Baker, Crystal ski areas will operate into May

By GREG JOHNSTON  
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER 

Crystal Mountain and Mount Baker ski areas are taking advantage of winter's massive snowpack by staying open into May this year.

 Crystal managers announced earlier this week the area will stay open daily through April 18, then reopen for weekends only on April 24-25 and May 1-2.

 Mount Baker, where the base-area snow depth yesterday was down to 282 inches from an all-time high of 308 inches early last week, will stay open through May 2.

 "We want to be as aggressive as we can with our operations and if there's a part of the season we can operate, we're going to do it," John Kircher, Crystal general manager, said yesterday. "The snow coverage is good. It's the second-highest pack we've ever had. If the weather's good, I think we'll have a couple good weekends."

 Stevens Pass ski area is closing earlier than usual -- the last day is April 11 -- because of its ambitious plan to build a new day lodge during the off-season (see below).

 Mission Ridge will shut off its lifts April 4, while White Pass will close April 25.

 On Snoqualmie Pass, Summit Central will close at the end of the day Sunday, while Summit West will stay open through April 14. Joanne Nelson, Summit marketing director, said Alpental will be kept open on a week-to-week basis depending on crowds.

Big plans at Stevens

 A large new day lodge will be part of $8.2 million in renovations this off-season at Stevens Pass ski area, Harbor Properties announced earlier this week. It is the biggest single capital investment ever at the resort.

 The new lodge will replace the cozy little T-Bar Lodge, built in 1940, and will be the centerpiece of a largely restructured base area at Stevens, including new parking facilities and a heated brick entry plaza and stairway.

 The new day lodge will cost $5 million and will accommodate an additional 150 skiers inside and 200 outside under a covered deck. It will be built in a "Cascadian" style, using large wood beams and stone.

 Like the T-Bar it will be situated between Stevens' West and East lodges.

 The area also plans to improve its popular Tye Mill chairlift, now a two-seater built in 1976. The lift will be upgraded to three-seat chairs, and its loading terminal rebuilt to eliminate the current uphill climb to the lift.