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Out of Work? Get Out of Doors!
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If you like to ski downhill or snowboard, you have a lot of options within a reasonable drive from Seattle. Where you go will depend on your tastes, your budget, and whether or not you travel during rush hour.
South
In the south, you can make the drive to Crystal Mountain or, if its namesake pass is open, White Pass. Crystal, located on the west side of the Cascades facing Mount Rainier, is by far the more popular destination for Seattleites. The views from the top of the ridge are grand, the lift chairs are roomy to accommodate you and your pals, and the facilities are warm and comfortable. A restaurant at the top of the Rainier Express lift is the ultimate decadence--expensive food, but a view to die for. Lift tickets here cost $40 per day, with no weekday discount. Crystal is 76 miles outside of Seattle, a solid two-hour drive in good conditions, much longer during rush hour or bad weather.
Just an hour farther, over White Pass on Highway 12, is the White Pass ski area--a little farther but a lot quieter. This is a good spot for those who prefer a milder slope for kids or beginners, and there is a significant price break on lift tickets; a full day costs $36 on the weekends and just $25 on weekdays. The tradeoff is obvious when you compare the vertical area of each resort: Crystal covers 2,400 feet from top to bottom while White Pass has a paltry 1,500.
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Alta Crystal Resort
Snow report: 1 (888) SKI-6199 www.skicrystal.com
White Pass
The Summit at Snoqualmie
Stevens Pass
Mount Baker
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All four ski areas on Snoqualmie Pass are owned by the same company now, which means two things: high lift ticket prices and a huge selection of terrain for your dollar. At less than an hour's drive from downtown Seattle, this is by far the most popular destination. A full day (9 a.m. - 10 p.m.) costs $41, with a lower price of $38 available for an average day (9 a.m. - 5 p.m. or 1 - 10 p.m.). The ticket is good at any of the base areas, and there's something for everyone: Summit East is where to go for cross-country or milder hills, Summit West and Summit Central both sport half-pipes for Winter Olympics 2006-bound snowboarders, and Alpental is where to find the steepest, tallest, most belly-clenching runs. There is also an inner-tube area for the kids and a large system of cross-country trails.
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Stevens Pass is on Highway 2, roughly the same distance from Seattle as Crystal. Stevens' parent company Harbor Resorts--also the owner of Mission Ridge, Whistler/Blackcomb and Schweitzer--spent big bucks on improving the lodges during the late '90s and then raised ticket prices to pay off the investment. You be the judge. At $43 per day, Stevens is the most expensive ski resort in Washington. It also has a lot to offer for the price: cushy lodges, several high-speed quad lifts and a great terrain park for snowboarders. Mill Valley, also know as Stevens' backside, is popular for its long runs, deep powder and relative quiet. Because of the higher pass altitude, the snow here is usually deeper and drier than at Snoqualmie. Minuses include the lack of lodging closer than 26 miles away and frequent avalanche control operations along Highway 2.
Holding the record for snowfall at a resort in the Lower 48 is Mount Baker. The three-hour drive from Seattle is justified by Baker's relatively inexpensive price ($34 per day), looong runs and huge territory. The parking lots may be full, but the slopes feel underpopulated--until one gets in line for the next lift. Snowboarders may be initially put off by the common occurrence of uphill sections on many runs here, but with at least two half-pipes (one is a natural ravine), jumps aplenty and so many runs to choose from, the transition from frustration to enjoyment is a quick one. Two comfortable but decidedly un-frilly day lodges serve up the basics. Mount Baker, like Stevens Pass, does not have lodging on-site. Also, because Baker does not light its hills, operations cease at 4 p.m.
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