NWSA is Northwest Snowsports Advocates
Crystal Mountain Ski Area

Crystal Mountain Receives Development Approval

Crystal Mountain, WA- After years of anticipation, Crystal Mountain received the Record of Decision (ROD) from the U.S. Forest Service in August of 2004 for its long awaited Master Development Plan. The ROD comes following an in-depth review of the Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS) issued August 2001. The MDP, along with 6 alternatives, was originally submitted to the Forest Service in 1999.

The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Supervisor selected Alternative Six with Modifications from the Final Environmental Impact Study (FEIS), concluding a seven-year effort of analyzing various alternatives to the proposed Master Development Plan. Basically, it approves new facilities at Crystal Mountain including a tram to the summit, a new chairlift in the North Country, a hotel, existing chairlift upgrades, base facility renovations, employee housing and wastewater facilities.

“I’m pleased with the outcome,” said John Kircher, Crystal Mountain’s General Manager. “We can move forward serving the growing needs of Puget Sound’s year round recreationalists while preserving the environment, and in some important areas, restoring it.”

During the summer months of 2007, Crystal Mountain completed several projects:

-a fixed grip chairlift from the 4,930' elevation just to the south of the lower Northway trail over the top of  Northway Peak into Snorting Elk Bowl.  This new lift will service 1,000 acres of terrain!
- a new traverse (from Snorting Elk to the top of Northway Peak)
-repainted the base area buildings
-renovated the Summit House which will now be a full-service restaurant with a fresh NW menu.
-rebuilt the bridge to the Alpine Inn/Snorting Elk to accommodate ADA handicap & small snow plows.  The new bridge will be level with the parking lot.
-the cable was replaced on the Quicksilver chairlift
-the motor was upgraded to a move at a higher speed on the Rainier Express chairlift

Located just 76 miles from Seattle and 64 miles from Tacoma, Crystal Mountain, Washington’s largest ski area, is situated on the northeast edge of Mt. Rainier National Park. The turn off to Crystal Mountain is 33 miles east of Enumclaw on Highway 410.