Mission Ridge

Those traveling the flat portions of eastern Washington will eventually hit the east side of the Cascade Range. Near the central part of the state, Mission Peak rises just to the south of Wenatchee. The Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort rest on the north slopes, offering winter fun to guests in the area.

Interstate 90 runs to the south of the area, and US Route 2 and Washington Highway 28 will get motorists to Wenatchee. Pangborn Memorial Airport is just east of town for those looking to fly into the ski area.

Surprising Sun in the Cascades

One thing that visitors to the Mission Ridge ski resort will be surprised by is the sunshine. In a state famous for its cloud cover, the area gets 300 days of sun each year. Plankers will need their goggles so that they do not go snow blind while having fun.

That does not mean that Mother Nature will not dump on the resort. It receives about 200 inches of snowfall annually, so there are opportunities to cut fresh tracks after a storm. It is worth noting that the snowfall amounts are lower here than for other resorts in the region, partly due to the ski area's location.

Those lower snowfall amounts resulted in the Mission Ridge ski area adding snow-making capabilities in 1978 and expanded them in 2005. Today, snow-making equipment includes 80 hydrants covering 70 acres of terrain and an 18 million gallon reservoir.

The Mission Ridge ski resort offers rippers and shredders 2,000 acres of skiable terrain that includes bowls, chutes, groomers, and backcountry terrain for those feeling a bit more adventurous. Since opening in 1966, the resort tends to open sometime in November and stays open until April most years.

Big Skiing in a Little Resort

The Mission Ridge ski area may not be the largest in the region, but it does provide plenty of thrills for plankers. A base elevation of 4,570 feet matches up with a peak elevation of 6,820 feet. That produces a vertical rise of 2,250 feet that visitors can use to express their talents.

Over 50 runs make up the trails in the Mission Ridge ski area. They provide 10-percent green ranks for newbies, 60-percent blue ranks for intermediates, and 30-percent black diamond ratings for advanced plankers. The longest run here is less than a mile in length, so runs are shorter than on other mountains.

Six lifts move rippers and shredders around at Mission Ridge, including two rope tows. A lift capacity of 4,910 guests each hour is possible, but that does not mean there are lines and waiting times. The resort does not receive the foot traffic that other ski areas in the region, which fits well with the casual atmosphere.

The Mission Ridge ski resort's Hampton Lodge sits at the base of the mountain resort and provides the amenities here. Services include a bar, restaurant, shop, and car rental center. Wenatchee also provides skiers and snowboarders with services just a few miles from the mountain.