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Skiing in WA

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cyphers
Posts: 1828 - Karma: 20,925
I'm about to apply to a bunch of schools, including UW. Even though skiing definitely isn't the most important thing I am looking for in a college, I was wondering how the skiing in Washington holds up against the Rocky Mtn. region.
I am mostly a big mountain skier, so any information about the steeps and cliffs in Snoqualmie, Stevens Pass, etc. would be much appreciated.
PS. Sorry for posting another college thread, I was only able to find stuff about park skiing when I searched.
8 years ago
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rudolph
Posts: 634 - Karma: 979
The PNW, especially Washington has good terrain and some of the best terrain within a short drive. BC is not too far and I sure other people at your college will be down for some road trips. Friends of mine that went to UW skied a lot at Stevens, bc of a good park and some solid terrain. There are some other resorts, Baker, um cough, that has some of the largest double, triples right under the chair plus the Arm is ok spot to hike build...All the smaller resorts in the cascades have good terrain but heavier snow then the Rockies, due to it being a maritime snow ( 6-10% vs 15-20). If you do come to school here, get a Goretex kit, you will need it for the rain. Feel free to DM me any questions, I went to U of U and looked heavily at UW, and i remember being in the same position
8 years ago
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cyphers
Posts: 1828 - Karma: 20,925
rudolphThe PNW, especially Washington has good terrain and some of the best terrain within a short drive. BC is not too far and I sure other people at your college will be down for some road trips. Friends of mine that went to UW skied a lot at Stevens, bc of a good park and some solid terrain. There are some other resorts, Baker, um cough, that has some of the largest double, triples right under the chair plus the Arm is ok spot to hike build...All the smaller resorts in the cascades have good terrain but heavier snow then the Rockies, due to it being a maritime snow ( 6-10% vs 15-20). If you do come to school here, get a Goretex kit, you will need it for the rain. Feel free to DM me any questions, I went to U of U and looked heavily at UW, and i remember being in the same position


Thanks for the reply. Good to know about BC and Baker, I hadn't really thought about the Northern mountains.
I will definitely DM you if I am able to come up with any more specific questions.
8 years ago
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CB4TSB
Posts: 428 - Karma: 1,221
Snoqualmie - 3 small mountains plus Alpental with small step inbounds skiing with TONS of side country. On big pow days Alpental gets very crowded as it only has two lifts, a high speed quad feeding into a two person fixed. Powder Tuesdays are epic but the lift line on two can be 1/2-1 hour long. Bring avy gear for the high traverse. (shortest drive from campus)

Stevens - the most popular mountain for UW kids. Good all mt skiing, many in bounds cliffs and good out of bounds lines. Cowboy ridge has some epic short steep lines on the in bounds side. The out of bounds side country is great, but be safe, know your lines and carry your avy gear.

Crystal Mt. - longer drive than Stevens but has the most of what your looking for. Above alpine peaks, steep lines, cliffs. They hold a WFT qualifier there every year. South peak is all time when the conditions are right.

Baker- 2.5 -3 hour drive from campus but worth it. They gets TONS of snow and are always the first to open by a week or two. Big lines in the Hemis above alpine and sneaky big pillows and cliffs in the middle of in bounds. Baker is way more of a locals pro mountain, than a city resort.

All of the western cascade resorts are smaller with less vert than the big boys in the Rockies but all of them have things to offer for big mountain skiing. and you've got Whistler 4 hours to the north and hood 4 hours to the south
8 years ago
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cyphers
Posts: 1828 - Karma: 20,925
CB4TSBSnoqualmie - 3 small mountains plus Alpental with small step inbounds skiing with TONS of side country. On big pow days Alpental gets very crowded as it only has two lifts, a high speed quad feeding into a two person fixed. Powder Tuesdays are epic but the lift line on two can be 1/2-1 hour long. Bring avy gear for the high traverse. (shortest drive from campus)

Stevens - the most popular mountain for UW kids. Good all mt skiing, many in bounds cliffs and good out of bounds lines. Cowboy ridge has some epic short steep lines on the in bounds side. The out of bounds side country is great, but be safe, know your lines and carry your avy gear.

Crystal Mt. - longer drive than Stevens but has the most of what your looking for. Above alpine peaks, steep lines, cliffs. They hold a WFT qualifier there every year. South peak is all time when the conditions are right.

Baker- 2.5 -3 hour drive from campus but worth it. They gets TONS of snow and are always the first to open by a week or two. Big lines in the Hemis above alpine and sneaky big pillows and cliffs in the middle of in bounds. Baker is way more of a locals pro mountain, than a city resort.

All of the western cascade resorts are smaller with less vert than the big boys in the Rockies but all of them have things to offer for big mountain skiing. and you've got Whistler 4 hours to the north and hood 4 hours to the south


This was a super helpful response. I can't stand lift lines, so thanks for letting me know about the situation at Alpental.
It seems like Crystal, Stevens Pass, and Baker keep coming up so I will do some more research on those.
As for Whistler/BC, can anyone fill me in on how easy it is to cross the border? Do I just need a passport?
8 years ago
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25444 - Karma: 13,856
And weed. Mounties love it when you tip them blunts.
8 years ago
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cyphers
Posts: 1828 - Karma: 20,925
I did some searching, and it seems like you just need a passport.

http://traveltips.usatoday.com/documents-needed-between-canada-usa-car-21162.html
8 years ago
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Wibby
Posts: 293 - Karma: 165
may want to include WWU in that school list.

Bellingham is close to Baker.
8 years ago
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Pat.t
Posts: 246 - Karma: 2,023
Stevens is the goat and has the best pow skiing and I know that a lot of homies from UW ride there
8 years ago
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cyphers
Posts: 1828 - Karma: 20,925
Wibbymay want to include WWU in that school list.

Bellingham is close to Baker.


I looked into it. Sadly, they don't have the major I want to go into. It's also kind of a bummer that they don't have frats.

Pat.tStevens is the goat and has the best pow skiing and I know that a lot of homies from UW ride there


Yeah it seems like Stevens is the place to be for UW students. I will try to go out to Crystal for a comp this winter, maybe try to get to Stevens as well.
8 years ago
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artrud
Posts: 598 - Karma: 1,471
Bring your raincoat when you go skiing, tons of rain compared to Rocky Mtn region. Much shorter winters as well. Colleges in Boulder, Utah, and Montana sound pretty rad and usually get more/better snow.

If you do move here, Stevens is your best bet for what you're looking for.
8 years ago
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dizzydizzy
Posts: 303 - Karma: 1,024
artrud23Bring your raincoat when you go skiing, tons of rain compared to Rocky Mtn region. Much shorter winters as well. Colleges in Boulder, Utah, and Montana sound pretty rad and usually get more/better snow.

If you do move here, Stevens is your best bet for what you're looking for.


this, WA is pretty bad by all accounts, very wet short seasons. I'd stick to CO UT or MT
8 years ago
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dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847
artrud23Bring your raincoat when you go skiing, tons of rain compared to Rocky Mtn region. Much shorter winters as well. Colleges in Boulder, Utah, and Montana sound pretty rad and usually get more/better snow.

If you do move here, Stevens is your best bet for what you're looking for.


They don't get more snow than WA, just lighter snow. WA gets tons of snow. Yes it does rain occasionally, but I would rather ski WA than CO, other than Silverton.
8 years ago
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Blu
Posts: 39 - Karma: 375
dizzydizzythis, WA is pretty bad by all accounts, very wet short seasons. I'd stick to CO UT or MT


The only things worth skiing in CO UT and MT is snowbird/alta and big sky unless ur a groomer hero or a park rat. CO resorts are a joke and the backcountry snowpack makes everything unskiable. WA has exceptional backcountry terrain and crystal is really underrated.
8 years ago
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Casey
Posts: 8007 - Karma: 26,765
dan4060They don't get more snow than WA, just lighter snow. WA gets tons of snow. Yes it does rain occasionally, but I would rather ski WA than CO, other than Silverton.


It seemed like the storms in Montana were way more predictable that on the coast, where no one has any idea what's going to happen until it's actually happening. Also not to sound like a giant pussy but the interior is cold AF with gnarly wind chill. In Washington it pretty much hovers between 20-40 degrees most of the time.
8 years ago
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Espen519
Posts: 552 - Karma: 969
bread_birdThis was a super helpful response. I can't stand lift lines, so thanks for letting me know about the situation at Alpental.
It seems like Crystal, Stevens Pass, and Baker keep coming up so I will do some more research on those.
As for Whistler/BC, can anyone fill me in on how easy it is to cross the border? Do I just need a passport?


Alright, so I live close to Tacoma now and will be riding Crystal again , because crystal is awesome and has some amazing terrain, but I lived in Bellingham and worked at Mt Baker all of last season, so I can vouch for that as well if you're looking for pow skiing and crazy terrain inbounds. LOL blew my knee out goin full send into Hairy Scary Chute there closing day.

Did one or two seasons and stevens and it was cool, they've probably got the most consistently solid park , followed close by snoqualmie.

Basically, if you're more into freeride and hucking cliffs, try Crystal or Baker (long drive from UW tho) and if parks more your thing go to Stevens or Snoqualmie. Either one is solid and both have good terrain as well, I'm just more biased towards Baker and Crystal terrain.
8 years ago
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cozzey
Posts: 1353 - Karma: 1,814
Not to thread jack but kind of so sorry...

I am also a senior and I live in Denver so im use to all of this terrain and snow. I was wondering if anyone ever looked at Westminster College in Utah, literally down the street from U of U and what they thought about it. It is one of my top choices due to location and majors.

I am also looking at Whitman and University of Puget Sound in WA so if anyone has any ideas on better skiing, shorter lines, less people, let me know...

I am very undecided right now and could use some help. I am looking more towards Westminster, but Whitman being a better college is where my parents want me to go.
8 years ago
1 0
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Sklar
Posts: 8865 - Karma: 31,617
cozzeyNot to thread jack but kind of so sorry...

I am also a senior and I live in Denver so im use to all of this terrain and snow. I was wondering if anyone ever looked at Westminster College in Utah, literally down the street from U of U and what they thought about it. It is one of my top choices due to location and majors.

I am also looking at Whitman and University of Puget Sound in WA so if anyone has any ideas on better skiing, shorter lines, less people, let me know...

I am very undecided right now and could use some help. I am looking more towards Westminster, but Whitman being a better college is where my parents want me to go.


I went to Puget Sound. Hit me up if you want more info.
8 years ago
1 0
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Chubz.
Posts: 13918 - Karma: 25,672
cozzeyNot to thread jack but kind of so sorry...

I am also a senior and I live in Denver so im use to all of this terrain and snow. I was wondering if anyone ever looked at Westminster College in Utah, literally down the street from U of U and what they thought about it. It is one of my top choices due to location and majors.

I am also looking at Whitman and University of Puget Sound in WA so if anyone has any ideas on better skiing, shorter lines, less people, let me know...

I am very undecided right now and could use some help. I am looking more towards Westminster, but Whitman being a better college is where my parents want me to go.


I have a few homies that go to westmini and they love it. I’ve spent a few weeks out in Utah visiting and feeling out the vibe of the school and it’s awesome. Really close knit community, AWESOME ski club and everybody was extremely open and nice. Parties were rad, skiing is insanely close and salt lake is one of my favorite cities. If you’re leaning towards Westminster I would highly suggest it! Might transfer out there next fall after the spring semester.
8 years ago
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OregonDead
Posts: 7053 - Karma: 26,388
bread_birdI looked into it. Sadly, they don't have the major I want to go into. It's also kind of a bummer that they don't have frats.



Yeah it seems like Stevens is the place to be for UW students. I will try to go out to Crystal for a comp this winter, maybe try to get to Stevens as well.

Lots of fraternal type organisations besides just those that are through the school. People that are in community groups like to party too and are probably more likely to hook u up with jobs because some of the members will already be in government or own their own business etc. Frats can be good groups too but you can join Rotary or Kiwanis or lots of other groups like that if you want to do community service.

Colorado is not really on the west coast so I think you are on the right track with Washington OP. Might want to look at the tons of good quality private schools in the PNW too. Sometimes you can get a better net price after scholarships so don't be scared off by the sticker shock.
8 years ago
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Park_Ranger
Posts: 3825 - Karma: 8,635
Was just up in Seattle last week. So ill up there
8 years ago
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gbola
Posts: 266 - Karma: 737
is there a big ski community up at uw
8 years ago
1 1
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cyphers
Posts: 1828 - Karma: 20,925
dizzydizzythis, WA is pretty bad by all accounts, very wet short seasons. I'd stick to CO UT or MT

Your schemes are no match for my Google search abilities
7 years ago
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Casey
Posts: 8007 - Karma: 26,765
bread_birdYour schemes are no match for my Google search abilities


Lol did you Google, "why does everyone from Seattle tell me not to go there?"
7 years ago
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cyphers
Posts: 1828 - Karma: 20,925
CaseyLol did you Google, "why does everyone from Seattle tell me not to go there?"


I think I did something like "washington site:newschoolers.com" in the searchbar. You guys kept it well hidden
7 years ago
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Kulharin
Posts: 97 - Karma: 133
Of course you should consider southern BC... Depending where you are in Washington some cross-boarder recommendations are Apex, Mt Baldy, Big White, Red and Whitewater. I don't often recommend quasi-coastal BC resorts as they are mostly too low in elevation and vulnerable to rain... Whistler is overpriced and crowded... you're looking at a $140 day and get to drive through one of Canada's worst cities for traffic to get there.

Also, get a good wetsuit and take up surfing if you're anywhere near coastal Washington
7 years ago
1 0
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Casey
Posts: 8007 - Karma: 26,765
bread_birdI think I did something like "washington site:newschoolers.com" in the searchbar. You guys kept it well hidden


Well thread or not, there is one thing everyone in Washington can agree on- they are pissed that you moved here and want you to leave.
7 years ago
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RudyGarmisch
Posts: 25444 - Karma: 13,856
I for one miss squiggles. I hope he's treating the mormons well.
7 years ago
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