February 20, 2019: Head up to The Summit for Powder Wednesday! We received 8.5" overnight at Summit West, 10" at the base of Alpental, and 11" at the top of Alpental. We're open at Summit Central and Alpental from 9am-10pm. West opens at 4pm for powder night laps. Phenomenal skiing wherever you go today. If you need steep cord, you can find it on Outback, Hog Wild, Silver Nugget, Alpine, Triple 60 Face, and Parachute. Looking forward to some midweek mayhem!
February 16, 2019: Come spend your mid-winter holiday at The Summit, you deserve it! All of our mountain areas are open for the long weekend. It's a cloudy morning up here and forecasts are calling for similar conditions all day (with the chance of snow showers). We've got quality corduroy on each of our hills made of packed powder that can hold an edge all the way to China. There will be steep cord on Outback, Alpine, Parachute, Beaver Lake, Thunderbolt, Hyak Face, Revelation, and Hidden Valley. Head to Summit East for untracked powder, it hasn't been open since the big snow. Can't wait to get out there. See ya soon!
K2 girls Noelle and Michelle enjoying the Alpental snow.
February 15, 2019: Start your weekend at The Summit and take advantage of our new snowpack! I strapped on the snowshoes this morning to check our stake and only made it a few feet off the groomed — it was too deep and powdery to pack a trail, so we'll have to go with WSDOT's base depth number for now (99"). Snow conditions are great for your Friday on the slopes. Packed powder will provide excellent turns on the groomed runs and off-piste will offer powder leftovers from the storm. We received 2-3" of new snow overnight, some of which was skied through during night operations. The good news is forecasts are calling for another 1-3" of accumulation throughout the day. Silver Fir's got the most fresh snow and steep cord today (Outback, Hog Wild, Silver Nugget), so get your warm-up laps over there. We'll be open at Summit Central and Alpental from 9am-10pm. Summit West opens at 4pm with fresh grooming and hopefully some fresh powder over the top. Looking forward to those Friday turns. See ya soon!
Austin Blair grabbing some air in the Snake Dance area of Alpental.
February 9, 2019: It felt great to have to strap on the snowshoes this morning to check our snow stake. We received 11" at Summit West and 12" at the base of Alpental — it's a full-blown powder day! Strap 'em up and get here early. We're open at all areas today with blower pow everywhere. You'll find the deepest snow near the mid-mountain mark at Alpental, where we stacked up 14" of new. We'll have supreme grooming at all areas for when you need a break from the deep. The off-piste powder is very nice, but watch out for the crust underneath, especially on steep runs. There's steep cord on Outback, Silver Nugget, Hog Wild, Alpine Bowl, Triple 60 Face, and Hyak Face. Can't wait to get out there. Pick your favorite area and rip it 'til the cows come home!
Alpental Notice: Chair 2 is open. Watch out for frozen avalanche debris in certain areas under all the fresh snow. Snow depth on the upper mountain is variable as a result of wind, please use caution.
February 8, 2019: Today's the day we've been waiting for. It's currently snowing and forecasts are saying it will continue through tomorrow! Accumulation for today and tonight is expected to be in the 4-8" range — could turn out to be more, things change quickly in the Northwest. Light snowfall started just before 6am and it's ramping up here as we've rounded the corner into the afternoon. The heaviest snowfall is still ahead of us — Friday night skiing sounds like a great option. If you arrive before significant accumulation, please enjoy our phenomenal groomers until off-piste is ready to rip (currently everything that isn't groomed is hard-packed and unfriendly). We're open at Summit Central and Alpental from 9am-10pm. Summit West joins the party at 4pm (hopefully it's a powder party by then). Either way, wall-to-wall cord at West when it opens, including Beaver Lake and 360 Bowl. Over at Alpental we have groomed lanes up in Edelweiss Bowl just below the tree island, so you'll have to earn your way to the cord, but it's a fun one (experts only up there). Can't wait to see where the day takes us. Drive carefully and we'll see ya up here!
Triple 60 Closures: The following runs off of Triple 60 Chair are closed due to unforgiving snow conditions: Rip Cord, Revenge, Freefall, Nose Dive, and Show Off. Bonanza Face off of Central Express is also closed. Patrol will reevaluate these runs as new snow accumulates.
Flash test 1. Photo by Riley Seebeck
Later edit…
February 8, 2019: Today's the day we've been waiting for. It's currently nuking and forecasts are saying it will continue through tomorrow! Accumulation for today and tonight is expected to be in the 4-8" range — could turn out to be more, things change quickly in the Northwest. Light snowfall started just before 6am and it's really coming down now as we head into the late afternoon — Friday night skiing is the move tonight! We're open at Summit Central and Alpental from 9am-10pm. Summit West joins the party at 4pm with untouched, high-quality powder and grooming. Can't wait to get out there and rip some nighttime fun! Drive carefully and we'll see ya up here!
Remote flash as I cut through the trees at Summit West. Photo by Riley Seebeck
February 7, 2019: Head to The Summit for another day on the groomers! We enjoyed the best cord of the season yesterday and we're expecting similar snow conditions today — cold and dry. Off-piste is firm and unfriendly, so we don't recommend skiing in those areas, but you won't want to after your first edge-cut through this mouthwatering cord. Forecasts are calling for partly sunny morning conditions to become mostly cloudy in the afternoon, bringing snow back to the forecast. Don't expect much tonight, but Friday and Saturday look very promising, so we won't blame you if you get your hopes up. Summit Central and Alpental are open today from 9am-10pm. Summit West opens at 4pm with more premium corduroy. Can't wait to get out there! See ya soon!
Alpental Patrol skiing the groomed lanes in Edelweiss Bowl.
Triple 60 Closure: Triple 60 Chair will be closed for the remainder of the evening due to icy conditions on the face.
February 6, 2019: It's another cold, bluebird day on Snoqualmie Pass! The cord today feels like the best of the season thanks to recent snowfall, cold temps, and our cat operators. Don't wait to get up here and slash it up! Snow conditions will be challenging off-piste, so the theme of the day will be midweek cruisers.
Jeff Caven ripping through his own cloud on a cold morning in February.
January 27, 2019: Clear skies over Snoqualmie Pass this morning, get ready for another sunny day! We're open at all base areas, so come rip soft snow at your favorite spot. It'll feel like spring again when the sun hits the hills, except for the angle of the sun. Shady areas will take a little longer to soften up. Grooming did a great job smoothing out the hills and added Mountaineers to the winching lineup — try it out if you find yourself using the crossovers between West and Central. All crossovers are open, so ditch the road and travel between base areas by ski (or board), you'll still have to shuttle to Alpental, though. Check out our Trail Status to see what's open and where you can find steep (or mild) cord. Last chair is at 5pm today. Looking forward to a great Sunday! See you soon!
Alpental: Chair 2 is open with bowlside access only. Great skiing on the upper mountain. The lower mountain is still mostly in the shade.
Parking: Don't forget that we have overflow lots with shuttle service. If you're having trouble finding parking, refer to our Parking Guide. Great info on that page from top to bottom.
Triple 60: Triple 60 Chair will be closed Monday and Tuesday for scheduled maintenance. It will reopen Wednesday at 4pm. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Snow Depth Advisory: Thin snow cover exists in certain areas. Please use additional care and caution.
January 26, 2019: Looking up at a starry sky this morning has me excited for a sunny day on the slopes! We're open at all base areas today with night skiing at Central, West, and Silver Fir. You'll find extensive grooming at all areas with steep cord on Parachute, Triple 60 Face, Alpine Bowl, Silver Nugget, Hog Wild, Hidden Valley, Meister, and even up in Edelweiss Bowl. Expect spring conditions when the sun rises and turns the mountain into a playground of soft snow. All crossovers are open this weekend, so I'll be taking the grand tour, skiing from Pacific Crest all the way to Hidden Valley and back. Using the crossovers is the best way to maximize your time on the snow when switching between base areas — no sitting in 906 traffic. Forecasts are calling for sunshine all day with mild temps, so dress light and wear sunscreen. Can't wait to get out there! Drive carefully on your way up and we'll see ya soon!
Alpental: Chair 2 will open at 10am with access to bowlside runs only.
Tyler Bongiani turning through the afternoon moguls on Triple 60.
Parking: Don't forget that we have overflow lots with shuttle service. If you're having trouble finding parking, refer to our Parking Guide. Great info on that page from top to bottom.
Snow Depth Advisory: Thin snow cover exists in certain areas. Please use additional care and caution.
December 22, 2018: It's opening day at Alpental! The lower mountain will be open from 9am-4pm and Chair 2 will run from 12pm-3pm. Summit West and Summit Central will be open from 9am-10pm with the exception of Silver Fir, which closes at 3:30pm. Forecasts say we could be seeing new snow by this afternoon or evening. That could make our second night of skiing pretty magical. The numbers look nice (5-7"). It's cold and crisp out there, so the snow will be firm until the expected new snowfall covers it up. Having said that, there will be 1-2" of light snow on the surface at Alpental since no one's skied it yet (also at West because it's been closed since Sunday). Be careful on steep slopes — with current snow conditions, falls can result in long slides down the mountain. Looking forward to future snowfall. See you out there!
Corey Nugent waiting in line to ride up Chair 2 at Alpental.
Corey Nugent charging down Schluct at Alpental.
Alpental: Chair 2 is now open! Frontside/bowlside runs only. Grooming and terrain will be limited for Alpental’s opening. Sessel will probably be the best skiing on the lower mountain. Stay tuned for updates. Conditions at Alpental will be very challenging, please be prepared and ski/ride with caution. Snow conditions up top are improving as more skier traffic rolls through and breaks up that punchy layer.
Morning colors on Pacific Crest.
Nordic Update: The upper Nordic trails open for the season today. Trail access will be via Silver Fir Express with downloads at 12:30pm and 3:30pm (only at these times). The last upload of the day on Silver Fir will be at 2:30pm. Visit our Nordic page for a grooming report and additional info.
Tubing Update: The Tubing Center opens today with limited sessions from 9am-5:45pm.
Snow Depth Advisory: Thin snow cover exists in places. Please use additional care and caution.
May 5, 2018: We made it! Happy Cinco de Mayo! Alpental will be open from 9am-4pm for all to enjoy! Come join us for the last party of the season! We'll have music, beer, a taco bar, costumes, a piñata, and more! Forecasts show favorable conditions, partly cloudy with a high of around 65 degrees. Can't wait to chow down on some spring snow and tacos. See you soon!
Nash Gate Notice: The Nash Gate is now open. Do not enter the Back Bowls without a buddy and do not enter Elevator Gate. Elevator Gate will remain closed this weekend. If you choose to access the Back Bowls via Nash Gate, please be very cautious, watch for holes and snow boulders and do not ski Elevator or the surrounding "near" Back Bowls area (Elevator, Gun Barrel, Rock Face, Roxoff, Brownie Bowl, etc). Please avoid the Knoll 4 area as well. Significant climax hazard exists in many of those areas. Please maintain visual contact with your partner(s) at all times and watch for snow boulder movement as well as snow releasing from on or near rock faces. If you're not familiar with the areas listed above, please do not enter the Back Bowls or stop in and ask for guidance from Alpental Pro Patrol at the top of Chair 2. We are dealing with rotten snow and a very interesting snowpack and Pro Patrol is working hard to open and keep open as much terrain as possible. You're caution, respect of closures, and understanding will greatly help. Thank you!
Parking Notice: All Alpental lots are full as of 9:30am. Overflow parking is available at Summit West with shuttle service running from Summit West to Alpental. Sorry for the inconvenience and thanks for understanding.
Alpental Notice: Cascade Traverse is currently open. It was closed yesterday (5/4) due to high avalanche danger and large falling chunks. Ski with caution in all areas and please respect ropelines and closures.
All restrictions for LTD and X-Passes have been lifted. Holders of these passes can now ski anytime we're open at Alpental for the rest of the season! Enjoy!
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job as a snow reporter was working with Ski Patrol. These guys and girls are professionals, and I felt very lucky to hear their insights each and every morning. Furthermore, I was honored that they trusted me to relay their messages to the public. On this particular day in May 2018, I skied out Nash Gate with Alpental Pro Patrol to highlight spring avalanche hazards to help our guests understand why the Back Bowls were closed, even when no avalanche control work was being performed. In the spring, particularly during a good snow year, which we had in 2018, the snow on the cliffs recedes into isolated pockets that can’t be controlled by Patrol. The danger is realized when these snow boulders, some of them the size of small cars, decide to fall out of the pockets that harbor them.
Alpental Pro Patrol checking spring avalanche conditions.
April 29, 2018: Alpental's 50th Season Celebration continues today! The jump above the lodge will be open again and we'll have our Last Ditch Effort Banked Slalom up in Alpy Park. The course looks sweet! We still have ticket, food, and retail specials. You can find the best ticket prices online. All lifts are spinning today, so bring the whole family and remember to wear retro gear if you have it! Conditions should be similar to yesterday; cloudy and mild with a chance of showers. Forecasts are showing a decreased chance of precipitation, but wear your waterproof gear just in case. The spring snow on the hill will be fun regardless of the weather, and you probably won't have to deal with lift lines. The top of Alpental did receive 2" overnight, so head up there early! Looking forward to another great day of April skiing!
On deck after this weekend is Cinco de Mayo at Alpental! Don't miss it!
Alpental Trail Closures: Cascade Traverse will be closed today (4/29) due to avalanche hazards. This closure will prevent you from getting to Meister, Eisfallen, and Dom. You can still get to Lower International via Upper International. Other closures include Felsen, Shot Six, and Elevator Gate. Nash Gate will be open to start the day.
All restrictions for LTD and X-Passes have been lifted. Holders of these passes can now ski anytime we're open at Alpental for the rest of the season! Enjoy!
April 15, 2018: Pond Skim is today! Head over to Central for some laughs and memories (and beer and music) as 50 skimmers try to make it across the pond. This is also your last chance to ski Summit Central for the season. Forecasts are saying it will be mostly cloudy today with some sprinkles here and there. The snow will be nice and soft all day, and with less rain in the forecast it won't be as sticky as yesterday. No new snow at the bases this morning, but there's 8" of new at the top of Alpental. Could be fun to head up top in the morning and pound some chowder before heading over to the Pond Skim, which starts at 1pm. Looking forward to an awesome Sunday and a great send-off for Summit Central! See you soon!
Alpental Notice: Chairs 1 and 2 are open after a delay for extended avalanche control work. The entire International side will remain closed as well as Breakover, Shot Six, The Fan, and all Cascade Traverse runs. We apologize for the inconvenience, but your safety is our top priority.
April 14, 2018: Happy to have made it to the weekend! It's gonna be a wet one today on the lower slopes, but this is Central's last weekend so we still have to make it count! We received 3" of new snow at the bases yesterday which put us at around 7" for the last three days, but the rain has taken that down by about half. The top of Alpental got dumped on last night with 14" of new snow, and the temp stayed below freezing all night so the snow should be pretty good up there. Chair 2 will be delayed for control work and the International side of the mountain will remain closed today; the new snow has introduced significant avalanche hazards. Cascade Traverse will be closed as well. Central Park is wall-to-wall with features and the soft snow is great for experimenting, so come grab some air. Warm up your legs before you hit the snow today, wear waterproof, and focus on the fact that you get to ski in April; not everyone has that luxury. And not all who have that luxury simultaneously possess the true grit and determination to throw down some lines on a Saturday in the rain. Can't wait to get back out there! See you soon!
Don't miss our annual Pond Skim on Sunday! We'll have DJ Indica Jones, a beer garden, and 50 skimmers giving it their best shot to impress the judges and make it across the pond.
April 2, 2018: Powder Monday in April! We received 15" at the base of Summit West since yesterday! It's great snow, too. We're open at Central today until 4pm. Can't wait to get out there and rip the steeps at Silver Fir and Triple 60. I'm liking Bonanza Face as well. Come on up and grab some deep powder turns to start your week (and month) off right!
February 25, 2018: Time for another one! We received about 5" of snow overnight, putting us at 8" since yesterday morning at West, 9" at the base of Alpental, and 11" up top. The snow is a touch heavier today but it's still quality skiing. There are some wind-buffed pockets on upper mountain Alpental as well as a few areas where you may hit the crust from a couple weeks ago. We've seen a couple inches since 5am and forecasts are calling for snow all day (possible 8-12") with the snow level dropping throughout, so the skiing will only get better! We're open at all areas today, and like yesterday, you can't go wrong, you'll find nice lines wherever you are. Groomed runs will have some powder over the cord. It'll be breezy out there with gusty winds at times; we're running chairs a bit slower today for that reason and some may go on hold if gusts become strong enough. Ski with a buddy and practice deep snow safety by being aware of your surroundings. The freeway is messy, so check WSDOT for road conditions before you head up. Looking forward to seeing everyone out there!
Alpental Notice: Please stay out of closed areas, avalanche danger is real. Ducking ropelines endangers your life, other lives, and negatively impacts Pro Patrol's ability to clear hazards, further delaying terrain openings.
Later on…
February 25, 2018: It’s been an amazing day up here in the powder! We’ve been gifted another 6” since 5am and snow will remain steady in the forecast until after midnight! Unfortunately there’s no night skiing tonight, but if you missed out this weekend, come take some Monday laps at Central. The steeps were so good today I could barely drag myself off the hill. A few more inches and they’ll be as good as new! Late February has been kind to us, looking forward to closing it out strong; NOAA has pictures of snowflakes through Wednesday night! See ya tomorrow at Central!
February 24, 2018: Here we go! It's Saturday and snow's flying in all directions! We have 6" of new at the base of West and 8" at the base of Alpental. It's that light and fluffy stuff that gets in your shoes when you walk to your car. Forecasts are calling for the snow to continue through tomorrow and into next week. Safe to say it's a powder day. Hoping for free refills through the morning. We're open at the big four today plus Nordic and Tubing. With powder covering all of our hills, you can't go wrong. Our lower slopes were groomed extensively, so main runs will be nice and smooth under the powder. The Central steeps were groomed as well, those will provide fantastic turns if you don't want to fight the Chair 2 line at Alpental. That being said, there's a reason for the line at Alpental, it's going to provide phenomenal skiing today. It will be deep in places, so ski with a buddy and be aware of your surroundings. Looking forward to getting out there! Check road conditions before you head up and we'll see ya soon!
Later on…
February 24, 2018: What a day! Powder at all areas and insanely satisfying turns. Snow showers have tapered this afternoon, but forecasts say our second storm should touch down sometime this evening, bringing us significant snowfall through tomorrow morning. In the meantime, we still have quality packed powder on all of our hills, and you can certainly find some good leftovers off-piste. We’re open for night skiing at West, Central, and Alpental. Hopefully we start getting refreshed before closing time. If not, come back tomorrow for some more powder!
February 23, 2018: Things will pick up quickly today as forecasts are calling for quite a bit of snow after 11am. Weather experts say two storms are on the way, bringing us powder through Sunday! Enjoy chalky morning groomers and yesterday’s light leftovers until the first storm touches down. Summit Central and Alpental are open today from 9am to 10pm. I'll be getting my morning laps in at Silver Fir on some fresh cord. Alpental is a sure choice as well (before and after the powder arrives). Skied great yesterday and there should be nice leftovers. The grooming there (and everywhere) has been superb, you'll even find a few passes in Edelweiss Bowl, as well as everything off Cascade Traverse. Summit West opens at 4pm, likely with a new coat of snow, which means Wildside laps for days! Woooo! Check WSDOT for road conditions before you head up and we'll see ya soon!
After the first storm arrived…
February 23, 2018: The snow has arrived! It’s nuking up here and weather experts are saying this is the first of two storms that will bring significant snowfall to the area! Gear up for a big weekend because snow is staying in the forecast through the into next week! It’s currently 23 degrees at Summit West, 21 at Alpental, and 15 at the top of Alpental. We’re open today at Summit Central and Alpental until 10pm. West opens at 4 and could have several inches of new snow by then. Wildside laps for days! Our hills were beautifully combed over by our Grooming team last night, giving prime cruising conditions to start the day. Well, it’s a new day now and priorities change, time to detour from the main drags and find that untracked powder. If you can’t make it up today you can bet it’s gonna be amazing tomorrow. Check WSDOT for road conditions before you head up and we’ll see ya up here!
February 18, 2018: We're open at all areas today and we're off to a great start! We've seen quite a bit of sunshine already and the winds have calmed down from the wildness of yesterday. We have 7" of new snow at the bases with a few of those falling overnight. 10" at the top of Alpental with a wind-buffed surface. The groomers are skiing beautifully with the cooler temps plus the overnight refreshment. Off-piste you'll find the lighter snow on top of the heavy wet stuff from yesterday. There may be a light crust between the two layers on the lower slopes. It's going to be a great Sunday. Forecasts say we could have snow showers this afternoon when the wind shifts from west to east, then clouds will scatter again making way for a sunny, frigid Monday.
Don’t forget to check out Vertfest at Alpental! It’s race day, plus we have vendor tents around the lodge offering demos, stickers, samples, etc. Starting at 3pm there will be a raffle, an award ceremony, and a beer garden! Join us for another fun day on the mountain! Check road conditions before you leave and we'll see you up here!