When you look down from the top of Crystal Mountain's new Northway chairlift, everything that sprawls below is diamonds -- as in double-black diamond steeps.
By Greg Johnston | January 3, 2008
Crystal offers a dedicated area of terrain to snowboarders. The Boarder Zone Snowboard Park, located under the
Quicksilver chairlift, provides riders with easy to more difficult terrain. Designed and maintained for freestyle
riding, the Boarder Zone features jumps, slides, and a halfpipe constructed with a Pipe Dragon. Crystal even offers
"skill builder" programs in which snowboarders can learn freestyle tricks such as a jibe and a nosebone.
December 29, 1969
Lodging on-site
Alta Crystal Resort offers a 1920's lodge, chalets with fireplaces and fully equipped kitchens, log cabins, hot tub, and heated pool; call for current rates and packages; 1-800-277-6475 or (360) 663-2500 or www.altacrystalresort.com
Crystal Mountain Hotels offers three hotels, the Alpine Inn, Quicksilver Lodge, and the Village Inn, with ski to your door convenience, large stone fireplace, balconies, and continental breakfast; call for current rates and packages; 1-888-SKI-6400 or (360) 663-2262 or www.crystalhotels.com
December 29, 1969
Boyne's most noticeable contribution thus far is the installation of the Northwest's first six-passenger high-speed chairlifts - the Forest Queen and Chinook Express. Forest Queen - a state-of-the-art Doppelmyer lift - replaced
December 29, 1969
From the top of "Rex" - the local name for the Rainier Express lift - skiers and snowboarders can access terrain for all ability levels, including the local-favorite Green Valley area. This medium-sized bowl faces northeast and shelters skiers from harsher weather. The bowl frequently has the best snow on the mountain - without having to hike into the
December 29, 1969
MOUNT BAKER — "Is that them? Is that them? ... Yes, that's them!"
By Mike McQuaide | January 25, 2007
Hike of the Week
If you've never hiked at Crystal Mountain, finding this elusive trail can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. It is well worth the effort, though you'll have to hurry if you want to hike it this year. Snow already is flirting with higher elevations and soon will settle in for the season.
When snow reaches a depth of 2 feet, Crystal Mountain Resort will be thronged with skiers and snowboarders and most hikers will be seeking lower-elevation trails.
By Karen Sykes | October 20, 2005
Hike of the Week
This loop east of Mount Rainier is not described in most hiking guidebooks, but it should be.
The loop begins from the Crystal Mountain Ski Area and is 6.4 miles with an elevation gain of 1,600 feet. There also are options for longer loops. The trail is akin to those Chinese boxes -- you open a box only to find another box and so on. When you start out on this loop you will find loops within loops, one-way epics and no end of possibilities.
By Karen Sykes | July 7, 2005
It's been an unusual season for Northwest ski areas, with snow coming little and late (perhaps thanks to El Niño). Most Washington resorts didn't open until the last few weeks. Finally, major ski areas are open around the state.
Here's a roundup of basic information; prices, hours and number of lifts operating may still vary based on snow amounts and conditions. Call or check the Web before you go.
WASHINGTON
January 2, 2003
Sometimes they're delightfully ahead of it (snowboarding, way before it was cool, or practically even invented), sometimes charmingly behind it (snow from heaven, not hoses), but the folks at
Mount Baker can never be accused of being right on the curve.
The tradition continues this winter, when Baker, in a world where resorts measure progress in new, multi-million dollar express lifts, unveils a $1.6 million ski-area upgrade which reduces its overall chairlift total.
By Ron C. Judd | November 21, 2002
