https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdo ... ent-paths/
My take, based on very small sample size, is that Crystal is among the elite in North America in terrain overall, and that Stevens has excellent terrain quality but is only about half the size of Crystal. Stevens gets more snow but Crystal has a higher altitude range for less rain and better snow preservation, though these are weaknesses for all the Cascade areas.
Visitation at the two areas is about the same due to location. Crystal is more convenient for those who live south of Seattle and Stevens for those who live north. I thus observed higher density and faster tracking of powder at Stevens.
But the article reinforces the pattern that Vail seems to alienate a significant fraction of the local employee/customer base when they acquire a new resort.
A contact with some insight into Alterra has opined that Alterra's long term focus would be upon the high end of the ski market. The divergence in pass pricing is perhaps the first obvious sign of that focus. High-end doesn't just mean expensive IMHO; it also means appeal to the most avid and frequent skiers. These skiers are less tolerant of cutbacks in operations, either hours or length of season, issues mentioned in the above article.
My take, based on very small sample size, is that Crystal is among the elite in North America in terrain overall, and that Stevens has excellent terrain quality but is only about half the size of Crystal. Stevens gets more snow but Crystal has a higher altitude range for less rain and better snow preservation, though these are weaknesses for all the Cascade areas.
Visitation at the two areas is about the same due to location. Crystal is more convenient for those who live south of Seattle and Stevens for those who live north. I thus observed higher density and faster tracking of powder at Stevens.
But the article reinforces the pattern that Vail seems to alienate a significant fraction of the local employee/customer base when they acquire a new resort.
A contact with some insight into Alterra has opined that Alterra's long term focus would be upon the high end of the ski market. The divergence in pass pricing is perhaps the first obvious sign of that focus. High-end doesn't just mean expensive IMHO; it also means appeal to the most avid and frequent skiers. These skiers are less tolerant of cutbacks in operations, either hours or length of season, issues mentioned in the above article.