The snow season came a little late, but when it came, it sure came with a vengeance.
I experienced both extremes firsthand; after all, somebody has to do this research. When I went for my annual trip to Whistler on the first weekend of December, I encountered the least amount of snow that I have ever seen. There were only three runs on Blackcomb open, and those were only possible due to extensive snow-making. The skiing and boarding was very marginal.
Then, of course, we just experienced the most amount of snow that I have ever seen on Mercer Island. I never thought I would be able to snowshoe through Pioneer Park, but I was able to have three wonderful outings in the run-up to Christmas. When a place you know pretty well gets suddenly cloaked in white, it takes on a whole new personality, and being on snowy Mercer Island will rank as some of my best on-snow outings of the whole 2008 year.
So here we are on the cusp of another new year. Looking back for a second, it should be noted that last ski season can be characterized as being very, very good in almost every sector of the country. This is actually somewhat unusual because when conditions are good in the East, they often are sparse in the West, and vice-versa. The Pacific Northwest ski resorts mostly posted increases in business, a welcome outcome for everyone who spends winter in the mountains.
So what to expect this year? My friend and weather guru, Larry Schick, says the season started with a neutral weather pattern, but recently has moved to a weak La Niña condition in the tropical Pacific. He said that just as last season’s moderate La Niña produced exceptional snow in the Cascades, he thinks “this implies a more robust snow pattern for the Cascades for the next few months.”
So what has changed since you put the skis and boards away last spring? Here is a quick rundown of improvements that I think you will appreciate, and for convenience I’ll include the daily lift ticket price, though package deals can lower the cost.
• Crystal Mountain ($60)
Better access at the base of the new Northway Lift. The terrain this lift serves is outstanding. Don’t miss it.
• Stevens Pass ($62)
I love this one: lift tickets are now electronic using RFID technology. This kind of ticket is used all over Europe, but this will be its first application in the Northwest. Among the advantages are no waiting in ticket lines to purchase (get it online), can be used any day (flexibility), no ticket checker necessary in lift lines (ticket can be kept in pocket). I have used this type of system in other places, and it is fantastic.
• Summit at Snoqualmie ($56)
The old Silver Firs chair has been replaced with a high-speed quad, cutting the ride from about 12 minutes to four. I’m ready to ride this one.
• Mission Ridge ($50)
On the dry side of the Cascade mountains, the access road has been straightened to make the ride a lot easier. There is a high-speed lift on the upper mountain, but you have to ride a slow lift to get up to it.
• Mount Baker ($47)
Every old double chair lift has now been replaced with fixed grip four-seaters. The last lift replaced this season was built in 1953; guess they got their money’s worth out of that one.
• Mount Bachelor ($58)
Previously separate terrain parks have been combined into one super park and pipe. This season marks Bachelor’s 50th anniversary.
• Sun Valley ($80)
Hardly anyone pays this rate, as multi-day tickets and packages are the norm here. Improvements at Dollar Mountain include two high-speed lifts and that fabulous lodge to serve them. State-of-the-art Kids Center.
• Whistler/Blackcomb ($85 CDN)
The biggest, splashiest improvement in North America is the new Peak 2 Peak Gondola, connecting the tops of Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. The gondola travels 2.73 miles in 11 minutes, has 28 cars that can accommodate 28 people each, and its highest point is over 1,400 feet above the ground. For perspective, that is close to the height of three Space Needles if measured to the revolving restaurant.
• Whitefish Mountain Resort ($61)
I just couldn’t leave this one out, as the area formerly called Big Mountain has even changed its name. Other changes include two new high-speed quads and a new base lodge. This is a great place to reach by train from Seattle; I’ve done it and found it a very pleasant way to vacation.
As the New Year approaches, I like to remember that the scenery will change from the Cascades to the Rockies to the Sierra, but the good times don’t. And it doesn’t have to be sunny or steep or cold-smoke powder to be a memorable day. For me, fun is a state of mind, derived as much from a positive attitude as it is from a specific event. Nevertheless, it probably doesn’t surprise you how many of my uplifting experiences over the course of a year are associated with snowsports.
So what’s the point? Simply that it isn’t that difficult to enhance your life with snowsports. Good times will find you, even in Pioneer Park on Mercer Island. So make an effort to get out of your comfort zone. Wouldn’t that be a good resolution for 2009? Happy New Year.
John Naye is a Mercer Island resident and the current president of the Western Region of the North American Snowsports Journalist’s Association. He can be reached by e-mail at jnaye@trekworks.com.
