Weekender: Crystal Mountain, Wash.
Crystal Mountain offers state’s longest ski season
Story by Hilary Meyerson
Photos by Randy Meyerson
Photo at right: Step off the Gondola and enjoy spectacular mountain-top views at Crystal Mountain Ski Area.
Many Seattle skiers consider Crystal Mountain one of our local mountains. Sure, the two-plus hour drive there is twice that of going to Snoqualmie Pass, but it’s worth every mile. A world-class ski mountain with amazing terrain that isn’t engulfed with condos and expensive resort frills? Crystal is a skier’s paradise.
Alta Crystal Resort
Lodging options are slim in the area. There are very few slope-side rooms and condos, and those fill up early. (It is both an advantage and a disadvantage to be on undeveloped national forestland). Our favorite is the Alta Crystal Resort, located just before the turn onto the mountain road.
These condos are cozy, with some great amenities. There’s a real warm and friendly atmosphere here. Guests will frequently start up conversations with strangers and before you know it, the kids are playing and adults are sharing a beverage.
The pool is one of the more popular amenities at Alta Crystal. Heated to 90 degrees, the year-round outdoor pool is the meeting place for families and other guests. The hot tub, at 103 degrees, is even more popular. You’ll make new friends before the night
is over.
Roasting marshmallows at Alta Crystal Resort.
The real draw at Alta Crystal, however, is the bonfire out in the back field. The field was a horse corral in the 1930s, but now it’s all about winter fun. There are complimentary s’mores, beer, wine and soda. Kids make snowmen with headlamps on, while guests mingle and chat with owner Vivian Cadematori who oftentimes takes guests out on snowshoe treks in the area.
The Mountain
From Alta Crystal, it’s a short drive up to the parking lot of Crystal Mountain. The introduction of the $8 million Mount Rainier Gondola in 2011 has been a worthwhile investment and it’s a great way to get to the top of the mountain in both summer and winter.
More spectacular mountain-top views at Crystal Mountain Ski Area.
Families and beginners should start off on the Emerald Queen lift and try all the trails on that side of the hill. Adventurous types can try the terrain park. The CMAC program for young ski racers is one of the best in the state—look for lots of families camping in RVs in the parking lot.
More intrepid skiers should hit the 6,872-foot summit. If they are lucky enough to have a clear day, they’ll get the most epic views of Mount Rainier. If it’s not clear, well, the snow is still epic. There are so many choices of where to go, you can almost always find a fresh line somewhere in the 2,600 acres of downhill.
A cozy cabin at Alta Crystal Resort.
Don’t miss the Snorting Elk Bowl and the many trails off the Northway Lift. And the snow is always good in the protected basin of Green Valley. The backcountry calls to some—know what you’re doing if you go. At the end of the day, Kelly’s Gap Road offers a scenic cruise back to the parking lot.
If you want a post-winter ski fix, Crystal Mountain offers Washington state’s longest spring skiing in the state—staying open weekends April through June, depending on conditions.
Hilary Meyerson, former editor of OutdoorsNW, is a die-hard Crystal Mountain fan.
