Crystal Mountain, WA – Crystal Mountain Resort no longer has an off-season, thanks to the addition of the Mt. Rainier Gondola. The Washington State ski resort’s regular winter season will end on April 17 but an extended spring skiing season will begin on April 21. Visitors can ski and board well into June, and according to ski area officials possibly into July this year.nCrystal will be open this summer with scenic gondola rides, dining at the Summit House restaurant, hiking, biking, disc golf, horseback rides, live music, festivals, and more. Crystal has meadows of green grass and wildflowers, lakes dotting several basins, elk bugling at night, and on a clear day, amazing views of not only Mt. Rainier, but also the Cascade Range south to Mt. Hood, Mt. Jefferson, and north to Mt. Baker as well as the Olympics to the west.

“Crystal is the only place where you can ride a gondola and eat at Washington’s highest restaurant with the best view of Mt. Rainier,” says Crystal Marketing Director, Tiana Enger. “With the addition of the Mt. Rainier gondola, people of any age, who may have never been to a mountain before, can experience one of Washington state’s best views.”

Spring ski and snowboard operations this year will adhere to the following schedule:

• April 21 to May 8 (Thursday-Sunday).
• May 13 to May 22 (Friday-Sunday).
• May 28 to May 30 (Saturday-Monday) Memorial Day Weekend.
• June 4 to June 12 (Saturdays and Sunday only).

Gondola hours through spring operations will be from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with the last upload at 2:30 p.m. and the last download at 3:30 p.m. Green Valley will be running in conjunction with the gondola, with the other lifts depending on conditions. The Summit House will be open for lunch on the days when the lifts are in operation.

Crystal’s summer operations will follow this schedule:

• June 17 to September 11 (open daily), gondola hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Summit House will be open daily for lunch, dinner on Friday and Saturday and brunch on Sunday, times vary.
• September 17 to October 2 (Saturday and Sunday), gondola hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For gondola rates and more information about Crystal visit www.crystalmountainresort.com.