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MOUNT RAINIER, Wash. - Crystal Mountain announced it will officially open for the season on Saturday, Dec. 20, with special limited access.
The ski resort made the decision after recently getting multiple rounds of mountain snow, with more accumulations forecast through the weekend. However, traffic will be a major factor.
Crystal Mountain Resort thanked the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for helping make the opening possible, as crews recently set up single-lane access on a section of Highway 410 that was partially washed out during the recent storms. The road only has one direction open with alternating traffic, with limited capacity for locals only.
SR 410 washout (Enumclaw Police Department)
Visitors are asked to follow guidelines, plan ahead, and respect WSDOT's efforts on the roads.
Crystal says Green Valley will be open via the Mount Rainier Gondola, as well as Chinook and Discovery. The mountain also plans to debut its newly-replaced Rainier Express Chairlift on Sunday, featuring a new, detachable grip, high-speed quad by Leitner-Poma.
The mountain will return to regular access as soon as Highway 410 repairs are completed.
More information on Crystal Mountain's limited access parking plan and the latest weather conditions can be found on their website.
Additionally, White Pass said it will decide on Friday whether it will open this weekend. Even if not, the ski area expects to welcome back visitors very soon.
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The Source: Information in this story came from the social media pages of Crystal Mountain Resort and White Pass Ski Area, the Washington State Department of Transportation, and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.