It’s the weekend and you want to have a ski adventure, but you’ve never skied in Washington and don’t know where to start. Don’t worry, I’ve got you! Here is a bit about different mountains that are relatively near Seattle!
Stevens Pass:
Tucked away in the Cascade Mountains, located only an hour and a half away from Seattle, is Stevens Pass. Stevens Pass is a well known ski hill that many ski enthusiasts call their home mountain. Whether it is the food, lifts, runs, or views that Stevens has to offer, many find comfort on the hill. Stevens offers different terrain from bunny hills and a magic carpet to double black diamonds down Seventh Heaven, also including a terrain park. Whether you are a new or seasoned skier Stevens also offers lessons for both skiing and snowboarding for all ages, making it a great place to learn! As a ski instructor at Stevens, there are dedicated learning terrains to help those learning to ski and snowboard, making the learning process much easier. While Stevens not only offers lessons they also have equipment that is easy to rent. However, due to Stevens being owned by the Vail corporation, prices of everything can be a bit pricey. Ski buses are also very common for skiers to take up to the mountain and leave from Monore in the morning. Through the 10 different lifts at Stevens, one is able to choose many different adventures all over the mountain. Whether those adventures are on the main side or back side, Stevens Pass has many different paths one can explore.
Mission Ridge:
Located three hours away from Seattle, Mission Ridge is a mid-sized ski hill. While Mission Ridge may only have four chair lifts and two surface lifts, one’s ability to ski long runs is not hindered, for the runs are long and wide allowing for maximum skiing ability. Not only are the runs spectacular to ski due to their length and the trails that are produced from these runs, but the views of other surrounding mountains and Wenatchee are ones like no other. Standing at the summit of the mountain one can turn 360 degrees and see everything as far as the eye can see. Mission Ridge also produces its own snow allowing skiers to hit the slopes faster and sooner, not having to wait for the perfect amount of natural snow. The mountain also offers a bus that will take someone from Wenatchee up to the base of the mountain. Getting gear and a ticket is a very easy process that allows you to get out onto the slopes faster. Overall, Mission Ridge is a great mountain to explore and visit when choosing a mountain to go skiing at!
Baker:
Located around 133 miles away from Seattle, Baker is a popular ski hill for both Canadians and Americans. While it takes around three hours to get to the mountain from Seattle it only takes around an hour to get to the hill from Bellingham. It is home to 10 different chair lifts that take you all around the mountain, allowing those to explore the runs. While Baker is located far from Seattle, there are hardly any lines for lifts which allows for more runs to be done without waiting long. Along with shorter lines, Baker is also very cheap when it comes to purchasing a ticket and renting gear. Due to the location of Baker, the mountain receives a ton of snow making the mountain very fun to ski!
Snoqualmie:
Snoqualmie is the closest mountain to Seattle, being only 45 minutes away many skiers consider this their local hill. Snoqualmie is made up of three mountains, including Summit East, Summit Central, and Summit West. The fourth base located on the north side of I-90, Alpental, is known for its more advanced backcountry terrain. With the different mountains, Snoqualmie offers lots of parking for those coming up to ski and snowboard. Along with skiing and snowboarding, Snoqualmie also offers snowshoeing and snow tubing, two fun activities to do. Overall, with the combination of being relatively cheap, night skiing, and the location, Snoqualmie has it all for a perfect ski day.
