Crystal’s new $5.5 million Mt. Rainier Gondola opened January 1, 2011 and it’s worth every penny.  Just ride it once, and you’ll be hooked.

It’s so fast and ridiculously quiet that it’s almost surreal.  The ride to the top takes less than 10 minutes—compare that to about 20 minutes when you ride Chinook Express and Rainier Express to the same point (assuming there are no mid-mountain lines) and you can see how easy our skiing life has become.  We can access our favorite terrain more quickly, stay warm and dry while doing so, and even readjust layers, check text messages,… Read Full Story

All the rain that’s falling in the lowlands is falling as snow at Crystal, and it’s starting to look like a winter wonderland!  Time to wax your skis and boards, and start doing those lunges!

There’s so much happening at Crystal for this winter.  The new 8-passenger gondola is on schedule, and it’s going to be really cool!  Skiers and boarders will love being able to bypass mid-mountain lines and get to the top faster, but one of the best things about the new gondola (in our opinion) is the fact that non-skiers will be able to enjoy Crystal’s winter… Read Full Story

We love the Noble Knob trail, and hike it several times each year.  The views of Mt. Rainier are glorious any time of year.  The wildflowers are incredible in the summer.  And now (in September) the huckleberries are everywhere.

You can actually hike to Noble Knob from Alta Crystal Resort,  It’s about 4 miles each way.  The first 3 1/2 miles is forested (with some great spots for views of the White River Valley).  At about 3 1/2 miles, you come to a clearing with an incredible view of the mountain!  Breathtaking.

At this point, the trail gets steep for… Read Full Story