Snowboarding : Crystal Mountain
When the weather is right and the snow is deep, hardcore skiers from all over the West Coast beam themselves to Crystal for unparalleled skiing.
The terrain is steep and thrilling, and there's enough of it to keep the adrenaline rushing all day. There's enough snow too, often 12 feet deep at the top. It snowed 65 inches one record-breaking day during a recent season—and the average annual snowfall is 380 inches.
It's Washington's only destination Alpine ski resort, just a 90-minute drive from Seattle. The on-mountain condos, lodges and restaurants delight local skiers who would otherwise have to leave the state for a ski vacation. It is now owned by Boyne USA, owners of Big Sky, MT; Brighton, UT; two resorts in Michigan; and Cypress Mountain near Vancouver, British Columbia.
In the few years since Boyne took over Crystal, there have been remarkable improvements. Lift upgrades have included the Forest Queen Express, Washington's first high-speed six-passenger lift; a second "six-pack," The Chinook Express; and the Green Valley high-speed quad up to Grubstake Point. The day lodge restrooms were renovated with "40 new bowls" and two winch-cat groomers now lay down corduroy on steep slopes. The new 12,500-square-foot Campbell Basin Lodge at the top of the Forest Queen lift means skiers and snowboarders can grab a nice lunch without having to go all the way to the base area.
And there's more to come. A U.S. Forest Service-approved Master Development Plan calls for an all-season 80-passenger tram, a lift in the North Back Country and the conversion of many of the slow-moving, fixed-grip chairs to high-speeds. This 12-year plan also includes base facility upgrades and a new slopeside hotel.
Crystal Mountain Ski Resort Facts:
Summit elevation: 7,012 feet
Vertical drop: 2,612 feet
Base elevation: 4,400 feet
Expert: ++++
Advanced: ++++
Intermediate: +++++
Beginner: +++
First-timer: +++++
Dining: +++
Apres-ski/nightlife: ++
Other activities: +
Address: 33914 Crystal Mountain Blvd., Crystal Mountain, WA 98022
Area code: 360
Ski area phone: 663-2265
Reservations: No central reservations
Snow report: (888) 754-6199
Road conditions: (800) 695-7623
Fax: 663-3001
E-mail: comments@skicrystal.com
Internet: www.skicrystal.com
Number and types of lifts: 10—2 six-passenger high-speed chairs, 2 high-speed quads, 2 triples, 3 doubles, 1 surface lift
Skiable Acreage: 2,300 (including 1,000 backcountry)
Snowmaking: 1.3 percent (35 acres)
Uphill capacity: 19,110 per hour
Parks & pipes: 1 pipe
Bed Base: About 350 (176 rooms)
Nearest lodging: Slopeside, cabins
Resort child care: None
Adult ticket, per day: $53 (06/07)