Photo by Tony Overman/The Olympian
Spring skiing at Crystal Mountain means sunny skies, uncrowded runs and beautiful views, such as this view of Mount Rainier.

Photo by Tony Overman/The Olympian
Karen Judd of Maple Valley enjoys a sunny Thursday on the slopes at Crystal Mountain. It was a "moms mental health day" for Judd and her friends, she said.

Skiing in the sun

Spring skiing means better weather and grainier snow

N.S. NOKKENTVED, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published Tuesday, April 2, 2002

CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN -- The sun dazzles the eyes as it reflects from the still plentiful snowpack beneath a high-mountain, crystalline-blue sky.

The snow is soft. Down near the lodge it sloshes beneath the feet, and streams of water run from the melting pillow of snow on the lodge roof.

A few ragged clouds cling to the mountain peaks, and the chill in the breeze serves as a reminder it still is early spring. But it is spring, and skiers and snowboarders are peeling layers, soaking up sun and eating lunch outside.

"This is the best," snowboarder Justine Conlan said, smiling broadly at the warm sun.

When the snow dries out it forms large grains -- corn snow, said the former Rochester resident who now lives at Crystal Mountain.

"I think it's more like sand," said Conlan, who grew up in Florida before coming to Washington.

Like many other snowboarders and skiers, she enjoys spring skiing. It doesn't matter that the snow is soft when there is plenty of snow, she said.

Skier Bobby Pierce of Greenwater agreed.

"It doesn't get much better than this," he said, eating a slice of pizza outside in the sunshine.

After a succession of cold nights and warm days, the snow in some places gets like whipped cream. It's like skiing on velvet, he said.

"It's probably the easiest snow to ski," he said.

He likes skiing, no matter what the season. In the spring, sometimes the skis stick a little in unexpected places, but like any sport you have to be aware of what you're doing, he said.

With sunshine, lots of snow and well-groomed runs, everybody is having a good time. And on a recent clear day from the top of Crystal Mountain, "Mount Rainier is right there in your face," Pierce said. "You can see from St. Helens and Adams all the way up to Baker."

Even in the backcountry, skiers and snowboarders can find good snow in the spring with the improving weather.

"I mean the sun comes out, you know," said Todd Scott of Olympia, backcountry snowboarder and skier.

Spring slush is better than "Cascade concrete," but you have to change wax to something that works on soft, wet snow, he said. Even in the spring, backcountry skiers and snowboarders have to be aware of avalanches.

And you still have to be prepared on backcountry excursions into Mount Rainier National Park or the area around White Pass, where T-shirt skiing weather quickly can turn to 20 degrees and snowy.

The attraction of spring skiing is twofold: snow conditions and the festive atmosphere, said Stacy Schuster, Crystal Mountain marketing director, on a sunny day when rain clouds filled the valleys below.

"That happens quite often in the spring," she said.

Snow texture can change depending on the amount of sun and wind and the time of day.

Corn snow is grainy, not sticky, but forgiving. Thawing and freezing forms snowlike chunks of chalk. When it gets slushy, moguls are softer and more fun. Ice is mostly a problem early in the day on lower runs where the snow is mushy.

It's not mountain powder, but it's fun, said Guy Lawrence, marketing director at Snoqualmie Summit. He recommends skiing early in the day during the spring.

"You have to hit it pretty early in the morning," he said.

Then there's the scene: sun, tank tops, bikini tops, shorts, people dragging chairs outside after skiing, barbecues and live music on weekends, Schuster said.

N.S. Nokkentved covers the outdoors for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5445 and at nnokkent@olympia.gannett.com.

Spring Skiing

- Crystal Mountain plans to stay open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until April 21. After that, the ski area plans to reopen May 25 for summer skiing on weekends as long as the snow lasts. The slopes will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the last ride down the ski lift at 3 p.m. But skiers will have to ride the ski lift up to the higher slopes -- where the snow is -- and then ride the lift back down to the lodge.

- White Pass will be open from 8:45 to 4 p.m. daily through April 21 and will run another weekend or two beyond that, weather permitting. Having 100 inches on the ground in the last week of March is a little unusual, said Kathleen Goyette, spokeswoman for White Pass ski area. With north-facing slopes, snow is expected to last a long time.

- Snoqualmie Summit will keep some slopes open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through April 14 and the following weekend.

The Olympian Copyright 2002

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