From 40,000 feet, flying over southern Indiana, chances are that the white patch of snow or two that you’ll see on a clear day are Perfect North Slopes.
To most outsiders, midwestern skiing is 30 second runs on hills hardly boasting 300 vertical feet.
People tend to gloss over ski resorts in lesser known midwestern U.S. states, be it Missouri, Iowa, Ohio, or Indiana. Many weren’t known to have ski destinations on a national level until Vail began acquiring locations in 2019 with its purchase of Peak Resorts.
One of these purchases was Paoli Peaks in Southern Indiana. This made people question why Vail would be interested in a small 300-vertical-foot, 65 acre ski area in Southern Indiana.
And critics were right. Since the corporation’s purchase, the hill has averaged about two to four weeks of operations. According to Vail, this is due to higher temperatures and climate change affecting one of the lowest northern skiable borders not at elevation. Every year the season seems to be pushed back. Seasons get shorter, ten snow days of the past turn to ten sleet and rain the next year.
Yet critics fail to see the passion behind these hills. People coming from small farm towns or flat suburban neighborhoods have the opportunity to experience what was once reserved for an exclusive group of people.
Despite these issues, the true local hill of Indiana standing at 400 feet vertical and 100+ acres of terrain has never failed to amaze the toughest midwestern skiers. It seems its snow guns are tuned to turn on as soon as the temperature drops below 29 degrees. Whether it’s September with 70+ degrees/sun in the forecast or late March, the passion this hill has for skiing is unmatched.
As an Indiana native who has had the ability to explore some of the greatest snow and locations known to the ski community, the passion found at Perfect North is unmatched. Despite warmer weather trends we all have noticed these last few years, they never fail to offer one of the longest seasons in the Midwest—even at low latitude and elevation.
This passion from such a small hill is what fuels their dedicated locals to achieve such success. Rope tow laps have created an Olympian, an X games gold medalist, backcountry guides, and many other accomplished skiers across the freestyle/freeride discipline.
It’s what has inspired some to create skis out of planks to test on the infamous run ‘Center Stage’. Some drive two hours each way after school/work multiple times a week to join the passion for a sport so few from the Midwest get to experience.
Despite seeing the world and some of the greatest skiing it can offer, Perfect North will always be home for so many who choose to excel at the sport we all love.
Thank you Perfect!
