Crystal Mountain Resort opens on Black Friday



ENUMCLAW, Wash. – Crystal Mountain Resort opened their doors to the 2016-2017 ski and snowboard season on Friday after two feet of snow fell the night before.

More than 1,100 tickets were sold for the season opener, four chair lifts were operational by noon.

“Forget shopping, we got snow,” cheered Todd Vasko, heading up the chairlift with his two daughters.

Black Friday, has been rewritten by the resort, “we’ve dubbed it ‘White Friday,’” said Tiana Anderson, Crystal Mountain’s marketing director. “I think I would much rather be out skiing than in a mall standing in line shopping and I think a lot of other families are the same.”

Anderson said the resort typically opens in mid-November. “Anytime we can get open in November, it’s really good news for us financially, it’s really good for skiers who’ve bought season passes.”

The resort has a 24-inch base, with another 24 inches expected in the next 24 hours. In a traditional year, the mountain resort sees 400-500 inches. This year is a La Nina year, and is expected to drive those inch totals closer to 700, said Anderson.

“Thirty to 40 percent above average is great news for everyone,” she said.

The resort is expected to be fully operational by mid-December, five chairlifts will be running on Saturday.

Ski season in Oregon

Skiing season in Oregon began Friday as Mt. Hood and Mt. Bachelor as well.

The Salem Statesman Journal reports that officials with Mt. Hood Meadows plan to open 3 lifts Friday morning and Mt. Bachelor plans to open one lift.

Two additional lifts at Mt. Bachelor are expected to open Saturday.

Mount Hood Skibowl plans to open its Snow Tube and Adventure Park on Saturday and Sunday. Timberline Lodge is already open on a limited basis.