| For a departure from the traditional Colorado-based | | | | Crystal Mountain is open from mid-November through |
| ski trip, you may want to check out Crystal | | | | the middle of April; this is when the most snow falls. |
| Mountain, in the state of Washington. Though not the | | | | A full day of skiing can be had by taking advantage |
| tallest of mountains, and not even the tallest in | | | | of Crystal Mountain's Express Bus service. This |
| Washington State, sitting at just over seven | | | | service runs from December through March; it will |
| thousand feet, it does still have a vertical drop of | | | | bring you from your lodge to the slopes, and back |
| more than three thousand feet. Mount Rainier, the | | | | again. Although there are other attractions, lodging, |
| tallest mountain in Washington State, sits at over | | | | and dining, the obvious first attraction is the skiing |
| fourteen thousand feet. | | | | and that is where the Express Bus service will come |
| Crystal Mountain is rough terrain, and does not offer | | | | in handy. |
| much for the beginner skier, which is good for those | | | | Are a tough day on the slopes, you will want to take |
| extreme skier-types. Due to the strong Cascade | | | | advantage of the game room, or get a great |
| Mountain storms, Crystal Mountain receives several | | | | massage and East Peak Massage & Fitness. You |
| fresh inches of snow powder during the months of | | | | can also take advantage of their hot tub, showers, |
| November through April the following year. For | | | | or get in a sauna. Be sure to schedule this in advance, |
| beginners, you will not be totally left out, as there | | | | because it gets busy and massages are had only by |
| are lessons for you as well. | | | | reservations. |
| As the busiest and largest ski resort are in | | | | If you will be bringing your kids along and they are |
| Washington State, you will find more than twenty | | | | not double black diamond skiers, do not worry. You |
| three hundred acres and fifty ski trails. You will also | | | | can schedule them to be in the Kid's Club, which is |
| find sufficient ski lifts, with the following... | | | | supervised and professionals and available for kids |
| - High speed, six passenger lifts - 2 | | | | between the ages of seven to eleven. Included in |
| - High speed quad lifts - 2 | | | | the cost, is a lift ticket, lunch, four hour lesson and all |
| - Triple chair lifts - 2 | | | | the white powder snow they can handle. The cost, |
| - Double chair lifts -3 | | | | however, does not include skies or ski gear, so be |
| - Children-only lifts - 1 | | | | prepared. |