I can’t believe that the ski season is over. I guess it is time to switch gears to other outdoor activities. What a ski season it has been! With little snowfall for the first half of the season throughout most of the PNW and California, some resorts debated whether or not to open at all. However, late precipitation helped most areas recover.
Sunshine Village – Banff
I kicked off the ski season by heading to Banff for USA’s Thanksgiving. Andy and I made the long drive from Seattle, WA to Banff and nearly escaped a fender bender on Highway 1. Even though snowfall was low, we headed to Sunshine Village to get rid of the rust and dust from the off season. For more on the trip, check out my Banff photo essay.
Stevens Pass – Washington
The majority of my slope time was at Stevens Pass, where I have a season pass. However, I was introduced to night skiing and was able to hit the slopes after work with coworkers a few times this season. I only stayed one overnight weekend since it is within driving distance to home. I was able to ski 20+days even though I missed the whole month of March! At the end of the season, my friend organized a tailgating event. We grilled and enjoyed beverages in the parking lot to break up the day.
December
January
February
April
Crystal Mountain – Washington
Only my second time a Crystal Mountain, I had fun skiing the fresh pow. Crystal Mountain has more of a resort feel to it than Stevens Pass with mountain lodges and places to stay. On a clear day, Mount Rainier is visible. The area in the below videos is no longer accessible since a triggered avalanche took out the chair lift to the ridge a few weeks later. I tried new areas of the resort from the last visit and had a blast.
Mount Baker – Washington
After booking a chalet with friends at the beginning of March, I returned to Mount Baker for some snowshoeing and skiing. Even though the snow was wet and heavy, I was still able to have fun and had my first Cascadian concrete experience. Since the weather was not favorable, I did not pull out my camera for photos.
Whistler-Blackcomb – British Columbia
The plans to ski at Whistler-Blackcomb started the previous summer and fall. After finding an AirBnB rental that slept 12, I headed to Canada for another ski weekend with friends. I was able to ski three days in a row and had a blast riding the Peak2Peak Gondola between the two mountains. It was also fun to see all the Olympic remnants scattered on the mountains and in the village.
Copper Mountain – Colorado
Off for a short weekend to visit friends that recently moved to Denver, I hoped to ski the famous Colorado powder. Even though it did not snow the night before, Copper Mountain was a beautiful place to ski. I enjoyed the blue-bird conditions and the small village.
Arapahoe Basin – Colorado
A local resort where ski tailgating occurs in the parking lots, A-Basin has a party atmosphere. It also reminds me of the ski resorts in Washington that are on forest land with rudimentary lodges and facilities. However, A-Basin does has lodges on the mountain. My time at A-Basin consisted on overcast skies and snow falling. The terrain was better than Copper, and we had fun trying to ride all the lifts at the resort.
Timberline – Oregon
After my first outing for the WAC Basic Climbing class, I reluctantly drove down to Mt. Hood for skiing. My friends, Julie and Thaddée, offered to share their hotel room at the rustic Timberline Lodge. The lodge did not disappoint. I just wish I would have had more energy to explore its beautiful woodwork. After a beautiful morning with views of Mt. Hood, the clouds rolled in and covered the snow-covered peak and continued to enjoy the resort.
I am sad to see the season end, but I am excited for the activities that will fill the void. Stay tuned for more posts on my ski trips the next few weeks!
What is your favorite ski destination?
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