Since February we’ve been asking readers of The News Tribune, The Olympian, the Idaho Statesman, The Bellingham Herald and the Tri-City Herald – the Northwest’s McClatchy newspapers – to tell us their favorite things about skiing and snowboarding in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and British Columbia.

After tallying the votes from 160 readers, we learned a lot about what you like.

Some of it we already knew (like the stuff about Whistler, Crystal, Sun Valley and chili).

And some of it was kind of surprising. (You picked the Summit at Snoqualmie as the best in 10 of 25 categories.)

Here’s a look at what you chose as the best of the Northwest coupled with the picks of our skiing writers: Craig Hill of The News Tribune, Chester Allen of The Olympian, and Roger Phillips of the Idaho Statesman.

BEST SKI AREA

GOLD: Whistler Blackcomb, 36.3 percent

More than 200 runs, 8,000 acres, four terrain parks, a vertical mile of skiing, North America’s largest base village, etc. etc.

SILVER: Crystal Mountain, 24.4 percent

It’s already well-known for its steeps and backcountry runs, and Crystal’s addition of the Northway Lift last season also makes it Washington’s largest ski area at 2,300 acres.

BRONZE: Summit at Snoqualmie, 7.5 percent

High marks from readers for the steeps at Alpental, a huge ski school, its large terrain park and easy access.

HONORABLE MENTION: Mount Baker, Mount Bachelor, Sun Peaks and Sun Valley.

OUR PICK: Whistler Blackcomb

This one is a no-brainer.

BEST FAMILY RESORT

GOLD: Summit at Snoqualmie, 16.9 percent

The flat slopes at Summit West are a perfect place to teach the kids. The tube park is also a good place for the family to play.

SILVER: White Pass, 13.8 percent

Just big enough to have something for everybody and small enough to make it tough to lose the kids.

SILVER: Whistler Blackcomb, 13.8 percent

The tubing park is open late so the family can keep racing down the slopes after dinner.

HONORABLE MENTION: Mount Bachelor, Big White, Crystal Mountain and Sun Peaks.

OUR PICK: White Pass

Cascade, the resort’s most popular run, is doable for beginners with some optional diamond slopes so the family can stick together without the best skiers getting bored.

BEST EXPERT RUN

GOLD: International, Alpental, 10.6 percent

Debbie Armstrong, the 1984 giant slalom Olympic champ, once said, “In terms of length and pitch, it’s an all-time great.”

SILVER: Powder Bowl, Crystal, 4.4 percent

Skiers on the Lucky Shot run often stop at the base of Powder Bowl to watch skiers take on this steep run.

BRONZE: Brain Damage, Crystal, 4.4 percent

If the name scares you off, your brain is working just fine.

HONORABLE MENTION: Exterminator, Pin Ball and Right Angle at Crystal, Whistler Bowl at Whistler Blackcomb

OUR PICK: The Couloir, Whistler Blackcomb

If this run doesn’t get your heart pounding, you’d better see a doctor.

BEST CRUISER RUN

GOLD: Queens Run, Crystal, 6.25 percent

The run drops 1,147 feet in about a mile and is tame enough that even new skiers will figure it out quite quickly.

SILVER: Bomber Bowl, Mission Ridge, 4.4 percent

The locals consistently list this run as one of the best at Mission Ridge.

SILVER: Peak to Creek, Whistler Blackcomb, 4.4 percent

It’s steep enough to entertain mom and dad, flat enough for the kids and long enough (3.3 miles) to wear everybody out.

HONORABLE MENTION: Lucky Shot and Downhill at Crystal, Beverley Hills at Mount Bachelor

OUR PICK: Bliss, Tamarack

Tamarack is only four years old, so this cruiser is still one of the Northwest’s best kept secrets.

BEST NIGHTLIFE

GOLD: Whistler Blackcomb, 41.3 percent

In Whistler Village you can get anything from ice cream and heifer PJs at Cow’s to a shepherd’s pie at the Dubh Linn Gate.

SILVER: Crystal Mountain, 8.1 percent

The Snorting Elk is the place to party when the lifts shut down. The bar stays open until the crowd is gone.

BRONZE: Sun Valley, 5 percent

If it’s good enough for Tom Hanks, Ernest Hemingway, John Kerry and Ashton Kutcher, then Sun Valley can probably entertain the rest of us, too.

HONORABLE MENTION: Mount Baker and Summit at Snoqualmie.

OUR PICK: Whistler Blackcomb

Tommy Africa’s go-go dancers probably give Whistler an unfair advantage in this department.

BEST TERRAIN PARK

GOLD: Summit at Snoqualmie, 25 percent

Last season the Summit started requiring a safety class to earn access to the terrain park.

SILVER: Whistler Blackcomb, 10 percent

Palatial terrain parks on each mountain lure some of world’s best freestyle boarders and skiers to play here.

BRONZE: Mount Baker, 3.8 percent

Baker’s terrain park is small, but its natural half pipe helped make Baker a snowboarding Mecca.

HONORABLE MENTION: Stevens Pass, Mount Bachelor.

OUR PICK: Mount Bachelor

Three terrain parks put this Oregon mountain on par with some of the best resorts in the country.

BEST GROOMING

GOLD: Whistler Blackcomb, 13.8 percent

From the village you’ll see headlights of snow cats grooming the runs high on the mountains all night long.

SILVER: Sun Valley, 7.5 percent

If you are looking for smooth, knee-friendly runs, Sun Valley is widely considered to have some of the best grooming in North America.

BRONZE: Crystal Mountain, 6.9 percent

Crystal is best known for the runs it doesn’t groom, but even the most hardcore skiers can’t resist ripping through Green Valley on fresh corduroy.

HONORABLE MENTION: Mount Bachelor, Summit at Snoqualmie, Mission Ridge, White Pass.

OUR PICK: Sun Valley

Sun Valley’s huge grooming fleet includes a Zaugg Pipe Monster for the terrain park and the capability to keep 40 kilometers of Nordic trails groomed.

BEST SNOW

GOLD: Mount Baker, 26.2 percent

Mount Baker gets an average of 647 inches of snow each year. At one point last season it snowed 30 days in a row. It set a national record in 1998-99 when it got 1,140 inches of snow.

SILVER: Crystal Mountain, 11.9 percent

Crystal might not get the most snow or the best snow, but it often gets the first snow. It was the first ski area in Washington to open three of the past four seasons.

BRONZE: Mission Ridge, 10.6 percent

As the only ski area on the eastern slopes of the Washington Cascades, it’s known for getting the lightest powder in the state.

HONORABLE MENTION: Mount Bachelor, Brundage Mountain, Sun Valley.

OUR PICK: Mount Bachelor

Bachelor doesn’t get as much snow as Baker (nobody does), but the snow it gets is considerably fluffier.

BEST SCENERY

GOLD: Crystal Mountain, 37.5 percent

On a clear day you’ll get an in-your-face view of nearby Mount Rainier at the top of the Rainier Express and Green Valley lifts.

SILVER: Mount Baker, 15 percent

It’s called Mount Baker, but the best views are of neighboring Mount Shuksan.

BRONZE: Whistler Blackcomb, 6.9 percent

The view of the Black Tusk from the top of Whistler Mountain might be the most iconic ski resort view in North America.

HONORABLE MENTION: Mount Bachelor, White Pass.

OUR PICK: Cypress Mountain

From the top of Cypress, a 2010 Olympics venue, the 360-degree view includes the Lions peaks, Horseshoe Bay and the Vancouver skyline.

BEST NORDIC SKIING

GOLD: Summit at Snoqualmie, 8.1 percent

This is the easiest ski resort-based trail system in the state to access.

SILVER: White Pass, 4.4 percent

The scenic loop around Leech Lake is one of the highlights of White Pass’ 18 kilometers of diverse, groomed trails.

BRONZE: Methow Valley, 3.8 percent

In a 2006 interview with The News Tribune, Olympic cross-country skier Torin Koos of Leavenworth described the Methow with one word: “Epic.”

HONORABLE MENTION: Mount Baker, Sun Valley, Stevens Pass.

OUR PICK: Mount Bachelor, Methow Valley

This was too close to call, so we recommend Bachelor for technical terrain and the Methow for touring.

BEST STEEPS

GOLD: Crystal Mountain, 22.5 percent

The Silver King might be the steepest ski run in Washington. It was featured in the 1999 Warren Miller move “Fifty” along with Puyallup skier Keith Rollins.

SILVER: Whistler Blackcomb, 14.4 percent

Whistler Bowl offers some of the most famously steep inbounds skiing in North America.

BRONZE: Alpental, 13.8 percent

The backcountry and Edelweiss areas might have the most passionate following in Washington.

HONORABLE MENTION: Apex, Mount Baker, Red Mountain, Stevens Pass

OUR PICK: Crystal Mountain

We’re giving Crystal a slight edge over Whistler too, because getting there doesn’t require a passport.

BEST BACKCOUNTRY

GOLD: Crystal Mountain, 26.3 percent

Skiing magazine ranked Crystal’s backcountry ninth-best in the country.

SILVER: Mount Baker, 10 percent

Skiing magazine ranked Baker’s backcountry skiing sixth-best in the country.

BRONZE: Alpental, 7.5 percent

The Great Scott Traverse below the summit of Denny Mountain opens the door to some of the Northwest’s steepest backcountry.

HONORABLE MENTION: Brundage Mountain, Stevens Pass, Sun Valley, Whistler Blackcomb.

OUR PICK: Crystal Mountain

Anybody who’s ever stood on top of the Silver King would have trouble arguing against Crystal.

BEST LESSONS

GOLD: Summit at Snoqualmie, 12.5 percent

Many Washington skiers learn here before they graduate to more challenging ski hills.

SILVER: Crystal Mountain, 6.3 percent

Last season some of the best skiers in the country were here teaching the hardcore how to ski the super steep stuff.

SILVER: Whistler Blackcomb, 6.3 percent

Instructors will customize lessons for your kids for about $260 to $510 per day.

HONORABLE MENTION: Big White, Sun Peaks, Sun Valley, White Pass.

OUR PICK: Summit at Snoqualmie

The state’s largest ski school gives the Summit a slight edge over the cozy learning atmosphere of White Pass.

BEST LIFT

GOLD: Edelweiss, Alpental, 4.4 percent

The lift accesses some nice views, and there is no easy way down.

SILVER: Peak Chair, Whistler Blackcomb, 3.8 percent

Pose for a picture in front of Black Tusk peak, then pick from a dozen expert runs, North America’s longest intermediate run (Peak to Creek) or even a beginner run.

SILVER: Northway, Crystal, 3.8 percent

The lift is only a year old, but it’s already popular for those looking for easy access to backcountry-like terrain.

HONORABLE MENTION: Rainier Express, High Campbell and Chair 6 at Crystal Mountain; Village Gondola at Whistler Blackcomb.

OUR PICK: Northwest Express, Mount Bachelor

Maybe you won’t find super steep stuff here, but there are only expert runs – lots of tree runs – on a lift that gains more vertical (2,365 feet) than any lift in the country outside of Sun Valley.

BEST EVENT

GOLD: Legendary Banked Slalom, Mount Baker, 3.8 percent

Perhaps snowboarding’s most famous event. The race draws competitors from around the world, but the event is primarily a celebration of the sport’s history.

GOLD: Telus World Ski & Snowboard Festival, Whistler Blackcomb, 3.8 percent

This event is highlighted by movie premieres, terrain park events and North America’s largest outdoor concert series.

BRONZE: Holy Oly Revival, Summit at Snoqualmie, 3 percent

The Holy Oly Revival is quickly becoming the Summit’s Legendary Banked Slalom.

HONORABLE MENTION: Winter Carnival at White Pass; New Year’s Eve and Parachute Races at Crystal Mountain

OUR PICK: Legendary Banked Slalom

Might not have the fanfare of Whistler’s festival, but that’s kind of the point.

BEST NIGHT SKIING

GOLD: Summit at Snoqualmie, 32.5 percent

Ski from 4 to 10 p.m. for $34 six nights per week.

SILVER: Stevens Pass, 8.8 percent

The terrain park is open after dark, but many of Stevens’ best runs are not.

BRONZE: Mount Hood Ski Bowl, 4.4 percent

The Ski Bowl in Government Camp has 34 lit runs serviced by slow lifts. It claims to have America’s largest night skiing area.

HONORABLE MENTION: Bogus Basin, Grouse Mountain, White Pass

OUR PICK: Summit at Snoqualmie

With a tip of the hat to Mount Ashland, we give the edge to the Summit because for its variety and size of terrain.

BEST LODGING

GOLD: Whistler Blackcomb, 28.8 percent

Try to find a better ski town hotel room than the 1,700-square-foot presidential suite at Whistler’s Four Seasons Resort. It comes with a plasma TV and a guest powder room and costs only about $2,500 per night.

SILVER: Crystal Mountain, 4.4 percent

Guests at the Bavarian-themed Alpine Inn have the slopes and Snorting Elk bar right outside their door.

BRONZE: Sun Valley, 2.5 percent

Since it opened in 1936, Sun Valley Lodge has been one of the most famous ski lodges in the United States.

HONORABLE MENTION: Schweitzer, White Pass, Timberline Lodge

OUR PICK: Whistler Blackcomb

If the Four Seasons is too steep, you can always try the Whistler Hostel for about $30 per night.

BEST LODGE FOOD MENU ITEM

GOLD: Chili, 2.5 percent

You’re sure to find chili on the menu in every ski lodge in America.

SILVER: Beer, 1.8 percent

As Homer Simpson once said, “I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer.”

SILVER: Fries and gravy, 1.8 percent

It’s a Canadian thing. Yes, your cholesterol is going up just reading this.

HONORABLE MENTION: Prawns (at Crystal Mountain), burritos and cheeseburgers, everywhere

OUR PICK: Chili and beer.

No matter how many resorts try to spruce things up with fancy food such as prawns and fondue (you’ll find both at Crystal), you can’t top the classics.

BEST TREE SKIING

GOLD: Crystal Mountain, 10.6 percent

From the mellow trails in the trees on the fringe of Queens Run to gnarly backcountry stuff, Crystal is loaded.

SILVER: Alpental, 4.4 percent

If you try Shot Six, you’d better know what you’re doing.

BRONZE: White Pass, 3.8 percent

The regulars swear they have the best tree skiing in Washington.

HONORABLE MENTION: Mount Bachelor, Stevens Pass

OUR PICK: Brundage

We like Sun Valley, but Meadow Bowl at Brundage is too good not to recommend.

WORST FOOD

GOLD: Summit at Snoqualmie, 15 percent

The Summit is famous for mediocre food, but the new owners, Boyne USA, say they plan to do something about it.

SILVER: Crystal Mountain, 7.5 percent

Apparently Crystal’s long history of limp sandwiches isn’t fading despite the Alaska Halibut they’re serving at the new Summit House and the stir-fry and gyros at the Campbell Basin Lodge.

BRONZE: Stevens Pass, 3.1 percent

Another resort still waiting for its upgraded eateries including the Bull’s Tooth and Cascadian Kitchen to vanquish its old reputation.

HONORABLE MENTION: Mount Baker, White Pass.

OUR PICK: Mount Hood Meadows

Great skiing, but the burgers are tougher than mud flaps.

FRIENDLIEST MOUNTAIN

GOLD: White Pass, 13.1 percent

If you like buddying up, it will take you only a few rides up the Great White Express to find somebody who’ll join you for a few runs.

SILVER: Mount Baker, 7.5 percent

If you get a family vibe at Baker, there’s a good reason. The Howat family has run Baker since 1968.

BRONZE: Summit at Snoqualmie, 6.3 percent

This might be taking friendly a bit too far, but one Summit Central regular carries a flute he plays during lift rides.

HONORABLE MENTION: Mission Ridge, Whistler Blackcomb

OUR PICK: Brundage

They’re so friendly here some women throw their bras into the Bra Tree halfway up the Centennial Lift.

BEST PARKING

GOLD: Summit at Snoqualmie, 13.8 percent

You won’t have to work far even on crowded days. Summit Central gets a new parking lot this season.

SILVER: Mount Baker, 8.1 percent

Baker has two parking lots and some roadside parking that allows you to ski to and from your car.

BRONZE: White Pass, 5 percent

On weekdays you can park within a minute’s walk from the lift.

HONORABLE MENTION: Mount Bachelor, Crystal Mountain

OUR PICK: Big White

The ski area near Kelowna, B.C., has a special parking lot for season pass holders at a chairlift a mile before the base area. And visitors staying in the village can park their car for their entire stay.

WORST PARKING

GOLD: Crystal Mountain, 35 percent

Get there late and you might have to walk nearly a mile to get to the lift.

SILVER: White Pass, 8 percent

Backing out of your spot directly on to U.S. 12 on a snowy day can be unnerving.

bronze: Summit at Snoqualmie, 8 percent

Show up late to Alpental on a powder day and your odds of scoring a parking spot are pretty slim.

HONORABLE MENTION: Mount Baker, Stevens Pass, Whistler Blackcomb

OUR PICK: Crystal Mountain

The parking lot shuttle can be more unbearable than a long walk in ski boots. We’re giving Bogus Basin special mention here, too, for a lot that just isn’t big enough.

BEST DEAL

GOLD: Summit at Snoqualmie, 10.6 percent

Before November, $500 gets you a season pass plus five lift tickets to Crystal Mountain.

SILVER: White Pass, 10 percent

If you buy in the spring, you can score a season pass for the following season for about $300.

BRONZE: Mount Baker, 7.5 percent

At $43, Baker has the cheapest day pass in Washington. In its October issue, Skiing magazine called a Baker lift ticket the best bargain in the country.

HONORABLE MENTION: Bluewood, Mission Ridge

OUR PICK: Bogus Basin

Buy your season ticket in the spring and you can ski the rest of this season and all of next for about $200. White Pass has a similar offer, but Bogus gets the edge because it started the bargain pass trend in 1998.

EASIEST ROAD ACCESS

GOLD: Summit at Snoqualmie, 41.3 percent

You can’t ask for easier access than Interestate 90 leading you right to the parking lot.

SILVER: White Pass, 4.4 percent

U.S. 12 gives White Pass regulars easy access from the east or west.

BRONZE: Crystal Mountain, 3.8 percent

The last seven miles from Highway 410 to the parking lot might make you a little nervous on snowy days, but the road is rarely closed.

HONORABLE MENTION: Mount Bachelor, Mount Baker, Stevens Pass

OUR PICK: Summit at Snoqualmie

Sure it closes for avalanche control more than you’d expect, but it’s the Northwest’s only ski area on the side of an Interstate.

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