Dry Snow Keeps Seattle Skiers Coming To Mission Ridge

Each year, the people of Wenatchee, Washington and the operators of the Mission Ridge ski area make a bargain with Mother Nature -- they'll put up with the cold weather, just please include some snow in the forecast.

Not everyone actually uses the ski area, but it's now such an integral part of the Wenatchee community that most people understand it's good to keep a good snow pack on the mountain. The area attracts not only locals, but brings in hordes of sun-seeking Western Washington visitors who abandon the "Cascade Cement" they call snow on the other side of the Cascades to come to the dry powder snow here that skiers and boarders find so much more appealing.

That means lots of dollars come in from people who use hotels, restaurants and shop in local malls -- not to mention steady revenue for the ski area itself.. So, please Mother Nature - bring it on.

Unfortunately, last season came up a little bit short in the snowfall department and the relatively mild 2013-14 winter resulted in about 10,000 fewer visitors over the course of the season, or about 93,500 skier visits in total. Mission Ridge has resolved to do better this year. They have not yet called someone in to do a Spirit Dance for Snow, but they did the next best thing last fall with their Pray for Snow Dance featuring the Posies rock band. There were some early signs the tactic may be working.

The good news is that Mission Ridge does know how to make snow, and they were able to open in November with limited operations using man-made snow. When the resort is in full operation, skiers and boarders can choose from 36 ski runs and play on more than 2,000 acres of skiable terrain - a wonderland of trails, chutes and bowls that most skiers or boarders will be able to handle. In fact, only 10 percent of the resort's terrain is considered difficult with 60 percent intermediate and 30 percent beginner trails. And recently, 800 more acres were purchased for future development.

The area's four chairlifts - including one high-speed quad - and two rope tows keep skiers moving up the mountain, reducing lift lines. In fact, visit Mission Ridge midweek and you'll be sharing the mountain with only about 700 other people, way below the lift capacity for the area. You can figure about double that number on weekends.

While there are no overnight accommodations at Mission Ridge, the area is relatively quick and easy to get to from Wenatchee, where the lodging and restaurants make a Mission Ridge weekend attractive for skiers and boarders from Western Washington. Families in particular like Mission Rige because it's shaped like a big bowl and all the runs end up in the same area by the lodge, making it easier for everyone to meet up.

The 400-person capacity Hampton day lodge serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and, in recent years, has become the scene for the annual Mountain Music Festival. This season the festival will feature 10 bands over 10 Saturdays, Dec. 27 through Feb. 28, with music starting at 7 p.m. Skiers and boarders love the concerts, but the music also attracts locals who come up just for the day to listen to the bands and have dinner in the lodge.

It's all part of the resort's outreach that helps bring together the mountain and its community. "We would not be here without the way Wenatchee supports Mission Ridge," says Chapin. "We are extremely thankful for our proximity to Wenatchee. "

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