Snowfall doesn’t always spell disaster.
At Stevens Pass Mountain Resort, it’s a cause for celebration.
Since opening in 1937, the 1,125-acre mountain resort has become a winter hotspot for Washington skiers and snowboarders.
The 65-mile drive from Everett goes through changing landscapes of pleasant stretches of farmland and forest to say-your-prayers switchbacks over Stevens Pass on U.S. 2.
Prepare for your trip
Check weather and traffic reports before you go. Cameras are fixed on locations throughout the slopes and roads to provide real-time glimpses of visibility and road conditions. Consider getting a seat on a shuttle bus and letting someone skilled do the white-knuckle driving.
Get going
The 2016-17 season opened in late November and is expected to close April 23 or later, conditions permitting.
“For some reason winter wants to hang on and people want to keep skiing, ” said ski resort spokesman Chris Danforth. “Last year was the busiest season on record, and this year is pacing to be a little bit stronger.”
Operational hours vary, with closing times ranging from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. depending on the day. Check the online schedule before you go. Consider going during non-peak times, when lift tickets cost less.
Pick your course
The resort has equipment rental and ski lessons. Experienced skiers and snowboarders can go Alpine or cross-country skiing through a range of trails, with the expert double black diamond slope peaking near the 5,845-foot summit of Cowboy Mountain.
Skiers and boarders of all shapes and sizes zip around the courses.
Marcus Lindsay, a nursing student from Mukilteo, stuck to the bunny slopes.
“It was my first time boarding,” Lindsay said. “The lifts are easy and fast, with little lines if you go early during the week. I had a really good time. I would suggest going with a group of friends and carpooling. Dress warm, wear gloves, and that’s about it.”
To encourage carpooling, cars with four or more people can park free in the prime spots that cost those others $20.
Parking lot expansions added 350 new spots this year. “The vast majority are free,” Danforth said.
Events throughout the season include a playground for the kids, holiday activities, skiathons and races.
After ski season ends, there’s a break in the action.
“It is pretty quiet as we fire up for summer activity,” Danforth said. “We sit and watch the snow melt. It’s like watching paint dry.”
But the fun doesn’t end when the snow melts. A new season of fun begins.
In warm weather, the area is a favorite for outdoor enthusiasts on foot and wheels.
In 2016, the resort opened a bike park with numerous trails and racing events. It is expected to be open this year from late June through early October.
“The mountain bike park is the big thing,” Danforth said. “It’s the only lift-service mountain biking in the state of Washington.”
The high-speed quad chairlift offers a panoramic view of the Cascades.
Hikers can hop on a leg of the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail at Stevens Pass.
“Every time I set foot on the Pacific Crest Trail, I think how crazy it is that the trail goes continuously all the way to Mexico,” said Rudy Giecek, who writes the blog “North Cascade Hiker” and podcasts as “Cascade Hiker” (www.northcascadehiker.com).
“I love walking the Pacific Crest Trail south or north from the Highway 2 crossing. It can be a fun time for hikers to climb through the empty, ghostly chair lifts on a sunny summer day.”
The resort also has disc golf, RV camping, yoga, archery events and adventure games for kids.
It is 35 miles from Leavenworth, a Bavarian wonderland of dining, shops, spas, arts, music, microbrews, wine tours and interesting museums.
Five summer activities
1. Chairlift rides: Head up the high-speed quad chairlift and enjoy the peace and views of the Cascade Mountains in the summer. You can either ride the lift or walk down the hike-only trail back to the base area.
2. Hiking: The 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail runs straight through the heart of Stevens Pass. You can catch the PCT from the base area or take a more leisurely approach and ride up the chairlift. From the top of the lift, hike a connector trail to the PCT and then hike back to the base area. Along the way, see pika, marmots, alpine plant life and wildflowers.
3. Disc golf: The disc golf course has 18 holes of play on a dramatic mountain landscape. Ride the chairlift up and play disc golf down. Rental discs are available at the bike shop.
4. Yoga: Experience all-level Vinyasa-style yoga in an alpine setting.
5. RV camping: If you’re looking to make a weekend out of the bike park or just heading over the pass, there’s an RV lot complete with plug-ins.
Source: www.StevensPass.com
Along the way
Stretch your legs at Eagle Falls, a few miles from Index where the Skykomish River parallels the road. The waterfall is a short trek along a trail with thick brush and a slippery jump over precariously spaced rocks in water. There are two small pullover spots, though you wouldn’t know from the road there’s anything special back there. It’s worth getting your feet wet.
Don’t change your shoes yet. Next stop is Deception Falls, about 20 minutes down the highway. The trail is safer to negotiate for kids and uncoordinated adults. There’s an observation bridge where you can see the rapids up close and hear them roar.
Romping around this neck of the woods is a day trip in itself for hiking, rafting and losing yourself in nature.
Brake for Bigfoot
Stop at Espresso Chalet at milepost marker 36 on U.S. 2. Opened in 1991, it is one of the longest-running coffee stands in Snohomish County. The site was one of the sets for the movie “Harry and the Hendersons,” a 1987 comedy starring John Lithgow about a family that adopts a friendly Sasquatch after accidentally hitting him with their station wagon.
In addition to the giant chainsaw-carved Sasquatch, its likeness is everywhere at the coffee stand chalet that sits against the backdrop of Mount Index. There are Bigfoot signs, statues, souvenirs, specials and footprints. Warm up with a Stevens Passquatch latte or a Lift Ticket with four shots of espresso and heavy cream in an 8-ounce cup.
Customers can search for Sasquatch or sled, hike, bike or picnic in the 5-acre Bigfoot Park behind the coffee stand.
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