Go back

MDP Updates

03.11.2008

Crystal Mountain Master Development Plan for details on our MDP.

March 11, 2008

Dear Crystal Mountain Skiers & Boarders:

Since I last wrote CM completed a survey of the ski area boundary between USDA FS Land (Crystal Special Use Permit) and Mount Rainier National Park (MRNP). This proved to be a good thing, as there were suspicions that some of the trail work done along the backside traverses between Crystal and the Park occurred in MRNP. When all was finished, the Bureau of Land Management installed permanent brass monuments in the ground and confirmed that no trail work was ever done in the Park!

The summer of 2007 was very busy for us, getting the new Northway Chairlift built and all the new trails ready to use for this season. One of the challenges that faced us was waiting until after the elk calving season ended on June 30th to start work, which meant there was no time to spare! When all was done it was very exciting to get on the new lift and view the vast North Back area in ways that had never been done. What a change it made, WOW! We hope to get back into that area this summer to build an exit traverse, from the bottom terminal back to Spook Hill.

The construction plans for this coming summer are to complete the exit trail from the Northway chairlift. This will allow CM to do some limited grooming around the lower terminal area, as well as provide a groomed exit trail from this lift back to the Spook Hill trail. Along with this, we also hope to install a bench in the center switch back trail of the Otto Bahn off of Right Angle (Left Angle) Ridge. Other plans include installation of a “GazEx” exploder avalanche system on Silver Queen, infrastructure improvements for support of the Summit House, and restore the Halfpipe area back to its previous condition.

Stay tuned,
William Steel
Director of Planning

Please note that plans are subject to change.

September 21, 2005

Dear Crystal Mountain Skiers & Boarders:

I would like to give you an update on what’s been happening behind the scenes since we received the US Forest Service Decision Notice last August on the Master Plan.

Briefly, last September the Forest Service decision to close our boundaries with Mount Rainier National Park was appealed in the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Master Plan.  After much to-do and testimony from our supporters the Forest Service dropped the closure issue and re-opened the boundaries providing Crystal with an approved Master Plan which will take us through the next ten to fifteen years. 

Last summer we completed the Campbell Basin Lodge, a 12,500 square foot 500 seat restaurant perched at the top of Forest Queen chairlift. This project was previously approved in the 1983 Master Plan, and was about the last thing left to construct in the old plan.

An interesting thing happened over seven plus years of planning.  The Tram Crystal was hoping to install crep up in cost, from $6 million to over $12 million. This project had been deferred until recently when we found a contractor who was able to get the project costs back down to the original price.  This will be a two-year project starting the Spring of 2007.  The plan is to install the jig-back 100 passenger tram, from the grocery store location to the top terminal of Rainier Express.  It will have only two intermediate towers; one on Exterminator and the other near Iceberg Ridge.  We are also looking into the possibility of designing and constructing a new summit restaurant at the same time. The grocery store will be temporarily relocated between the Chapel and the Rental Shop.

Hold on to your hats, the future looks exciting!

William Steel
Director of Planning

August 15, 2004

Crystal Mountain received the Record of Decision (ROD) from the U.S. Forest Service for its long awaited Master Development Plan (MDP).  The ROD comes following an in-depth review of the Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS) issued August 2001.  The MDP, along with 6 alternatives, was originally submitted to the Forest Service in 1999.

John Phipps, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Supervisor, selected Alternative Six with Modifications from the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), concluding a seven-year effort of analyzing various alternatives to the proposed Master Development Plan.  Basically, it approves new facilities at Crystal Mountain including a tram to the summit, a new chairlift in the North Country, a surface lift, existing chairlift upgrades, base facility renovations, employee housing and wastewater facilities.

“I’m pleased with the outcome, “said John Kircher, Crystal Mountain’s President & General Manager.  “We can move forward serving the growing needs of Puget Sound’s year round recreationalists while preserving the environment, and in some important areas, restoring it.”

Visit the USFS website for details on our MDP.