ENUMCLAW, Wash. — A day after nine inches of snow fell at Crystal Mountain Resort, officials are considering keeping the resort open beyond its April 12 closing date.
Adam Sutner, Vice President of Business Development at the resort said it’s not official yet, but there is talk of extending the season, should snowy weather continue.
“Three days ago it was raining at the base area and now we’ve got 14, maybe 16 inches over the weekend,” said Sutner. “We’re never out of the game here.”
Crystal Mountain Resort normally opens for the season in November, but the opening was delayed due to a lack of snowfall.
“We didn’t really have good snow all the way up until Christmas,” said Sutner.
When the snow finally did come in December and January, it wouldn’t stop.
“It came back with a vengeance so much so that towards the end of January into early February the ground, the earth around here had just gotten more than it could take,” Sutner said.
The heavy snow triggered landslides on State Route 410 leading into the resort, which forced them to shut down for five days during peak snow season.
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“To have the roads closed and not be able to come up is definitely frustrating,” said skier Jeff Halverson. Halverson and his family said Thursday’s snowstorm made all the difference.
“The snow is fresh and there’s lots of it,” said Jeff’s mother Linda Halverson. “You couldn’t ask for a better day.”
KING 5 meteorologist Rich Marriott said the area could see six additional inches of snow over the weekend.
“The mountain is unbelievably resilient. It just repairs itself,” said Sutner. “We’re sitting here talking after being closed for five days, and it’s probably the best snow of the season.”