Bear Mountain (ski area)

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Bear Mountains
Bear Mountain Ski Resort, Big Bear Lake, California
Bear Mountains Location in California Bear Mountains Bear Mountains (the United States) Show map of CaliforniaShow map of the United StatesShow all
Location	Bear Mountain San Bernardino National Forest
Nearest major city	Big Bear Lake, California
Coordinates	34°13′36″N 116°51′37″W / 34.2267°N 116.8602°W / 34.2267; -116.8602Coordinates: 34°13′36″N 116°51′37″W / 34.2267°N 116.8602°W / 34.2267; -116.8602
Vertical	1,665 ft (507 m)
Top elevation	8,805 ft (2,684 m)
Base elevation	7,140 ft (2,180 m)
Skiable area	748 acres (303 ha)[1]
Runs	62 total 15% beginner 15% low intermediate 40% intermediate 30% advanced[1]
Longest run	Geronimo 1.5 mi (2.4 km)
Lift system	12 lifts: 3 quad chairlifts, 2 triple chairs, 4 double chairs, 3 surface lifts
Lift capacity	16,590 skiers/hr
Snowfall	100 in (250 cm)
Snowmaking	100%
Night skiing	None
Website	http://www.bearmountain.com/

Bear Mountain, formerly Goldmine Mountain, is a ski area established in 1969, in the San Bernardino National Forest in Southern California United States. It is located by Big Bear Lake, two miles apart from its sister resort, Snow Summit; these two resorts operate under the same management collectively known as Big Bear Mountain Resorts (BBMR).

Resort[]

Bear Mountain comprises three main peaks: Bear Peak, Silver Mountain, and Goldmine Mountain. Bear Peak's 8,805 ft (2,684 m) summit is Southern California's highest peak served by a lift. With an average of 100 in (250 cm) of natural snowfall, the mountain relies heavily on artificial snowmaking, as nearly all other ski resorts in Southern California. Since establishing the first freestyle park in the early 1990s, Bear Mountain has continued to be a leading innovator in freestyle ski and snowboarding, along with terrain park building. The mountain contains one of the few Superpipes in Southern California and given sufficient natural snow, its tree runs are open for skiing and snowboarding, unlike those at Snow Summit. Even territory normally "out of bounds" off of Chair 8 has opened after heavy snow.

For decades, Snow Summit and Goldmine mountain operated independently, as fierce rivals.  In 1988, S.K.I. ski area operating company bought Goldmine, changing its name to Bear Mountain. In 2002 Snow Summit purchased Bear Mountain and developed Big Bear Mountain Resorts, allowing skiers and snowboarders to use a single ticket at both resorts. Snow Summit's Richard "Dick" Kun led the move to focus Bear Mountain upon snowboarders, to draw them away from Snow Summit and thereby attune it once more to the culture of the dedicated skier and families. Bear Mountain acquired the nickname "The Park" because most of it comprises irregular terrain.

Bear Mountain trails[]

References[]

External links[]

• Official website