Jeff's Corner - Snoqualmie, Washington

Snoqualmie is a group of three connected ski areas along the crest of the Cascade range of Washington. The areas sit just a few feet from Interstate 90, a major cross-country road, and are the closest areas to Seattle, which is about an hour to the west.

The Snoqualmie Pass area receives a staggering amount of snow, nearly all of which falls at or just below freezing. It is not uncommon to see nearby homes and motels literally buried under 15 feet or more of new snow.

This area would appear to be highly suspectible to adverse conditions under global warming.

The three ski areas here are Summit Central, Summit West and Hyak. Summit Central is the main base of operations and open daily until late at night. Summit West, formerly known as Ski Acres, operates under a more limited schedule. Hyak operates weekends only.

All areas have a maximum vertical drop of about 1,000 feet but are strung along a common ridge for more than a mile. Central and West, in particular, have a wide array of lifts strung side by side serving mostly open slopes not unlike what is found in the Midwest.

Partly due to the limited variety of skiing, and partly due to the proximity to a major metropolitan area, Snoqualmie at times appears to be more of a city park than a retreat from nature. Seattle sounds blare from loudspeakers and much of the area is a terrain park. The scene is huge, both on and off the slopes, and the vibe is young.