Crystal Mountain is our local ski resort of choice. Since moving to WA a couple years ago, we’ve gotten to know the resort pretty well. This year they added a gondola to the summit house, which has had somewhat mixed feelings from us.
While browsing the US Forest Service’s website, we happened to come across Crystal’s master development plan for the resort. According to the website, the amended plan was approved on January 5, 2011. This plan lays out exactly what the resort plans on adding in the future. So, here’s some highlights that we’ve noticed:
High Campbell lift replacement:
The current lift that serves High Campbell is an old fixed grip double chair lift. Thanks to the orientation of the lift line, any time that winds pick up, the lift has to shut down for safety reasons. The end result is that High Campbell doesn’t actually run all that frequently.
Crystal has been approved to replace this lift with a fixed grip quad chair lift. The chairs will be spaced further apart than on the current lift, so the capacity will be the same. However, they should be able to operate in higher winds than the current lift. The top terminal may also move a bit to provide for easier unloading.
This is a new project that wasn’t in the previously approved MDP.
Bullion Basin redevelopment:
Up the hill from lot C, there are some trails and foundations from a previous chair lift. This area is going to be redeveloped as the new entry to the resort.
Previously the chair lift was going to be installed at the bottom of lot B, but this has now moved to the end of lot C. There will also be a ticket window constructed. The end result is going to be a few more trails opening up and a much shorter walk from the cars.
The downside to this change is that previously a detachable quad lift was approved for service and this has been switched to a used fixed grip double lift. This will increase ride time from 3 minutes to 5.2 minutes and decrease capacity from 2000 people per hour to 1200.
At the top of the lift there will be a small building constructed to sell prepackaged snacks.
According to the document, construction could begin as soon as this spring. Sounds like getting from the car next year may be a bit easier.
You can read the full document on the Forest Service’s website here.
I’m so bummed to read this. East Crystal / Boullion Basin has been a terrific, safe area to go rip backcountry turns and then have a beer with your buds at the lodge afterwards. From the skiers POV, the new terrain isn’t anything special, and will basically just plus the terrain near Gold Hills. It ups the total hill acreage (great for marcom), is mediocre terrain as shown, and all but ruins the tail end of a sweet backcountry spot that has proven incredibly stable in even epic deep snow conditions. Yay? Nay.
I agree with this completely. i have gone hiking up here a few times and it never dissapoints. What used to be deep snow will more than likely be grroomed over and the queit and peacefulness of making turns through the ssnow and that being the only sound will likley turn into a mess of skiiers of all abilities and the sound of the chairlift motor buzzing. This may be good for crystal, but not for us adventurous skiiers.
Any updates on a timeline on the either project/development? Can’t seem to find anything online. Thanks for the heads up!