Many of the area's people descend from slaves who fled cocoa plantations at the mountains' feet, and older residents still speak a French Creole.
Families with intermediate to advanced skiers flock to Flagstaff Mountain (9,100 feet), Bald Mountain (9,400 feet) and Deer Valley's highest peak, Empire Canyon (9,570 feet).
He was born in 1900 in Zermatt, at the mountain's foot: a remote village of only 750 people, with tourism a small but burgeoning industry.
Seoul's satellite towns, with their multi-lane highways, high-rise apartment blocks, outdoor golf driving ranges and bowling alleys, have almost reached the mountain's foot.
After the region's second powerful earthquake, on Tuesday, they had to abandon their vehicle and medical supplies as they made their way down a mountain by foot.
They then walked up the mountain, on foot, as requested, and their inspection resulted in four violations against the coal company.
Several peaks exceed 6,000 feet (1,800 metres), including San Rafael Mountain (6,593 feet [2,010 metres]) and Big Pine Mountain (6,828 feet [2,081 metres]), the highest point.
The highest peaks are Łysica (2,008 feet [612 m]) and Łysa Mountain (1,946 feet [593 m]), both in the Łysogóry range.
For families with small children, Bald Eagle Mountain (8,400 feet) and Little Baldy Peak (7,950 feet) in the Deercrest area provide plenty of wide-open beginner trails.
The highest range in Scandinavia, its tallest peaks are Glitter Mountain (8,084 feet [2,464 metres]) and Galdhø Peak (8,100 feet [2,469 metres]).
