snowfall – Based on historical weather patterns, total annual snowfall of 400” fluctuates very little from year to year.

Terrain Variety – The best mix of beginner (15%), intermediate (25%), advanced (42%), and expert (18%) terrain for seamless skiing between 4 mountains served by 30 lifts with more than 300 runs.

Lone Peak – There is only one. Ride the Lone Peak Tram to 11,166 feet for 300° of skiing, views of 3 states, and 2 National Parks. Breathtaking to see, breathtaking to ski.

Events of Interest

January 16 & 23, 2016        SnoBar – An outdoor dance club made out of snow.

February 4-7, 2016             Big Sky Big Grass – Music festival of bluegrass music and more.

February 20, 2016               Dummy Jump – Creative dummies are launched off a snow jump to their demise.

March/April Saturdays        Sunset Saturdays – Ramcharger chair lift stays open until 5:00 pm each Saturday in March/April.

March 11-13, 2016             Headwaters Spring Runoff –Freeride competition for adults and juniors.

April 9, 2016                         Shedhorn Ski Mo – A ski mountaineering race on the extreme terrain of Lone Mountain.

April 16, 2016                      Pond Skim – Famous end of the ski season fun where participants ski over ponds of water.