Crystal Mountain buzzed with activity Thursday as ski patrollers marked runs, cooks loaded freezers and the beer man rolled kegs off his truck, all in preparation for Friday’s season opening.
Thanks to more than a foot of new snow that fell in the 24 hours prior to Thursday afternoon, plus snowmaking operations, the area will open Green Valley to snowboarders and skiers.
Crystal is just one ski area across the Cascades opening today or Saturday. Some see the early openings as a good omen.
“A pre-Thanksgiving opening date is always a plus and typically serves as a good indicator of a long and plentiful winter season,” said Dan Brewster, general manager at The Summit at Snoqualmie.
“There was such a good year last year. Plus, it’s only been three months since we stopped skiing so they haven’t had a lot of time to forget about us,” said Tiana Enger, Crystal’s marketing director.
“That has skiers really excited. I think there’s a lot of anticipation for another good year with lots of snow and another long season,” she said.
At Crystal, the gondola and Green Valley lift will start running at 9 a.m. The last upload will be at 3:30 p.m. and the last download will be 4 p.m. That area has only intermediate and advanced runs. Beginner runs could open as early as Saturday.
People hitting the slopes will find plenty of powder. It was a foot deep in places Thursday.
The issue is the base conditions. The groomed areas have the best base and will be the safest. People opting to go off piste will likely hit a rock or some other obstacle beneath the top layer of soft snow. That is the case at the other areas.
“We don’t recommend bringing new equipment as thin snow coverage does exist,” Enger said. Crystal’s rental and demo shop will not be issuing equipment, since it’s all new this season. If you want rentals, people will need to get them in town, Enger said.
The inconsistent snow coverage didn’t dissuade more than two dozen people who couldn’t wait for today’s opening. Thursday morning and afternoon, a steady stream of people hiked to the top and skied down.
Lift tickets will be $35 on Friday. Prices for the rest of the weekend will be determined by how many lifts are running. Enger said the plan was to get Chinook Express and Forest Queen Express chairlifts running Saturday.
In addition to grooming runs, crews were racing to stock pantries and complete last-minute work elsewhere at Crystal. At the Day Lodge, the Cascade Grill will be open for breakfast and lunch, while the Chinook Cafe will be open to serve espresso, snacks, beer, wine and alcoholic beverages. The Bullwheel will open Saturday and The Summit House will serve only lunch. Full operations there will begin Nov. 26.
Friday’s opening is welcome by more than skiers and snowboarders.
The phone at Alta Crystal Resort has been ringing consistently since the opening announcement was made, said resort co-owner Vivian Cadematori.
“There has been a lot of publicity about this being a La Nina year, and last year was pretty phenomenal, so I think people are excited for winter to start,” Cadematori said.
During last weekend’s screening of the latest Warren Miller Entertainment film in Bellevue, Cadematori said the number one question was “when we thought Crystal would open.”
“So yes, there’s a lot of pent-up demand,” she said.
Openings elsewhere
Mount Baker also opens today, following 16 inches of new snow falling Wednesday. Both base areas will be open and operate at least six chairlifts, but early season conditions exist. With near normal operations, lift tickets will be full price. Tickets are $46 for adults midweek and $51 on weekends and holidays.
Whistler Mountain in British Columbia opens today, six days earlier than planned. The Emerald Express, Big Red Express and Franz’s Chair lifts will be served Creekside and Whistler Village gondolas, running 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Blackcomb Mountain is scheduled to open Nov. 24.
The Summit at Snoqualmie will open runs at Summit West on Saturday.
“Twelve inches of snow in the past 72 hours, combined with last weekend’s storm system and a favorable forecast are allowing this earlier-than-average opening,” said Brewster, the general manager.
Summit West will be open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with limited operations. Just the Pacific Crest, Little Thunder, Dodge Ridge and Julie’s chair lifts will be open. The terrain park will be open with some features and a few jib lines. Lift tickets will be $35 for adults, $30 for youth and $12 for kids.
The area will shut down Monday and Tuesday before re-opening Wednesday.
Stevens Pass is another area opening Saturday, its third earliest season opening in the last 25 years. The area will be open 9 a.m-4 p.m., running its Daisy and Brooks chairlifts. With early-season conditions and limited operations, all-day lift tickets will start at $25.
Mission Ridge, on the eastern slopes of the Cascades, also will open Saturday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Terrain will be limited to the area covered by snowmaking equipment. Lifts tickets will be $40 for adults, $26 for seniors 62 and older, $35 for 13-17 years, $25 for youths 7-12 and $9 for kids 6 and younger.
White Pass is the lone Cascades area not open this weekend.
“After a complete survey of the hill, the crew has determined that there is not sufficient coverage at this time,” said spokeswoman Kathleen Goyette. “We are now looking at a midweek opening.”
If you prefer your snow fun a little less organized, conditions at Mount Rainier National Park might be good enough for snowshoeing and skiing.
As of Thursday afternoon, there were 34 inches of snow on the ground at Paradise.
That will be enough to attract people, but might not be enough to protect the fragile meadow plants.
“There were a lot of people skiing last weekend, but they were ripping the plants right out,” said Casey Overturf, a ranger at the Longmire Museum.
“I’m sure there are places that are suitable. As long as people are willing to go a little distance, a half mile or a mile, I’m sure they can find some good snow,” Overturf said.
Peter Haley contributed to this report.
Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640 jeff.mayor @thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/adventure
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