New Gondola at Crystal Mountain WA ????

[O.P.P.]

While no official announcement has surfaced in the public domain, the rumor on the mountain that spread like wild fire this last Sunday is that the plan for a tram out and a new Gondola will be built this summer instead.

Does anyone have any information they wish to share to confirm or correct this rumor?

cheers!

[Kyle Miller]

Nothing to see here please move on!!

and for the record the gondy would go to the summit house. The main purpose would be to help on congested parking issues for MRNP (parking fills fast at both sunrise and paradise) during the summer and more revenue for Crystal.

[brown9]

Yes, Crystal has arguably the best terrain in Washington, but honestly, does it need to cost any more than it does? If I wanted to pay Tahoe prices or Whistler prices, I would go there. I'd forgotten if Crystal was granted access to put the gondy (tram) to the summit house or if it was going up the throne. If it's the throne, then Crystal just ruined their mountain for the skiers that go there to really experience it. I'm sure they heard all these arguments in the comments period, but it's true. Like others, they're in it for the money. I know they need to make enough to survive, I'd just rather make the crowded runs more crowded, and leave the hike-able terrain to those that earn it.

[XavierD]

If it will make money kircher will do it, any regard for those who ski there will be gone before anyone gets a chance to think. Then Ms. Backstrom will be bought off and tell us how great it is now. And that it is still a locals mountain...

[jesski]

If it will make money kircher will do it, any regard for those who ski there will be gone before anyone gets a chance to think. Then Ms. Backstrom will be bought off and tell us how great it is now. And that it is still a locals mountain...

Seriously? I see what you're saying, but Kirtcher (who frequently can be seen hiking to the top of the king) isn't gonna put a tram up the throne. Most locals feel he's more in touch with the pulse of what's going on up on the mtn than previous ownership. Moreover, a tram to the summit house has been a rumor for a while.

gotta love the weekend rumor mill

[O.P.P.]

. Moreover, a tram to the summit house has been a rumor for a while.

The Tram is/was more than rumor, it was bought off and approved as part of the approved master plan.

[O.P.P.]

I know they need to make enough to survive, I'd just rather make the crowded runs more crowded, and leave the hike-able terrain to those that earn it.

I believe they have, it's called East Peak

[The AD]

I'd just rather make the crowded runs more crowded, and leave the hike-able terrain to those that earn it.

Question for you: are you hiking to the Throne and King now from the parking lot or are you using Crystal's lifts? If you're using the lifts it seems like you're being a little hypocritical to me.

[Dr. Crash]

RE: affordability of skiing. Lift ticket for Les 3 Vallées : 46 Euros (< $65) in peak season; skied last weekend in the Alps on bigger terrain than anything here for < 30 Euros. When are resorts here (North America) going to stop fucking people over lift tickets prices?

drC

[brown9]

Question for you: are you hiking to the Throne and King now from the parking lot or are you using Crystal's lifts? If you're using the lifts it seems like you're being a little hypocritical to me.

I do both. I'm just saying that if you put a tram or lift to the throne or anywhere in Silver basin, as was proposed in the Master Plan, that all that area would be much more accessible, and moguled up in an icy mess like northback. I'd rather not see that. I feel like southback keeps a lot of people out because you have to take your skis off and walk for five minutes and then traverse another five minutes.
Usually when we go for a tour, we don't access Silver basin, except in early season when high campbell isn't running, because of all the downhill traffic. Lines off East peak are closer and less tracked.

[The AD]

I think the master plan was for a chair up the King, but I don't think that was in the approved version anyway. I do agree it's pretty hard to imagine a lift of any kind going up there, but maybe that's only because there isn't one!

[Platinum Pete]

RE: affordability of skiing. Lift ticket for Les 3 Vallées : 46 Euros (< $65) in peak season; skied last weekend in the Alps on bigger terrain than anything here for < 30 Euros. When are resorts here (North America) going to stop fucking people over lift tickets prices?

drC

When tort reform allows the ski areas and their insurers to legally place more safety responsibility on the skiers/riders, and not fear gigantic lawsuits. That's part of it at least. The part is that the ski areas in the US can get that money from their users and don't see a benefit in pricing lower - there's a lot that goes into pricing so it's probably not the management sitting in a room saying " I bet we can get another 2 bucks per lift ticket!"

[Schmear]

Putting a chair up The King was rejected by the Forest Service years ago, so you don't have to worry about. However the tram was approved and I've been wondering if/when they'll build it. Interesting rumor about a gondola instead.

[Jumper Bones]

I thought the tram was supposed to go from the base lodge up to the top of REX?

What ever happened to the chair(s) from the lower lot? Wasn't one supposed to go from there into the GV area?

[Hugh Conway]

That'd be kinda cool

[skibum93]

I think the master plan was for a chair up the King, but I don't think that was in the approved version anyway. I do agree it's pretty hard to imagine a lift of any kind going up there, but maybe that's only because there isn't one!

The chair going up the king failed. THANK GOD! There was just too much of an environmental risk. That also would have screwed over Silver King.

I believe they have, it's called East Peak

The East Peak lift was rejected by the Forest Service.

I thought the tram was supposed to go from the base lodge up to the top of REX?

What ever happened to the chair(s) from the lower lot? Wasn't one supposed to go from there into the GV area?

The Tram is supposed to go up to the Summit House.
Also there is supposed to be a Kelly's Gap lift, which will ruin Left Angle and Naigras.

Here a PDF of the selected decision, which the changes listed below.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/projects..._summary_6.pdf


2.1 Changes Between DEIS Preferred Alternative and the Decision
The DEIS, published in August 2001 included my identification of Alternative 6 as the preferred alternative. This ROD documents my decision to approve Alternative 6 with modifications (the Selected Alternative). These modifications were made in response to concerns raised during and after the comment period for the DEIS, and reflect changes to
further
minimize impacts. Modifications to Alternative 6 include:
• The C-16 (East Peak) lift and trails have been eliminated from my decision. (as in Alternative 3, FEIS).
• Trail 4B – Boondoggle will not be widened (as in Alternative 5, FEIS). • Snowmaking storage in an up-mountain lagoon at the base of Avalanche Basin
has been eliminated from my decision.
• The construction of Parking Lot G will be approved prior to the development of the Bullion Basin Base Area and parking structure, to replace that portion of Parking Lot B to be taken up during construction of the new Bullion Basin Base Area and parking structure.
• Parking Lot H will be built only if, after construction of the Bullion Basin Parking Structure, there is a demonstrated need.
• Parking Lot F will be reduced in size to restore Riparian Reserves along Silver Creek, and additional stream restoration will be provided at Parking Lot F (as in Alternative 5, FEIS).
• Parking Lot B restoration will be as described in Alternative 5, FEIS. The construction of additional parking will not be approved until the initiation of parking lot restoration along Parking Lots B and F, as well as the Silver Creek Stabilization (FEIS Appendix I).
Crystal Mountain MDP – Record of Decision 2
Refer to Section 12.0 for a summary comparison of environment consequences of implementing the Selected Alternative, and the other alternatives considered.
Table ROD-1 shows a summary comparison of my Decision (the Selected Alternative), with the DEIS Preferred Alternative, and the current, existing condition.
Following Table ROD-1 are Figures ROD-1 and ROD-2, which show the Selected Alternative at two scales: the entire SUP area and the Crystal Mountain base area.




The full approval document is here.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/projects...f_decision.pdf

[Crystal_Mt_Dreamin]

Moreover, a tram to the summit house has been a rumor for a while.

Shit, they were talking about it/planning it when I worked there 95-97

[Toofus]

Well, I guess it's official now?

http://www.skicrystal.com/News/909/G...ROVED-AND-MORE

The jury is still out on the park though...

[telelebowski]

so it's probably not the management sitting in a room saying " I bet we can get another 2 bucks per lift ticket!"

Wrong. All management does is sit in a room saying "I bet we can get another 2 bucks per lift ticket!" and "Let's get rid of free parking by putting in a lengthy gondola and charging 5 bucks per car!" and "Let's put in another stop on that gondola and build out some McMansion tract housing and charge a fortune for it!" and "Let's put in another unnecessary lift and we can charge people even more money because we moved up in the Ski Magazine rankings!" and "If we can make it illegal to park anywhere in town, we can raise the parking lot price from $20 to $25 a day!"

So today management sat in a room somewhere in the middle of upstate Michigan and decided:
03.06.2010
It’s official- Crystal Mountain is installing a Gondola this summer and building a terrain park next winter!!

The gondola project will beging April 19- the day after we close for the season.
It will be open for the 2010/2011 ski season!

The base terminal will be where the current Mountain Market is located and bring passengers to the top of Rainier Express and the Summit House.

The progressive terrain park will go on Mr. Magoo and feature mainly rails, boxes and other jibs.

Stay tuned for more details!

[skibum93]

The gondola is so unnecessary.

[GHSTRCN]

The gondola is so unnecessary.

I was just thinking the same thing. Oh goddd, it's too hard to ride Chinook and go 20ft to Rainier.

Shit, no wonder America's so fucking fat.

Also, crystal costs enough. Then this? really?


AND PUT THE TERRAIN PARK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RESORT GOD DAMMIT!

[x lurker]

PUT THE TERRAIN PARK ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RESORT GOD DAMMIT!

Too late, but I agree. Put it somewhere out of the way. Not in the middle of one of the few intermediate runs that are there now for kids.

[Egon]

maybe this will attract the posers towards their mtn.

happens anyway... why fight it?

and I bet once the gondola is done they will tear down the summit house and build a MEGA-MALL. the suburbanites will feel right at home.

[cc3]

maybe this will take pressure away from rex on pow days? just trying to be optimistic and all...

[legallyillegal]

gondola open for next season, presumably to get more gapers up into the summit house to buy more overpriced shitass food

holy fuck canada is cheaper than the shit at crystal