Things to do / Travel Guide
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Alpental is all about the rugged terrain. World renowned skier Bryce Phillips, originally a fan of Whistler, now calls Alpental his home. When asked why by Freeskier magazine, Phillips raved about Alpental's drops and its smaller crowds and said: "Alpental lasts for days."
Alpental is just one of the four bases found at the Summit at Snoqualmie, but is definitely considered the most adventurous and difficult of the four. This is indeed a freeriders paradise, with some of the most challenging terrain in the state and powder, powder, and more powder. Make sure you know what you're doing once you hit up this side of the mountain, or else stick to its bottom. Once you take a ride up on the Edelweiss chair, you'll be surrounded by beautiful drops and solely black diamond and double black diamond runs. Alpental has 302 acres of skiable terrain, served by 5 lifts, including one high speed quad. Just take the Edelweiss Chair up the mountain, and bliss will be right at your front door, 2,280 vertical feet of bliss that is.
Don't forget about the backcountry either! Of course, with 825 acres of it, it would be hard to forget. Just make sure to obtain the free backcountry card before heading out into the wilderness: no card, no entrance. Take note that the terrain back here is rugged, steep, and avalanche prone, and therefore registration is a must. It's strongly recommended that you take along a partner (ideally one with experience of the terrain), avalanche beacons, probes, and shovels in case of an emergency.
Tickets for Alpental are purchased through the Summit resort and are valid for all four mountains. Lift ticket windows can be found at all four bases. The resort is open seven days a week, with night operations 6 nights per week. It's best to check ahead as to what is open and when as hours and days vary.
The Alpental face has no organized parks, but experienced snowboarders are free to ride the mountain. If you're looking for some man-made tricks, make sure to check out Alpental's sister sites. These, particularly Summit Central, have plenty of organized terrain to shred.
Also available at the sister sites are a variety of additional activities for a change of pace after a day of sailing down the Alpental. One can find snow tubing, Nordic Skiing, and snowshoeing activities just around the bend.
Alpental's Lodge, called the Denny Mountain Lodge, provides a nice place to warm your feet after a long day on the slopes. It offers a variety of dining options as well. The usual snack-style food is available on the main floor, but for a couple of micro-brews and a richer selection of food check out the second floor. Also available is a great après-ski spot to try out the lodge's signature drinks. Make sure to check out the sister sites' lodges for additional options such as barbeques.
Alpental, and the rest of the Summit Resort are located just 50 miles from Seattle, so one can always spend the day tearing up the mountain and still make it back on time for dinner reservations in the city. Seattle also provides an enormous variety of lodging options for those visiting from out of town. However, unless you're specifically interested in enjoying Seattle's amenities, you're probably better off making a reservation at one of the local lodgings. Amongst them are a selection of lodges, inns, private rentals, and chalets. Some of these are mountainside, while if you stray just a few miles away you can find many additional choices.