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The Summit at Snoqualmie

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The Summit at Snoqualmie
LocationSnoqualmie Pass, Washington, United States
Nearest major cityCle Elum (30 miles east)
Top elevation5420 ft (Alpental)
Base elevation2610 ft (Summit East)
Skiable area1,914 acres (7.75 km2)
Lift system19 chairs, 10 surface lifts
Websitesummitatsnoqualmie.com - official site

The Summit at Snoqualmie, located on Snoqualmie Pass, Washington, is a winter resort providing alpine skiing and snowboarding, Nordic skiing, and winter tubing owned by CNL Investment Properties, Inc. and managed by Boyne Resorts. The Summit consists of four base areas that used to be individually owned and operated resorts. Alpental, Summit West (formerly named Snoqualmie Pass), Summit Central (formerly named Ski Acres), and Summit East (formerly named Hyak and PacWest), border Lake Keechelus on the East and the Alpine Lakes Wilderness on the West/North. The Summit at Snoqualmie is the closest ski area to Seattle, and is easily accessible via Interstate 90.

The vertical drop ranges from 2,280 ft (690 m) at Alpental, to 765 ft (233 m) at Summit West. Combined, the four base areas have a total of 19 chairlifts, and 10 surface lifts. The resort is open seven days a week, with night operations 6 nights per week.

Alpental

See also: Alpental
Top of Armstrong Express (also known as Chair 1)

Alpental is the only one of the four base areas located north of I-90 and is known for its advanced and backcountry terrain including some of the steepest runs around.

Statistics

Elevation

  • Base - 3,140 feet (960 m)
  • Summit - 5,420 feet (1,650 m)
  • Vertical drop - 2,280 feet (690 m)

Terrain

  • 302 acres (1.22 km2) - lift serviced
  • 825 acres (3.34 km2) - backcountry
  • Advanced/expert - 75%
  • Intermediate - 20%
  • Beginner - 5%

Lifts

  • 1 high speed quad
  • 3 double chairs
  • 1 rope tow

History

The existence of the Alpental ski area is owed primarily to early prospectors of the valley. Bob Mickelson and some friends bought options on the mining claims around 1960 with plans to develop a ski area on Denny Mountain and a community in the lower area. To help out with their plan, they enlisted Warren Miller to produce a promotional video simply titled "Alpental". To gain access to the area, an agreement had to be made with the Sahalie Ski Club to allow a road through their property. Alpental ski area agreed to maintain this section of road at their cost for the Sahalie group in exchange for this access for 99 years.

The ski area opened for the 1967-68 season with 3 lifts and 5 rope tows, had night skiing from the beginning and was closed on Mondays, as it is today. In 1977 the ski area was sold to Westours (an Alaska tour operator) then in 1984 Westours sold to Ski Lifts, Inc.. In 1998, Alpental (along with the three other Snoqualmie Pass ski areas) were sold to Booth Creek Ski Holdings Inc. In 2007 Booth Creek sold the ski area to CNL Income Properties, Inc. and is managed by Boyne USA Resorts.

Summit West

Summit West contains the most popular learning terrain of the whole resort. Mainly a beginner/intermediate area, Summit West is home to the Summit Learning Center which offers many lesson varieties for the whole family.

Statistics

Elevation

  • Base - 3,000 feet (910 m)
  • Summit - 3,765 feet (1,148 m)
  • Vertical drop - 765 feet (233 m)

Terrain

  • 197 acres (0.80 km2) - lift serviced
  • Advanced/expert - 25%
  • Intermediate - 55%
  • Beginner - 20%

Lifts

  • 2 quad chairs
  • 2 triple chairs
  • 2 double chairs
  • 1 double rope tow

History

In 1933 the city of Seattle opened a city park called Municipal Park on the location which is now called Summit West. The city operated this area until 1940 when the town people thought Snoqualmie Pass was too far away to be running a city park. Operations were turned over to Ski Lifts, Inc. (owned by Jim Parker and Chauncey Griggs) who had been the concessionaire since 1937, the year they added rope tows to the park. Under the ownership of Ski Lifts, Inc. the area was renamed Snoqualmie Summit Ski Area because of its location at the top of the mountain pass. In 1942, Griggs and Parker sold Ski Lifts, Inc. to Rance Morris and Webb Moffett for $3,500. Ski Lifts, Inc. operated the ski area through 1998, acquiring Ski Acres in 1980, Alpental in 1983 and Hyak in 1992 then selling the entire operation to Booth Creek Ski Holdings Inc. in 1998.

Summit Central

Summit Central provides a variety of terrain and is typically the most crowded of the areas. It is also home to a large terrain park and half pipe, which hosts many events throughout the season.

Statistics

Elevation

  • Base - 2,840 feet (870 m)
  • Summit - 3,865 feet (1,178 m)
  • Vertical drop - 1,025 feet (312 m)

Terrain

  • 350 acres (1.4 km2) - lift serviced
  • Advanced/expert - 25%
  • Intermediate - 60%
  • Beginner - 15%

Lifts

  • 1 high speed quad chair
  • 2 triple chairs
  • 4 double chairs
  • 2 magic carpets
  • 1 handle tow

History

In 1948, the "Ski Acres" ski area was opened by Ray Tanner. In 1980, Ski Lifts, Inc. acquired Summit Central and combined the operation with adjacent Summit West.

Summit East

A mix of intermediate and advanced runs, Summit East is where to go for glade skiing, cross-country and snowshoeing. On January 7th, 2009, a landslide occurred at Summit East, damaging the resort's two chairlifts and a few private cabins. Shortly after, The Summit at Snoqualmie announced that Summit East would not operate for the remainder of the 2008-09 ski season. It is unknown weather it will reopen due to its limited operation before the landslide.

File:012102 hyak.jpg
Looking from slopes above Easy Gold chair at the Summit East ski area.

Summit East (formerly known as "Hyak") is the easternmost of the four base areas and is accessible via I-90 exit 54. Adjacent to the alpine ski area, the Hyak area has free cross-country skiing on groomed trails along Lake Keechelus on the Iron Horse Trail (maintained by the Washington State Parks).

Statistics

Elevation

  • Base - 2,610 feet (800 m)
  • Summit - 3,710 feet (1,130 m)
  • Vertical drop - 1,100 feet (340 m)

Terrain

  • Advanced/expert - 40%
  • Intermediate - 45%
  • Beginner - 15%

Lifts

  • 2 double chairs

History

In 1959 a new ski area was developed on the north side of Hyak Mtn by 3 businessmen who formed the Hyak Ski Corporation. The company made some bad financial moves and in 1972 a ski lift accident that left a 14 year old skier with permanent damage, and subsequent lawsuit sent the area into bankruptcy in 1977. The area was purchased in 1980 by Pac West until they too filed bankruptcy in 1988. In 1992 the area was purchased by Ski Lifts, Inc who now owned all 4 local Snoqualmie Pass ski areas. In 1998 Booth Creek purchased the areas from Ski Lifts, Inc. and in 2007 sold all areas to CNL. Booth Creek signed a management agreement with CNL then in September 19, 2007 announced the management of the Snoqualmie Pass ski areas was sold to Boyne USA.

Summit Tubing Center

Across from Summit Central is the Summit Tubing Center. With thirteen machine groomed runs it is the largest west of the Missisippi. The runs are approximately five hundred feet long and are fun for all ages.

Statistics

Elevation

  • Base - 2,434 feet (742 m)
  • Summit - 2,547 feet (776 m)
  • Vertical drop - 113 feet (34 m)

Lifts

  • 2 Surface Tows

History

The Summit Tubing Center was formally run under the name Snow Flake Tubing Center until its purchase by Booth Creek.

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