Stevens has night skiing. That's the only thing that is better about *skiing* at Steven's. Drive distance is often a deciding factor for folks. But once you factor in the interminable traffic backups through the light at Sultan, Crystal would make more sense for a lot of people. Crystal has a lot more RV spots too...
Interesting video, and I've worked at both resorts but one drawback at Crystal Mountain and that's their prices on food.Also the Backcountry at Crystal Mountain is one of the best in the state of Washington and yes you have to have a AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVER AND KNOW HOW TO USE IT, AVALANCHE SHOVEL AND PROBE PLUS A MINIMUM OF A LEVEL 1 AVALANCHE COARSE, GO THERE WITH 3-5 PEOPLE AND IT WOULDN'T HURT TO OWN/BRING YOUR AVALANCHE FLOAT AIRBAG.
I'm from Seattle. Actually North of Seattle in Lynnwood. Crystal is much better, except Stevens Pass was 1 hour closer, so I skiied Stevens 10 times more. But when I lived in downtown Seattle, I always chose to ski Crystal even though it was still a half an hour longer drive. The video uses SeaTac for the starting point. But that is a half an hour South of Seattle
I got the weekday pass for Crystal. Weekdays are so much better than the weekends there. that keeps weekends open for going to smaller resorts like White Pass or Mission Ridge where the crowds are minimal. Idaho/Montana is within the realm of an extended weekend trip as well. The snow there is so much drier than the "cascade concrete". Light, fluffy POW!!!
@@therealchickentender If you have been to Steven's Pass, Crystal or Snoqualmie on a weekend in the past few years, White Pass and Mission Ridge are so much better. Just my opinion.
I'm in Tech, Telecommunications to be more specific on a 24/7 back end systems support team. So the hours can be crappy always work 1 weekend day every week. But I have 2 days off midweek and this is where it pays off. I've been doing the Local weekday pass at Crystal for about 10 years. I do one off days at some of the other close by spots or a 3day at Whistler or Bachelor. But I haven't been on a mountain on a weekend in over 20 years, weekdays are the only way to go.
They both have their pros and cons. I'm a Stevens guy and even more so now that they have the EPIC pass option, which has put WHISTLER on my regular season ski areas. I grew up skiing Stevens in the 70s and have seen a lot of changes. I've also skied Cyrstal a lot during my college (and after) years. Crystal has a lot more long groomers and some epic off piste in the N-way and S-way areas, but some are quite a hike to get to. I guess the same at Stevens, but getting up Cowboy ridge is way easier than getting to the King or Queen at Cyrstal. Both resorts are a wimper in comparison to Whistler, which is where I ski the most these days!
one of the biggest things that puts Stevens way above Crystal for me is the night skiing which allows you to avoid crowds and ski on weekdays if you work a 9-5 still.
Crystal Mountain is better in every way, it has more verticle, more varied terrain, better views and is closer to Seattle. Stevens is way more accessible although. I've heard only season pass holders can ski at Crystal and the season pass is ridiculously expensive double to triple the cost of other season passes. I've heard that even if you have a pass you still have to reserve you're ski days in advance. I won't reserve in advance because the weather is often bad in the winter and I prefer to wait for a weather forecast and ski on days where its not foggy blizzardy or rainy.
Nice Video Presentation. I find it interesting that noboddy has the objective pov that this Stevens Pass local has. Basically, the whole back side of the resort doesn't open anymore since the Vail takeover. I would now rather drive 3 hrs to Mt Baker than 30 minutes up the road. Crystal is a bigger Mtn run bu another takeover venture. They just manage to run it slightly better.
Thanks for adding the local perspective. We were actually there a couple years ago and the backside was open the whole weekend. But I've heard about the issues the past couple years and just haven 't experienced it. Without the backside, that really changes the assessment of Stevens in general and compared to Crystal.
What!!! I learned at Stevens and was my mtn for my 1st 15 years. I'm an hour from Crystal now. You take away the back side and you may as well go to Snoqualmie.
I should update everyone. I did three recent trips to the mountain in the last 3 weeks. They seem to be running things much better now. Lines were moving, Avy control was clearing the backside. Had some great runs doing the Southern Cross Traverse. Still, not enough to make up for their prior troubles IMO. And I'll never buy one of their Epic passes again. I'd rather pay more for single days at Vail and Ikon destinations and then mix it up with other unaffiliated resorts. They still suck and they owe me back two years of passes from failed years prior. Piss on those Assholes.
I'm 40 minutes from Snoqualmie/Alpental, an hour from Crystal. Snoqualmie/Alpental I can usually park right by the lifts and jump on the chair as soon as they roll with little to no lines. BTW I only go weekdays. Crystal I have to be on the road an hour earlier. I'll have to park and walk a lot farther and 15 minutes before the gondola starts taking passengers there is usually a line of 30-40 people. I still choose Crystal. I get tired of doing the same old laps around Crystal I can't imagine how quickly that would happen at Alpental but considering the limitations of terrain on that side of I-90 I'd be tired of the same runs by lunchtime.
Leavenworth is a cool place to visit skiing or not. You seem to be presenting it as the only option for accommodations for Stevens and and a nice long drive past the resort 40 miles. That is misleading because there are some hotel and AirBNB options at Skykomish which is 20 minutes before you get to Stevens. It's not the Bavarian tourist trap Leavenworth is just a little ski town. You'll definitely pay more for the tourist trap. As someone that has had both Stevens & Crystal as a home mtn for over a decade each there is one undeniable truth. The only place better than Crystal in the Pacific North West is Whistler.
We did Crystal in Jan 2022 and Mar 2023. Now that you mention it, the lines may have been a little better in 2023. But Forest Queen was still pretty crowded all day. I mainly focused on Chair 6 since there was no line though.
I grew up skiing and snowboarding at Stevens .circa 1986' - 1995'. Stevens and baker are the best in Washington.
Stevens has night skiing. That's the only thing that is better about *skiing* at Steven's.
Drive distance is often a deciding factor for folks. But once you factor in the interminable traffic backups through the light at Sultan, Crystal would make more sense for a lot of people.
Crystal has a lot more RV spots too...
I agree. I think ultimately, Crystal is my preference.
Interesting video, and I've worked at both resorts but one drawback at Crystal Mountain and that's their prices on food.Also the Backcountry at Crystal Mountain is one of the best in the state of Washington and yes you have to have a AVALANCHE TRANSCEIVER AND KNOW HOW TO USE IT, AVALANCHE SHOVEL AND PROBE PLUS A MINIMUM OF A LEVEL 1 AVALANCHE COARSE, GO THERE WITH 3-5 PEOPLE AND IT WOULDN'T HURT TO OWN/BRING YOUR AVALANCHE FLOAT AIRBAG.
I'm from Seattle. Actually North of Seattle in Lynnwood. Crystal is much better, except Stevens Pass was 1 hour closer, so I skiied Stevens 10 times more. But when I lived in downtown Seattle, I always chose to ski Crystal even though it was still a half an hour longer drive. The video uses SeaTac for the starting point. But that is a half an hour South of Seattle
I got the weekday pass for Crystal. Weekdays are so much better than the weekends there. that keeps weekends open for going to smaller resorts like White Pass or Mission Ridge where the crowds are minimal. Idaho/Montana is within the realm of an extended weekend trip as well. The snow there is so much drier than the "cascade concrete". Light, fluffy POW!!!
Totally agree - lift lines on weekdays at Crystal were nonexistent compared to the weekends.
Weekend crowds at White are no longer what I would call "minimal". Times are changing.
@@therealchickentender If you have been to Steven's Pass, Crystal or Snoqualmie on a weekend in the past few years, White Pass and Mission Ridge are so much better. Just my opinion.
I'm in Tech, Telecommunications to be more specific on a 24/7 back end systems support team. So the hours can be crappy always work 1 weekend day every week. But I have 2 days off midweek and this is where it pays off. I've been doing the Local weekday pass at Crystal for about 10 years. I do one off days at some of the other close by spots or a 3day at Whistler or Bachelor. But I haven't been on a mountain on a weekend in over 20 years, weekdays are the only way to go.
They both have their pros and cons. I'm a Stevens guy and even more so now that they have the EPIC pass option, which has put WHISTLER on my regular season ski areas. I grew up skiing Stevens in the 70s and have seen a lot of changes. I've also skied Cyrstal a lot during my college (and after) years. Crystal has a lot more long groomers and some epic off piste in the N-way and S-way areas, but some are quite a hike to get to. I guess the same at Stevens, but getting up Cowboy ridge is way easier than getting to the King or Queen at Cyrstal. Both resorts are a wimper in comparison to Whistler, which is where I ski the most these days!
one of the biggest things that puts Stevens way above Crystal for me is the night skiing which allows you to avoid crowds and ski on weekdays if you work a 9-5 still.
Crystal Mountain is better in every way, it has more verticle, more varied terrain, better views and is closer to Seattle. Stevens is way more accessible although. I've heard only season pass holders can ski at Crystal and the season pass is ridiculously expensive double to triple the cost of other season passes. I've heard that even if you have a pass you still have to reserve you're ski days in advance. I won't reserve in advance because the weather is often bad in the winter and I prefer to wait for a weather forecast and ski on days where its not foggy blizzardy or rainy.
Nice Video Presentation. I find it interesting that noboddy has the objective pov that this Stevens Pass local has. Basically, the whole back side of the resort doesn't open anymore since the Vail takeover. I would now rather drive 3 hrs to Mt Baker than 30 minutes up the road. Crystal is a bigger Mtn run bu another takeover venture. They just manage to run it slightly better.
Thanks for adding the local perspective. We were actually there a couple years ago and the backside was open the whole weekend. But I've heard about the issues the past couple years and just haven 't experienced it. Without the backside, that really changes the assessment of Stevens in general and compared to Crystal.
What!!! I learned at Stevens and was my mtn for my 1st 15 years. I'm an hour from Crystal now. You take away the back side and you may as well go to Snoqualmie.
I should update everyone. I did three recent trips to the mountain in the last 3 weeks. They seem to be running things much better now. Lines were moving, Avy control was clearing the backside. Had some great runs doing the Southern Cross Traverse. Still, not enough to make up for their prior troubles IMO. And I'll never buy one of their Epic passes again. I'd rather pay more for single days at Vail and Ikon destinations and then mix it up with other unaffiliated resorts. They still suck and they owe me back two years of passes from failed years prior. Piss on those Assholes.
Crystal all day
Neither!! Mission Ridge is my Mtn 😀
and may it forever be "just a little too far"
Crystal was so overpopulated they limit ikon holders to 5 visits and have an eyewatering $1800 unlimited pass.
I'm an Alpental guy, only 30 minutes driving for me xD
I'm 40 minutes from Snoqualmie/Alpental, an hour from Crystal. Snoqualmie/Alpental I can usually park right by the lifts and jump on the chair as soon as they roll with little to no lines. BTW I only go weekdays. Crystal I have to be on the road an hour earlier. I'll have to park and walk a lot farther and 15 minutes before the gondola starts taking passengers there is usually a line of 30-40 people. I still choose Crystal. I get tired of doing the same old laps around Crystal I can't imagine how quickly that would happen at Alpental but considering the limitations of terrain on that side of I-90 I'd be tired of the same runs by lunchtime.
Leavenworth is a cool place to visit skiing or not. You seem to be presenting it as the only option for accommodations for Stevens and and a nice long drive past the resort 40 miles. That is misleading because there are some hotel and AirBNB options at Skykomish which is 20 minutes before you get to Stevens. It's not the Bavarian tourist trap Leavenworth is just a little ski town. You'll definitely pay more for the tourist trap. As someone that has had both Stevens & Crystal as a home mtn for over a decade each there is one undeniable truth. The only place better than Crystal in the Pacific North West is Whistler.
Curious, when did you ski at Crystal? After they limited the number of days you can do with ikon pass, I heard that lines are better now.
We did Crystal in Jan 2022 and Mar 2023. Now that you mention it, the lines may have been a little better in 2023. But Forest Queen was still pretty crowded all day. I mainly focused on Chair 6 since there was no line though.
However, 2024/25 ikon recovered unlimited access To CM...
I hate vail resorts.