# Mont Ripley > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mont_Ripley > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mont_Ripley.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Ripley > Source revision: 1337618257 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Ski area in Michigan, United States Mont Ripley Ski Area View looking east towards Michigan Tech and Portage Lake on a clear day Mont Ripley Ski Area Location within Michigan Show map of Michigan Mont Ripley Ski Area Location within the United States Show map of the United States Location Franklin Township, Houghton County, Michigan, United States Coordinates 47°08′N 88°34′W / 47.13°N 88.56°W / 47.13; -88.56 Status Operating Owner Michigan Technological University Vertical 440 ft (134 m) Top elevation 1,140 ft (350 m) AMSL Base elevation 700 ft (210 m) AMSL Skiable area 112 acres (0.2 sq mi; 0.5 km2) Trails 31 16% easiest 35% more difficult 42% most difficult 6% expert only Longest run 0.7 mi (1.1 km) Snowfall 275 inches (22.9 ft; 7.0 m) Snowmaking Yes Website www.mtu.edu/mont-ripley **Mont Ripley Ski Area** (Often shortened to **Mont Ripley**, or simply **Ripley**) is a ski hill located in [Franklin Township](/source/Franklin_Township%2C_Houghton_County%2C_Michigan), Houghton County, in Michigan's [Upper Peninsula](/source/Upper_Peninsula). The site is just outside the cities of [Hancock](/source/Hancock%2C_Michigan) and [Houghton](/source/Houghton%2C_Michigan). It is owned by [Michigan Technological University](/source/Michigan_Technological_University). It was founded in the early 1900s by Fred Pabst Jr. (and managed by Fred Lonsdorf[2]). With the addition of [snow making](/source/Snow_making) in 2000, the season has been extended from late November to late March or early April. Mont Ripley is known for its challenging terrain and views of [Houghton](/source/Houghton%2C_Michigan) and [Portage Lake](/source/Portage_Lake_(Keweenaw)). It is also commonly used by racers.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] ## History Whole of Mont Ripley in January 2012, with the [Quincy Smelter](/source/Quincy_Smelter) in the foreground Mont Ripley opened in 1934. In 1944 it was taken over by Michigan Technological University.[3] In 2006, a new building was built to ease congestion in the main chalet. The new chalet has a gas fireplace and added seating, as well as more lockers. It is mainly used for special events such as races and parties. Mont Ripley also purchased eight more snow making guns to add to their capability to get all the runs open earlier in the season.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Also in 2006, a second chair lift, dubbed the "Copper Hoist", was purchased and was built on the east side of the hill in 2007, making it easier for skiers and snowboarders to use those runs, raising the lift count to three (2 chair lifts and one t-bar) A flood on June 17, 2018, significantly damaged the two easternmost ski runs on the hill (Powderstash and Deer Track Trail).[4] Both runs were repaired during the summer of 2022[5] and reopened the following winter. ## Hill modifications through the years Mont Ripley has been a part of Michigan Tech since the early 1940s giving it the distinction as the oldest ski area in Michigan and becoming an important recreational feature of the Houghton-Hancock area.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] The hill has experienced a series of evolutionary modifications since its creation, and continues to operate as a modern ski facility. Western portion of Mont Ripley Ski Area in autumn View of the [Portage Canal](/source/Keweenaw_Waterway) from Mont Ripley during Autumn - 1936 - Mont Ripley Forms local Ski Patrol - 1938 - Mont Ripley becomes a Member of the [National Ski Patrol](/source/National_Ski_Patrol). - 1941 - Alpine becomes a varsity sport at the Michigan College of Mining. - 1945 - The Michigan College of Mining and Technology leases land from the [Quincy Mining Company](/source/Quincy_Mine) for $1.00 per year to expand the operational area. - 1948 - Mont Ripley installs six 1500 watt lights to illuminate the tow line for night skiing. - 1965 - A T-bar lift is installed, continuing operation today. - 1965 - W. F. Milford & Son are contracted to build a chalet at the base of the hill. - 1971 - The first chairlift is installed at Mont Ripley west of the T-bar, with a capacity of 1100 skiers per hour. This lift is still operational and is named the Husky Chair Lift. - 1997 - An all hill illumination system is installed, allowing for full night skiing capabilities. - 2007 - The second two-seat chairlift is installed east of the T-bar, which is named the Copper Hoist. This chairlift was purchased from Big Bear ski resort in California, and refurbished by Superior Tramway.[6][7] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Mont Ripley, MI"](https://liftblog.com/mont-ripley-mi/). May 18, 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Bishop, Bob & Whitlock, Flint (1993). *Soldiers on Skis: A Pictorial History of the 10th Mountain Division*. Paladin Press. p. 191. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-87364-676-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-87364-676-2). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Mont Ripley, Michigan"](https://books.google.com/books?id=UTTr2R42Yd8C&pg=PA51). *Ski*. November 1974. p. 59. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Katerberg, Kali (July 31, 2018). ["Eastern runs out at Ripley"](http://www.mininggazette.com/news/2018/07/eastern-runs-out-at-ripley/). *The Daily Mining Gazette*. Houghton, Michigan. Retrieved August 1, 2018.{{[cite news](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_news)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Mont Ripley"](https://m.facebook.com/login.php?next=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2FMontRipley%2Fposts%2F5407895779253467%2F&refsrc=deprecated&_rdr). Retrieved March 18, 2024 – via Facebook. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Call, S. Michael. ["Ski Area Safety Board Board Meeting Minutes"](http://www.dleg.state.mi.us/bcsc/forms/ski/100507.pdf) (PDF). Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth Bureau of Commercial Services – Licensing Division. Retrieved December 9, 2014. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Nordberg, Erik (1999). *Mont Ripley Ski Hill Chronology*. ## External links - [Mont Ripley](http://www.skimontripley.com) - Official site - [Mont Ripley Ski Patrol](http://patrol.students.mtu.edu/) - Official site v t e Michigan Technological University Campus Campus buildings Sherman Field MacInnes Student Ice Arena Memorial Union Building Mont Ripley Seaman Mineral Museum Athletics Blizzard T. Husky Great Lakes Invitational Men's ice hockey Student groups WMTU-FM Other Alberta, Michigan Michigan Tech Research Institute Winter Carnival American Center for Mobility v t e Mountains of Michigan Huron Mountains Mount Arvon Mount Curwood Others Bald Mountain Big Powderhorn Mountain Black Mountain Boyne Mountain Briar Hill Crystal Mountain Marquette Mountain Mont Ripley Mount Desor Nub's Nob Pine Knob Pine Mountain Porcupine Mountains Waterford Hill --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mont Ripley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Ripley) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Ripley?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.