More snow means better ski season

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Originally published Sunday, March 3, 2002

A year after the region's worst drought in decades made for a disappointing ski season, regular dustings on top of thick snowpacks are boosting ticket sales at ski areas across the Northwest.

"It's a banner year," said Tiana Enger, marketing assistant at Crystal Mountain.

Ticket sales at Crystal are 30 percent higher than last year, when the drought kept the snowpack low.

Compared with last year, skier visits are up 13 percent at Snoqualmie Summit, where the National Weather Service reported snow depth at 116 inches Thursday afternoon, about one-third above average.

Snow depth is higher than normal in all mountain areas measured by the weather service in the region, including White Pass, which had 74 inches at the base -- up from 41 inches the year before.

Skier visits to White Pass, southeast of Mount Rainier National Park, are also up, ahead of the record pace set two years ago, when 130,000 hit the slopes, according to Kathleen Goyette, White Pass' marketing director.

"We're feeling grateful and fortunate, especially given the economic climate of Eastern Washington," Goyette said.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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