Snoqualmie Expansion Proposal Available

The Summit just emailed their ticket-holder base about the expansion proposal they have in with the forest service. Here is an online version of that same email.

The full-blown, gorily detailed proposal is available at the Forest Service website. We've only made a cursory scan of it, but at first blush it looks like more expansion for Summit West, and Hyak, with a new lift to intermediate/advanced terrain (International) going into Alpental. There's also a proposal to put a gondola from the main Summit area to Alpental; our first reaction is to not like that one bit, but we'll dig in more and give a full review soon.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@seattlest.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Courtney in Miscellaneous, News on February 9, 2006 10:08 AM

Comments [rss]

Courtney Nash

Thanks KISS fan! So that's where that Internationale lift would go--it was really hard to tell from the diagrams. Yes, that would be truly sad. Not just because of the influx of people to an area that used to require at least some modicum of work to get to (and the "b/c" is the reason I like Alpie), but also the increase in numbers of people who will no doubt be killing themselves out there, because Piss Pass is no walk in the park. If they dumb down the terrain out there to put a lift in, that would be the end of me buying a season's pass up there.

KISS fan

Over I-90 was part of the plan, but that won't fly. The main event is a gondola from the base of Alpental to a new year-round restaurant on top of Denny Peak, where Chair 2 ends now. Chair 1 and 2 will stay. As ridiculous as that addition seems, what is more worrysome is the proposed Internationale lift which will provide lift access to most of the "backcountry" that is accessed by the Great Scott Traverse now. This KISS fan thinks that would be sad: It would turn a charming, local die-hard area into a lame, bumped-out, crowded area of convenience. Save that stuff for across the highway at the Summit.