November 24, 2009

     After receiving heavy snowfall for nearly two weeks, it was only a matter of time until first tracks were put down on Angel Peak.  On Tuesday morning, November 24^th, 49° North Mountain Resort Owner and President John Eminger and his Sr. Staff loaded two snow cats and made their way to the summit of Angel Peak to christen the largest resort expansion project in Washington State this year. 
     The group made their way down the run Angel Heart, which cuts straight down the middle of Angel Peak proper, crossed lost Dutchman, and exited at the bottom of the West Basin.  With 6-10 inches of fresh powder on top of a good base layer, the whooping and laughing that echoed through the trees said it all. 
     “This is where all of the hard work finally pays off,” said Eminger after making fresh tracks down the first half of the run.   “It is one thing to see the runs from the air or from the road, but when you can actually get on it and experience the slope itself, that’s when you know you did it right.”


                            Getting Geared Up On Angel Peak Summit       Photo: Curt Bishop


                                              Picking the Line                            Photo: Curt Bishop


                                             Skier:  John Eminger                      Photo: Curt Bishop


                                           Skier: Brad Northrup                         Photo: Curt Bishop


                                           Skier: Rick Brown                            Photo: Curt Bishop


                                      Skier: Terry Richmond                           Photo: Curt Bishop


                                                 Skier: Eric Bakken                     Photo: Curt Bishop

November 23, 2009

     The smiles said it all.  After receiving over two feet of new snow in a two week period, 49° North had what many customers called the best early season opening in recent memory.  On Saturday, November 21^st, with temperatures in the upper 20’s and plenty of fresh snow on the edges of the groomed runs, few could believe it was only late November.
     “In the 9 years that I have worked here, I have never seen the mountain in this good of shape so early.” said Brad Northrup, the resort’s Marketing Director.  “The heavy snowfall we received in the weeks leading up to our opening day had a good amount of moisture in it that provided us with near perfect base building conditions, and the new snowfall we picked up Saturday night and throughout the day on Sunday only made things better.  You really have to give the credit to Mother Nature and our grooming crew.”  See the Opening Day TV coverage here.
     Turnout for both Saturday and Sunday was about average, with about ¾ of the parking lot full on both days.  The resort had groomed 32 of the 34 open runs, and lift lines were non-existent.  Coverage on the main groomed runs, such as Silver Ridge, Huckleberry Ridge, Bugaboo, and Big Bear was more like that of late December or early January.  Combined with the fresh powder just off the beaten path, few had trouble finding that perfect run on their first day of the 2009-2010 Season at 49° North.
     49° North will be open Tuesday, November 24^th with Chairs 1,3, and 5 operating from 9:00am to 3:30pm.  The resort will be closed Wednesday, November 25^th, but will open again on Thursday (Thanksgiving), November 26^th and will remain open through Monday, November 30^th.  From Thanksgiving Day through Sunday, November 29^th, 49° North will be operating all chairs with Holiday pricing in effect.


                                  Anonymous Happy Skiers at Chair 1 base        Photo:Brad Northrup  11/21/09


                                                                     Base area on Saturday             Photo: Brad Northrup  11/21/09

 
                                                        Skiers and Riders on Silver Ridge            Photo:Brad Northrup  11/21/09


                                                 Skier:Christian Harris     Run:Silver Jack         Photo:Brad Northrup 11/22/09

October 01, 2009

            49° North Mountain Resort is excited to announce that the development of Angel Peak has been completed! Angel Peak is a 5295’ sub peak of the Chewelah Mountain crest and is located northwest of the summit of Chewelah Mountain. The project began in July of 2009 and was a collaboration between 49° North and the United States Forest Service.

Photos taken by Brad Northrup

 

August 28, 2009

Chances are you have read about it or heard about it from friends. Here is the first sneak peek. Angel Peak is the largest addition to skiing and riding in the State of Washington this year! . This photo was taken 8.27.09 during a fly over and shows all seven of the new runs, and you can make out the gladed terrain just below the summit ridge. Just add snow!!

Photo: Brad Northrup 8.27.09