[Randito]

[altasnob]

In 2004, the Forest Service approved snowmaking at Crystal to cover 254 acres of terrain. Today, most of snowmaking at Crystal is at or near the base of 4,400 feet. So I think snowmaking would, in theory, work at other Western Washington ski areas. It gets below freezing in the mountains most nights even during warm spells. But this doesn't mean snowmaking makes financial sense at Washington ski areas. The Forest Service denied Crystal's request to build a snowmaking water storage lagoon in Avalanche Basin (directly below Silver King) stating Crystal lacked water rights for this request, not to mention the environmental damage from an artificial lagoon in an area that is mostly untouched. East Coast ski areas are generally not in National Forests and instead on private land. They also are in an area of the country that gets wet summers so water rights issues are not as big of a problem as in the West.

[Randito]

Crystal does use it's snow making capacity in the "Discovery Meadow" area right above the base. At 4,400 feet elevation this area is often right on the melt/freeze boundary. The Summit also owns some snow making equipment and in prior seasons has used it to make snow in the Central terrain park. However this year, I've observed that the snow making equipment is sitting unused at the base and not located in the terrain park to provide extra snow. Snoqualmie pass and Crystal have significantly different weather patterns as well. Crystal has more clear cold nights where snow making is possible than does Snoqualmie Pass.

[kiliki]

[thunderhead]

[thunderhead]

[Malachai Constant]

I still remember riding up the lift with the ski patrol at Pico Peak when I asked him about the conditions and he said, “Brown and shiny”. Went up White face once hiking and it required ice axe and frame crampons.

[kiliki]

[thunderhead]

[Malachai Constant]

Whistler Blackcomb passes are for sale you can get a 5 day unlimited edge card for $343 US and unlimited early season skiing. So it will probably be bye bye Crystal next year.

[cascadeclimber]

[JonnyQuest]

It will be interesting to see if/when the manufactures invest in the conversation. There's limited business case in selling higher end expensive gear to the few.

[kiliki]

[altasnob]

The paid parking situation at Crystal is something I hope all winter recreationist are following closely at Crystal, and let the Forest Service know their opinion on the matter. I think there is a strong possibility that all ski areas in Washington (who lease land from the Forest Service) will replicate Crystal's paid parking policy. Historically, I can't think of any ski area in the US who operated 100% on leased Forest Service land (like Crystal) who has charged for parking. Crystal is amongst the first and not surprisingly, their private equity Alterra owned partner, Snowbasin, in Utah, has also started charging for parking (also operating on Forest Service land). Crystal has claimed their policy of charging $20-30 for non-season pass holders to park on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday is to reduce overall traffic congestion. They also state that parking fees help fund the free buses. However, the free buses stopped running on April 3rd and yet paid parking for non-season pass holders remains until the end of the ski season (tbd, but likely into May). There is still free carpool parking for groups of 4+. So if a group of 1 to 3 wants to go snowshoeing, hiking, backcountry skiing, or buy a single lift ticket on the weekends, you can expect to pay. And the parking lots are no longer anywhere near capacity on the weekends this late in the season. So their entire reason for charging for parking late season is a farce. People point out that Crystal builds and maintains the parking lots, and not charging for parking allows for free loaders. But I don't think the purpose of leasing public land to ski areas is so ski areas can build parking lots and capture windfall profits from parking fees. If this is the case, why doesn't the Forest Service start leasing out places like Stuart/Colchuck lakes parking lot to Diamond Parking. Think of the money Diamond Parking could make and the reduced congestion! I fear Crystal has now normalized paying for parking to a private company for the public to recreate on the public's land. I also fear that the apathetic public just shrugs and says, whatever.

[kiliki]