SoCal ski hills: a typological analysis of a cultural landscape

Ski hills are complex cultural landscapes. Changes in the ski industry, the rise of environmentalism, and the onset of climate change and the resulting shifts in weather patterns, have had a dramatic impact on this now somewhat threatened resource type. These issues have affected ski hills throughout North America, but especially in the context of Southern California, where winter recreation has always had a tenuous existence due to inconsistent snowfalls. This thesis analyzes and outlines the typological elements of ski hills as cultural landscapes, with a particular focus on historic Mountain High, California. Through site analysis and examination of a handful of precedents, this thesis develops a framework for the evaluation and conservation of ski hills as cultural landscapes.