I've made several trips to Seattle and this time planned to spend a few days outside of town. Since it was still ski season....
STEVENS PASS reminds me of Loveland. Both are located on a major highway at the crest of the pass and are pure ski areas with no condo retail village junk. Loveland might have more terrain while Stevens has a couple of high speeds and night skiing. Named slopes are rough suggestions and you mostly find your own route anywhere in-bounds. Springtime conditions were in effect and you could easily find yourself bogged down in mush. I like this place a lot and would be more than happy to call this my home area.
Looking down the spine, back side on the left, front side on the right. Double black to blue on each side.
Wide view of half of the back side, I spent most of my time on the middle terrain near the Orion and Aquarius slopes.
Wide view of the front side. In general not as interesting, though still many areas above my skill level.
Looking down at the base area; the slope to the left will make you pucker a bit. Notice the classic Riblet single pole double chair, one of two they maintain.
The far reach of the back side are blue and black runs underneath major power lines, a first for me. Just after this point I found myself a little outside the normal ski area and had to traverse back to the lifts.
CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN rocks. The terrain here seems unending, just draw dropping at times. All of it is easy to reach and nothing is off limits. I actually had to stop a couple of times to check the trail map. This is as much fun as I have had on skis. Conditions were better than the day before, due to the higher elevation, but still challenging in the wrong places and I saw several people on ski patrol sleds.
The base area is no more extensive than Stevens with only a few overnight lodges; however, Boyne has big plans to make this into a major destination resort starting with a new gondola next year. Thus, I suggest you get there soon before that happens.
Looking up the Ranier Express. Everything you see is open and worthwhile. My last run of the day, and year, was from left of this lift, crossing under midway, and all the way down to the base area, 2600 vertical feet, what a great way to end.
View of the bowl between the Ranier and Green Valley lifts and where I spent most of my time. Better conditions here, skied like normal chopped up powder. That was incredibly fun.
Another view of the same bowl...
I just like the scenery in this one... some of those tracks up there are mine.
And finally, the standard picture that everyone has to get.... the big one in all it's glory.
BETWEEN the two mountains, you can find these scenes....
River views are not bad....
Remember this show? Everyone in our lab was glued to it...
SEATTLE is not bad either.
The end.
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The messageboard is now in read-only mode and no new posts or topics can be created. We will leave the messageboard up for historical purposes, but you will not be able to make new posts or comment on existing ones.
We have started a Discord server and hope that you all will join us on there. Technology has changed over the years and maintaining the messageboard has become somewhat of a pain in the butt and Discord offers many features for users, the main one being a very polished mobile app.
We really hope you all will join us on Discord and think you will like the platform. Use the invite link below to join.
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TR: Stevens Pass 4/15, Crystal Mtn 4/16 and Seattle (4/17)
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SteepNdeep
- Intermediate
- Posts: 898
- Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 4:28 pm
Nicely done!! I really wanna get out to Warrrshington
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PartTimeSkier
- Beginner
- Posts: 56
- Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 10:33 pm
Nice! I skied 3 days there in Feb and it rates up with Heavenly or Mammoth for that matter. Love the PNW....
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davidski
- Expert
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What a great TR -- glad you made it out there (you dog) and reported back.
That's some extraordinry late season skiing -- however, one brief thought. Pagamony you are about the only person that would look at this vista and glorify a nearly defunct, SLOW, outdated lift system
Looking down at the base area; the slope to the left will make you pucker a bit. Notice the classic Riblet single pole double chair, one of two they maintain.
(now if it were an old poma lift, well that's another matter)
That's some extraordinry late season skiing -- however, one brief thought. Pagamony you are about the only person that would look at this vista and glorify a nearly defunct, SLOW, outdated lift system
Looking down at the base area; the slope to the left will make you pucker a bit. Notice the classic Riblet single pole double chair, one of two they maintain.
(now if it were an old poma lift, well that's another matter)
^same here, so this time I stayed a few extra days. You should do the same.
I want to point out that those two Riblets made quick ascents up their steep pitches. No reasonable person would have preferred anything else. Stevens is also graced by two rope tows to haul you back up to the day lodges, so it rocks on lifts.
I haven't skied enough places to truly rate terrain, but I have to put Crystal among my best, maybe first, even though the snow was a bit sappy and everyone was staying on the high terrain and off anything else. Both places were super friendly in the lodge, on the slopes, in the bars, and patios. Last weekend good-vibes go a long way.
So is no one going to comment on the Twin Peaks reference ? Hello, Sherilyn Fenn fans?
I want to point out that those two Riblets made quick ascents up their steep pitches. No reasonable person would have preferred anything else. Stevens is also graced by two rope tows to haul you back up to the day lodges, so it rocks on lifts.
I haven't skied enough places to truly rate terrain, but I have to put Crystal among my best, maybe first, even though the snow was a bit sappy and everyone was staying on the high terrain and off anything else. Both places were super friendly in the lodge, on the slopes, in the bars, and patios. Last weekend good-vibes go a long way.
So is no one going to comment on the Twin Peaks reference ? Hello, Sherilyn Fenn fans?