After a slow start to the season, the Cascades have finally begun receiving significant snowfall— great news for powder-starved Northwestern skiers and snowboarders. Unfortunately, their zeal, combined with a growing number of regional skiers and snowboarders, has been causing major problems at local ski resorts like Crystal Mountain and Stevens Pass. Road conditions have been abysmal, parking lots have been filling up at record rates, and many have found themselves driving hours only to be sent away without a single turn on the hill.
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Tickets for January 18th and 19th, 2020 are already sold out. Crystal Mountain graphic.
Crystal Mountain is taking fairly drastic action to address the overcrowding, which some attribute to the rise of megapasses such as the Ikon Pass (of which Crystal is a part) and the Epic Pass (of which Stevens Pass is a part). Day tickets will no longer be available for purchase at Crystal's ticket windows on weekends and holidays. Instead, they must be purchased in advance online. Tickets for January 18th and 19th are already sold out, and an adult day ticket for the two following weekends will set you back $129. For more information, see Crystal's FAQ here.
To see Crystal Mountain President & COO Frank DeBerry's open letter announcing the change, click here.
About The Author
stash member Zack Skovron
Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, now living in Jackson, WY. I’m an avid skier, biker, hiker, climber, and fisherman. Outside of sports, my major interests focus on public policy surrounding land use and energy systems.