#9 — MT.BAKER, WASHINGTON
WEBSITE: MTBAKER.US
VERTICAL: 1,500 feet
ACREAGE: 1,000
SNOWFALL: 650 inches
TICKETS: $48 (2009-10)
Mt. Baker is a freak of nature. It gets pounded with double the snowfall of other resorts in the area (and the country), and Baker’s inbounds terrain can hold its own. But that’s not the most important feature. What’s really unique is the bounty of hike-to and backcountry terrain — some of the best in the Northwest — that can be reached from Baker’s lifts. The laid-back locals, coupled with the snowfall and backcountry access make Baker a must-visit resort. And remember, Baker got 1,140 inches of snow in the ‘98/’99 season, so keep your fingers crossed for another record-breaking year.

THE TOP 12
#1 Whistler/Blackcomb, BC
#2 Aspen/Snowmass, CO
#3 Sqaw Valley, CA
#4 Jackson Hole, WY
#5 Mammoth Mountain, CA
#6 Alta/Snowbird, UT
#7 Breckenridge, CO
#8 Telluride, CO
#9 Mt. Baker, WA
#10 Big Sky, MT
#11 Copper Mountain, CO
#12 Park City, UT