Peak Description
Crystal Mountain is a long ridgecrest running north-south, immediately northeast of the massive bulk of Mount Rainier. The largest downhill ski area in the state of Washington blankets the east face of this ridge, while the west slopes are a wilderness in Mount Rainier National Park that drops down to Highway 410.
The Crystal Mountain ski area resort complex of lifts, roads, and trails has made this crest one of the most visited major peaks in the Cascades. Every bump on the ridge has been given a name--the highest, at the south end, is called Silver King, and running north are The Throne, Silver Queen, the Summit House, Grubstake Peak, and Northway Peak. The ski area trail maps appear to inflate the summit elevations when compared with the USGS topographic map elevations; for example, Silver King is 6998 feet high on the topo map, but 7013 feet according to the ski area publications.
In winter, the High Campbell charlift (#6) takes skiers right to the top of Silver Queen, the highest point reachable without sweat. A long traverse south along the ridge and a 20 minute hike lure skiers to the summit of Silver King, where comparatively less tracked-out snow often awaits. In summer, the resort runs chairlifts to the Summit House for sightseers and mountain bikers.
Views of Mount Rainier from almost anywhere along the ridge of Crystal Mountain are dumbfoundingly awesome on clear days, but from most of the ski area "the mountain" is hidden behind you. |
