Not many people know there is a ski area 30 miles away from and 8000 ft above the city of Tucson, AZ. Mt. Lemmon Ski Valley has been on my hit list for many years and today I finally checked it off the list. Being where they are located and relying completely on natural snowfall, they are lucky to have a month or two of skiing per season if they even open at all. The ski area offers 200 acres and 900' of lift served terrain nestled in north facing valley filled with old growth trees. The base lodge sits at 8200 ft and the summit is 9100 ft. There are two double chairs, the main summit lift and a feeder lift on the beginner terrain. This place is a total throwback to old days, no snow making, old snow cats, minimal grooming, stinky old lodge and no f*cks given. These things just happen to be everything that make me like a ski area. Add in the fact that the terrain is incredibly well setup with steeps, bumps, glades in old growth forest, and nice cursing groomers and you have everything you could want in a nice small package. I skied for a few hours and even though the snow conditions were not the best I did not find myself wanting to leave. My pics really do not do this place justice. It was a blast to ski and if any of you ever get the chance to check it off your list I highly recommend it.
Parking lot looking at the base lodge/ticket office/gift shop
$45 lift ticket, take that Vail
Looking down Hot Dawg towards the base area with a good view of the two lifts
Base terminal, lift is named Clarence?
Up the main run
Heading up Clarence towards the summit
Top terminal of Clarence and summit
View from the top with Tucson in the distance
Random ski run pics
Parking lot looking at the base lodge/ticket office/gift shop
$45 lift ticket, take that Vail
Looking down Hot Dawg towards the base area with a good view of the two lifts
Base terminal, lift is named Clarence?
Up the main run
Heading up Clarence towards the summit
Top terminal of Clarence and summit
View from the top with Tucson in the distance
Random ski run pics
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