ENUMCLAW, Wash. — I’m talking about HACKS for first time skiers❄️ and even experienced ones at Crystal Mountain Resort. I brought along my coworker Grace to hit the slopes with.
A little back story- I have skied a couple times as a kid and one other time in my adult life. So, I am no expert and welcome a lesson. Grace on the other hand loves to ski and even brought her own gear 😊! Compared to me… she’s an Olympian.
Upon arrival I immediately met Jeff, who might be the most patient man on the planet, on the bunny hill for my hour lesson. It really made me fall in love with the sport and- spoiler alert- I only fell once!
Here are some hacks and advice that might help you the next time you drive up to ski-
1. Plan ahead and download the Crystal App for free! 🙌🏼
You can reserve a parking spot, rental gear and schedule a lesson. It was so easy to have this one stop shop. I didn’t have to worry about the parking lot being filled up - and I immediately felt more relaxed knowing I would get a lesson under my belt.
Other wins on the app-
- Conditions and lift status updates ❄️
- Live activity tracking
- Find your friends on the mountain
- Current webcam feeds 🥶
- Mobile Ordering
2. Don’t drive – shuttle!
Another hack- if you are worried about the drive from Seattle (about 2 hrs.) there is a free shuttle from Enumclaw that will take you up. This way you can sit back and relax and let someone else navigate the snowy terrain.
Shuttle Bus transportation will be available from the Enumclaw Expo Center to Crystal Mountain on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. All shuttle buses are free of charge but do require a reservation.
Shuttle bus schedule
Departing Enumclaw Expo Center: 6:45 a.m., 8:00 a.m., 8:30 a.m., and 9:00 a.m.
Departing Crystal for Enumclaw: 2:15 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:00 p.m.
3. Restaurant Hack
We opted for lunch at Summit House and loved it. I recommend the burger or the vegetable curry. Great views and ambiance on the top of the mountain.
4. Grab a gondola ride
If you are like me and can’t ski down from the top you still should enjoy the beautiful views of Mount Rainier. My advice? Take the gondola ride up and down. This is a beautiful way to see the top and of course check out Summit House for lunch.
Thanks to Crystal Mountain for having me out! Such an amazing time and I hope I won’t wait another decade to get out on the slopes and take in the views. Everyone was so friendly and made this beginner feel like she could tackle a black diamond… okay maybe not that… but you get the idea. 😊
More information- crystalmountainresort.com
Address- 33914 Crystal Mountain Blvd, Enumclaw, WA 98022
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