Washington Cascades - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 308

WASHINGTON'S SKI AREAS
Despite taunts from Rocky Mountain purists who compare Washington's snow to
'wet concrete,' the state maintains a dozen excellent downhill-skiing areas. Those
with an aversion to crowds will be doubly impressed. Only one of the centers (Crys-
tal Mountain) is classed as a resort, and it's tiny compared to Aspen or Whistler.
Here's a quick precis of what's on offer.
» Crystal Mountain ( Click here ) The largest ski area in Washington and the state's
only destination 'resort' tops out at 7000ft. A huge variety of terrain and a small ski
village are complemented by killer Mt Rainier views.
» Summit at Snolquamie ( www.summitatsnolquamie.com ; 1001 SR 906; day pass adult/youth
$56/42; 9am-10pm late Nov-Apr) The closest ski area to Seattle (read: busy) also
boasts the largest floodlit ski network in the US.
» 49 Degrees North ( Click here ) Recent expansion has made this 2350-acre ski
area in northeast Washington the state's second largest - yet it's still quiet. The ac-
cessible terrain gets big votes from families.
» Mt Baker ( Click here ) Rugged, undone and legendary among snowboarders,
Baker gets twice as much annual snow (650in) as other resorts. Its advanced ter-
rain offers some white-knuckle backcountry options.
» Mission Ridge ( Click here ) Situated 12 miles south of Wenatchee, Mission is cel-
ebrated for its light, fluffy powder and 300-plus days of annual sunshine.
» Stevens Pass ( Click here ) Established in 1937, Stevens is a day ski area popular
with Seattleites. Uniquely, its facilities are powered entirely by wind.
» Loup Loup ( Click here ) Just east of Winthrop, this small 550-acre ski bowl is
economical and safe and has almost no lines. Great for first-timers.
» Hurricane Ridge ( Click here ) This tiny ski center (only three lifts) just inside the
Olympic National Park is the westernmost in the lower 48.
» Bluewood ( Click here ) Adrift from the Cascades in the southeast of the state,
modern Bluewood runs on diesel generators and is lauded for its good tree skiing
and dry snow.
» White Pass ( Click here ) A laid back, less frenetic alternative to nearby Crystal
Mountain that spawned the legendary Mahre brothers (gold and silver slalom
medalists in the 1984 Winter Olympics).
» Mt Spokane ( Click here ) Only 28 miles east of Spokane, this is the nearest ski
area to a large population center. Learning to ski? Look no further.