BULLETLYNN

Little sister moved out to Tacoma and going to visit her in February. Looks like White Pass and Crystal Mountain are pretty close. I am more of a green/blue guy but will do some blacks.

White pass looks like it might have some really cool tree boarding? But has less vertical and less terrain.

Any opinions on which one is better if I only get one day out there?

Thanks!

bseracka

I'd skip White and hit Crystal. Crystal has the most terrain, steepest terrain, plenty of trees and gets the most snow in the Seattle/Tacoma area. The one thing it doesn't have is a park.

NWBoarder

Crystal is the better option from Tacoma, especially for only a day. It will be a lot closer to you than White pass. It's true there is no park, but the terrain more than makes up for it. Plenty of natural stuff to freestyle off of. There's also a jib park if you're into that kind of thing. White Pass does have EPIC tree runs though. If it was me, I'd try to visit my sister for more than one day, or make more than one visit.

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sizzle

crystal has a "park", but it's just rails/boxes, no jumps

bseracka

Their rail "park" 2 seasons ago wasn't terrible. Last year's rail park was so half-assed and haphazzard it boardered on unsafe. Why they bought an air bag and and put together a rail park, but have decided jumps are a no go, I'll never understand. Their stance on jumps is even more baffeling when you think about how big of a draw their park at Snoqualmie (sister property) is.

NWBoarder

The air bag at Crystal is confusing to me as well. I find it funny that the same company owns Crystal, Stevens, and Snoqualmie, and chooses to put the airbag at the most non-freestyle oriented mountain. Especially since Stevens or Snoqualmie would be much better suited for it.

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BULLETLYNN

NWBoarder good point on visiting more than once. Only problem is long expensive flight from NW Ohio. If I have the time I am going to try and hit both but only have 2-3 days there. On return flight I am going hit either big sky again or Utah area.
Thanks for all of the input!

bseracka

Same ownership group for all three, but only Crystal and Snoqualmie have the same management company. When Stevens was sold they stayed with the previous management company, which is why we haven't seen a unified pass yet.

BigmountainVMD

Go to Crystal and head to Northway Peak. All the way right on the trail map. Make sure you keep your speed up on the cat tracks or you will have to push to get there. It it's a pretty long traverse, but once you are there it's awesome. The bowls may be slightly difficult if you only ride blues, but the trees at the bottom are SOOOOOO worth it. Get there early to avoid tons of bumps in the bowls, but the trees stay good until early afternoon since many people don't like the traverse to get there. Really mellow pillows in the trees for awhile down there. I rode at Crystal for 4 years or so, but didn't even discover the awesomeness that is Northway until my 3rd year. The 2 person lift is slow, but thats the only drawback.

wrathfuldeity

Ehhh....just plan on calling-in and change your flight schedule now....take a week or two and add Hood and Baker while ur here since its a long expensive flight from NW Ohio. Your sis will understand that you had to steal her car for a week and bring it back full of empties and old corn dog sticks.

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