Marquette Mountain

Marquette Mountain

View from Marquette Mountain
with Lake Superior in the distance
Marquette Mountain
Location of Marquette Mountain in Michigan
Location Marquette, Michigan,
 United States
Nearest city Marquette: 3 miles (5 km) from downtown Marquette
Coordinates 46°30′29″N 87°25′12″W / 46.508°N 87.42°W / 46.508; -87.42 (Marquette Mountain)Coordinates: 46°30′29″N 87°25′12″W / 46.508°N 87.42°W / 46.508; -87.42 (Marquette Mountain)
Vertical    457 ft (139 m)
Top elevation 1,257 ft (383 m)
Base elevation    800 ft (244 m)
Skiable area 169 acres (0.68 km2)
Runs 25
- 15% easiest
- 50% more difficult
- 35% most difficult
Longest run 1.25 miles (2.0 km)
Lift system 3 chairlifts, 1 tow
Lift capacity 5,200 / hr
Terrain parks 3
Snowfall 210 in (530 cm)
Snowmaking 100%
Night skiing 5 nights / wk [1]
Website Marquette Mountain.com
Base of Marquette Mountain

Marquette Mountain is a winter sports area for skiing and snow boarding, located within city limits a few miles south of downtown Marquette, Michigan, the major city in the state's Upper Peninsula. In the summer, Marquette Mountain offers activities such as mountain biking, and volleyball. The base area's parking lot is adjacent to highway M-553.

Popular from the start, the ski area opened in late 1957.[2][3][4] It was originally known as Cliffs Ridge, as it operated on land leased from the Cleveland-Cliffs Iron Company of Cleveland, Ohio.[5] The first chairlift, a Riblet double, was installed on the skier's right side of Rocket Run in the fall of 1972.[6][7] Previously, there were 2 T-bars (the original Constam[8] on the skier's left of Rocket and a newer Hall Ski-Lift on the skier's left of Snowfield) and several rope tows. The ski area was renamed "Marquette Mountain" in 1982.[9]

Marquette Mountain is host to alpine race events for numerous clubs, as well as their own race program. They also host NASTAR races.

Panoramic image inside the "T-Bar"

The hill has a summit elevation of 1,257 ft (383 m) above sea level and a vertical drop of 457 ft (139 m). It has three chairlifts and a rope tow, snowmaking, night skiing, and receives an average of 210 in (530 cm) of snowfall annually, the grateful recipient of lake effect snow from nearby Lake Superior, prominently visible to the north and northeast. The shore of the lake's Marquette Bay is just two miles (3 km) to the northeast. Ten miles (16 km) to the south is the extensive runway of the county's Sawyer International Airport; it opened in 1999 on the site of the former K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base, which closed in 1995.

The National Ski Hall of Fame is in Ishpeming, about twelve miles (20 km) west of Marquette.

References

  1. ↑ Marquette Mountain.com - mountain information
  2. ↑ "Ready new ski center". Milwaukee Sentinel. September 23, 1957. p. 6-part 2.
  3. ↑ "Thar's gold in them hills". Milwaukee Sentinel. November 14, 1957. p. 1-part 4.
  4. ↑ "UP boasts last 'resort' for skiers". Milwaukee Sentinel. March 5, 1958. p. 7-part 2.
  5. ↑ Dooley, Don (February 5, 1967). "Hill With Great Lakes View". Milwaukee Journal. p. 3-part 4.
  6. ↑ "Cliffs Ridge Ski Area to be improved". Milwaukee Sentinel. May 2, 1972. p. 5-part 1.
  7. ↑ "Chairlift OK'd for ski area". Milwaukee Sentinel. May 10, 1972. p. 10-part 1.
  8. ↑ "Cliffs Ridge area plans new lift". Milwaukee Sentinel. November 27, 1969. p. 10-part 2.
  9. ↑ Terrell, Mike (November 23, 2009). "Marquette Mountain Is A Longtime Mainstay In Michigan's UP". On The Snow.com. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
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