The restrooms at Wild Mountain, Minnesota

Wild Mountain regularly makes national news as the first ski area in the country to open for the season. It's noteworthy for another, less glamorous fact: You never have to walk down a flight of stairs to use the restroom. And if you're a germophobe, you're in luck: All restrooms are configured in a way that don't require you to open a door.

There are three public restrooms at Wild Mountain, all in the chalet. One is on the main level, and two are upstairs. Let's start on the main level. The men's room has one long urinal trough, and three stalls. In the stalls you'll find wire baskets hanging on the wall above the toilet water tank. This is a nice touch; it lets you put down your gloves or mittens while doing your business. The restroom has two sinks, two soap dispensers, and two automatic paper dispensers. The floor, as it is in the other restrooms, resembles what you'd find in a Burger King or McDonalds restaurant.

Now to the upstairs. The party room has its own set of restrooms. The men's room has three urinals (no partitions between them) and three stalls. The stalls don't have baskets, a curious omission. If you're on the tall side, be careful: You may knock your head on the angled ceiling.

The restroom has two sinks, two soap dispensers, and two automatic paper towel dispensers. There's also roughly a six-inch step down into the restroom from the party room, so watch your step!

The bar has the best restroom in the building. There are two chairs near the entrance, which you can sit on to adjust your boots. Though the restroom is attached to the bar, it's also the most child-friendly facility of the three. One of the two automatic towel dispensers is set at a lower height, as is one of the three soap dispensers. There are two sinks.

There are no partitions near the two urinals, though one is lower than the other. Both of the stalls have baskets above the toilet water tank, and the handicapped-accessible stall also has a chair and diaper-changing deck.

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, St. Paul Snowboarding Examiner

John R. LaPlante has ridden at resorts across the USA, including those in New Hampshire, Colorado, California, and Alaska. He calls the Twin Cities home, and has held a season pass at four different ski areas in the region. As someone who learned to ski and then ride as an adult, he welcomes new...

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