Mountain Air (Sakhalin) is the best ski resort on the island, and, possibly, in Russia. It opened back in the distant sixties of the twentieth century and immediately gained immense popularity. Competitions for the Cup of the Soviet Union have been held here repeatedly. For the convenience of the athletes, they built a hotel, which was completely renovated before the Winter Olympics in Sapporo. After the collapse of the USSR, this complex was badly damaged, but since 2004 it began to rebuild again. In this article we will talk about what this pearl of Sakhalin is currently.
Where is it, how to get here
Mountain Air (Sakhalin) is located on the slopes of Mount Bolshevik 600 meters high. Its southern and western sides are dotted with slopes for skiers. And the mountain itself is located on the territory of the city of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, or rather, east of its center. You can fly here by plane, arrive by your own car or arrive by train. Direct flights to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk are carried out from Moscow, Vladivostok, Khabarovsk or Novosibirsk. You can get here by train with transfers. First you should come to Vladivostok. Then take a ferry to the port of Kholmsk on Sakhalin. Swim for a long time, about a day. And from there take the bus number 516. He will take you to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. But that is not all. After all, you still need to get to the resort. If you arrived by plane, then take the bus 63 at the airport. You need to get off at the Chekhov Center stop. Then you switch to another city bus - 34 or 62. They take you to Victory Square. This is the mountain complex “Mountain Air” (Sakhalin). We can say that it is located right in the center of the city. And if you arrived not by plane, but by ferry and minibus? The same buses will deliver you from the bus station of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Just sit on them at the stop "Main Post Office".
When to go, ski passes
When does the ski season on Sakhalin Island begin? Ski resort "Mountain Air" is open from December to early May. The fact is that the local climate is very peculiar. Frost is felt strongly, winter is long and extremely snowy. Precipitation falls literally every two days, often there are snowstorms. Therefore, this severity creates good conditions for skiing. To ride on the slopes of the complex, you need to purchase an advance ski pass. You can pay it both in cash and by card. A day of skiing costs 1200 rubles. A subscription for a week will cost eight thousand.
Trails
Mountain Air Resort (Sakhalin) is equipped with a convenient gondola lift that takes skiers to the upper platforms. Each cabin accommodates eight people. There are two more chairlifts and one ski lift. There is a cableway in the summer. Then the tourists just go up to enjoy the views of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. The resort has 14 runs. Their total length is 25 km. The longest - more than four kilometers, and elevations - up to 500 m. Here, at the height of the season, all the necessary services work - ski and snowboard rental, luggage storage, a team of instructors, lifeguards. Trails of varying difficulty, there are special sections for children and those who are just learning to ski. A separate winter park with jumps has been built for snowboarders. Skating lasts from nine in the morning until ten in the evening. In the dark, tracks are highlighted. Each slope has its own lift. The mountain base “Mountain Air” (Sakhalin) is open daily, except Monday.
Where to live, après ski. Summer fun
Many people come to rest in the complex “Mountain Air” (Sakhalin) for at least a few days. Therefore, the question of where to stay will not be idle. But this is not a problem at the resort. The hotel is at the camp site itself. In addition, in its vicinity more than thirty hotels of different levels of prices and comfort. This is a luxurious "Imperial Palace", and the complex "Metos". There are simpler hotels - “Komandor”, “Gagarin”, “Rubin”. And the hotel "Santa Resort" is located very close to the ski slopes. On the territory of the base itself there are good cafes where you can have a great lunch. Visitors recommend Liana. And in the "Coffee Bar" great pastries and hot drinks. A playroom is open for very young children. Every day, the Mountain Air Base (Sakhalin) organizes festivals, concerts, art exhibitions. Very often there are all-Russian competitions of professionals in winter sports, such as, for example, “Snow Carnival”. And in summer, the base invites tourists to hiking and cycling. There are many marked trails and paths. Companies can order a game of paintball, and fans of extreme sports can fly a paraglider.
Reviews
Tourists and skiers who come here to spend their holidays or weekends have the most positive impressions. Excellent funiculars with beautiful views. The ride is breathtaking. Many restaurants where inexpensive and eat and drink. Modern equipment and ski infrastructure. Experienced travelers who have happened to be in Alpine resorts claim that Sakhalin is not much inferior to them. The complex is developing, and during the season there are not only Russians, but also guests from abroad. Roomy cabins, tracks for all tastes and strengths - from green to black. And for those who visited the Mountain Air base (Sakhalin) in summer, the photos of the surrounding mountains and unique nature are simply wonderful.