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{{Short description|Valley and part of a ski area in Washington, United States}}
'''Alpental''' is a ] and "Alpine Valley" (in German) in ], ], about a mile north of ] at ], in the ], about 50 miles east of ]. It offers skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, hiking, climbing and other alpine activities. Geologically, it is a three sided canyon where the valley is flanked by ] on the west, ] to the north, and ] to the east, with ] occupying the upper valley area and feeding the South Fork of the ].
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
]


'''Alpental''', named after the German word for ''alpine valley'', is both a ] in eastern ], United States, and part of a ] in the valley. The valley is about 50 miles (80 km) east of ], ] and is north of ], in the Washington ]. It is a popular outdoor ] destination in summer and winter. The ski area is one of four areas that make up ].
== History ==

In 1967, mining claims were transformed into the Alpental ski area. In order to gain access to the area an agreement had to be made with the Sahalie Ski Club to allow a road through their property. Alpental ski area agreed to maintain roads at their cost for the Sahalie group in exchange for this access. Though the road accesses public forest land, the road is not part of the forest service nor the county road system, but is maintained by Ski Lifts, Inc.
== Topography ==
]

The valley runs north to northwest from ] for about 3 miles (5 km). Geologically, it is a three-sided canyon. Along the west side of the valley a ridge runs between ], ], ], and ]. Source Lake occupies the upper valley area on the north side of the valley. This lake is the source of the South Fork of the ], which meets the other forks of the Snoqualmie River before ] near ]. On the east side of the valley lies ], Cave Ridge, and ].

The valley is about 50 miles (80 km) east of Seattle, Washington. The Alpental Road (Forest Service Road No. 9040) begins at ] Exit 52 at Snoqualmie Pass and runs into the valley. The Alpental Road may also be reached by taking the Denny Creek Road (Forest Service Road No. 58) in the summer months.


== Recreation == == Recreation ==
{{see also | The Summit at Snoqualmie }}
This has traditionally been one of the most popular outdoor recreation areas in the Cascades, with a rich history of Northwest climbing starting from this valley floor. There is also a ski area on Denny Mt. called ], operated by Booth Creek Ski Holdings Inc., of which controlling shares are owned by Vail entreprenuer ]


Alpental Valley is a popular outdoor recreation area in the ] during summer and winter.
The ski concession is a small part of ] ski area, but offers excellent advanced backcountry skiing access to pristine wilderness. The inbound terrain in which the ski concession operates is considered the most difficult of the Summit at Snoqualmie ski area, with 75% rated advanced, 22% rated intermediate and 3% rated beginner. The ski area at Alpental has four chairlifts that provide access to 2,280 feet (695 m) of vertical and 302 acres (1.2 km²). The area has more than 500 acres (2 km²) in its backcountry area. The entire NE side of the ridgeline from Denny Mt., extending toward Chair Peak can be traversed, and a great deal of varying terrain can be accessed from the upper ''chair 2''. Backcountry access from chairlifts is by permission through the Alpental ski patrol, or by hiking from one of the upper parking lots. The base of Alpental is 3,140 ft (957 m) with a top chairlift elevation of 5,420 ft (1652 m). Alpental's average snowfall is 444 inches (1127 cm).


In the summer, Alpental Valley provides a starting point for hikers and climbers. The hiking trails provide access to the ]; there is a rich climbing history starting from the Alpental Valley floor.
Night skiing is also available on the lower mountain.


During winter, people downhill ski and snowboard at the challenging but historically relaxed Alpental Ski Area (part of ] ski resort). Recent additions by Booth Creek Holdings have added gas fire pits, heated sidewalks, and other human comforts. While most of the mountain is skiable by intermediate and advanced skiers, the cliff areas are the roughest skiing terrain in the state, and must only be attempted by very experienced skiers. The expert-run International is well-known among ] area skiers and snowboarders, and has been affectionately nicknamed "Nash." Four chair lifts and a magic carpet on the west side of the valley beneath Denny Mountain serve the ski area. People backcountry ski, snowshoe and ice climb in Alpental Valley using the upper parking lots, traditionally known as lots 3 and 4, as a starting point.
The upper parking lots, traditionally known as lots 3 and 4 at Alpental are public land, managed by the USFS Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest, and are free and open to the public under Article F in the . These lots are plowed and open to the public as part of the agreement with the USFS which issues the ski area's Special Use Permit. The upper public lots are a convenient starting point for many winter climbing, skiing, and snowshoeing routes. The north slopes of the valley are steep and very avalanche prone.<ref> {{cite book
| author = Martin Volken
| title = Backcountry Skiing Snoqualmie Pass
| id = ISBN 0762710667
| date = 2001-12-01
| publisher = Falcon
}} </ref>


] gold medalist ] developed her skills at Alpental while growing up in Seattle. The run "Debbie's Gold" and the "Armstrong Express" chairlift are named for her.
Alpental offers many opportunities for climbing as well as touring. From Chair Peak (or the Tooth, or Bryant Peak) in the winter:<ref> {{cite book
| author=Jim Nelson and Peter Potterfield
| title=Selected Climbs in the Cascades
| publisher=The Mountaineers
| id = ISBN 0898867673
| date=1993
| pages=46}} </ref>
<blockquote>
The difficulty of this approach varies, depending on snow conditions. Drive I-90 to Snoqualmie Pass and Exit 52; cross under the freeway by heading north, and follow signs to Alpental. Drive Alpental Road north 2 miles to the parking lot. Hike upvalley, staying left (south) of the creek, to the head of the valley above Source Lake. This area is prone to avalanche. Use extreme caution.
</blockquote>


Avalanches are a risk in the Alpental Valley; several people have died in the valley as a result of avalanches.<ref name="seattlePI-2005-01-23">
== Controversy ==
{{ cite news
Booth Creek Ski Holdings, the operator of Alpental, has petitioned the ] for permission to develop Alpental's backcountry.<ref> {{cite web
| last = Porterfield
| url = http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/projects/summit-at-snoqualmie/
| publisher = ] | first = Elaine
| title = Beautiful backcountry can be deadly for the beaconless
| format = pdf
| work = The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
| title = Draft environmental impact statement (DEIS)
| date = 2002-10-01 | date = 2005-01-23
| url = http://www.seattlepi.com/local/157790_avalanche23.html
| accessdate = 2006-09-28
| accessdate = 2007-01-01
}} </ref>
}}
Organized opposition exists for this proposal.
</ref><ref name="seattlePI-2005-01-13">
{{ cite news
| last = Blanchard
| first = Jessica
| title = Alpental avalanche kills one man, injures another
| work = The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
| date = 2005-01-23
| url = http://www.seattlepi.com/local/207697_avalanche13.html
| accessdate = 2007-01-01
}}
</ref>


== Ownership and development ==

The land in the valley is in a mixture of public and private ownership. Most of the upper slopes of the valley are publicly owned under the management of the ] (USFS). The Summit at Snoqualmie (including Alpental) is owned by ] with a long-term lease to ].
The ski runs of the Alpental Ski Area are on USFS ] land and are operated under a Special Use Permit (SUP)
<ref name="seattleTimes-2005-12-28">
{{ cite news
| last = Welch
| first = Craig
| title = Bigger, better Snoqualmie envisioned
| work = The Seattle Times
| date = 2005-12-28
| url = http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=snoqualmie28m&date=20051228
| accessdate = 2007-01-01
}}
</ref><ref name="usfsSnoqualmieDEIS">
{{ cite web
| title = Summit at Snoqualmie Master Development Plan. Draft Environmental Impact Statement.
| publisher = USDA Forest Service - Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
| date = December 2005
| url = http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/projects/summit-at-snoqualmie/download.shtml
| accessdate = 2007-01-01
}}
</ref>
]

Additional smaller private development includes two condo complexes<ref>{{cite web|url=http://goldenercondos.com/|title=Goldener Hirsch & Adler Condominiums at Alpental Ski Area, Snoqualmie Pass, WA|website=goldenercondos.com|access-date=2014-12-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226233256/http://goldenercondos.com/|archive-date=2014-12-26|url-status=dead}}</ref> in the upper valley, a small number of private homes in one Bavarian themed subdivision in the mid-valley that began in 1968.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alpentalcc.org/|title=Alpental Community Club - Home Page|website=www.alpentalcc.org}}</ref> In the lower valley are two lodges of outdoor clubs: The Washington Alpine Club on the west<ref>{{cite web|url=http://washingtonalpineclub.org/|title=Washington Alpine Club|website=washingtonalpineclub.org}}</ref> and the Sahalie Ski Club on the east which operates two private rope tows above its lodge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sahalie.org/|title=Loading Sahalie Ski Club...|website=www.sahalie.org}}</ref> These lodges have been cited as significant sources of particulate air pollution in the valley.<ref>{{cite web |title=Summit at Snoqualmie Master Development Plan |url=http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/projects/summit-at-snoqualmie/download.shtml |access-date=31 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060114031516/http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/projects/summit-at-snoqualmie/download.shtml |archive-date=14 January 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pscleanair.org|title=Pages - Puget Sound Clean Air Agency Home|website=www.pscleanair.org}}</ref> In 1995 the Sahalie Ski Club clear-cut logged seven acres of land resulted in litigation with the mid-valley homeowners over resulting avalanche issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://caselaw.findlaw.com/wa-supreme-court/1013837.html|title=FindLaw's Supreme Court of Washington case and opinions.|website=Findlaw}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://oberstrasse.com/photos.htm|title=photos1|website=oberstrasse.com}}</ref> In 1998 the new Armstrong Express detachable lift was installed.

In 2022, Boyne Resorts announced the Alpental Aspect,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Summit 2030: The Alpental Aspect |url=https://summitatsnoqualmie.com/summit-2030/summit-2030-the-alpental-aspect |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=summitatsnoqualmie.com |language=en}}</ref> and in 2023 a timeline was established. To the frustration of many skiers, Alpental closed early and its slopes were torn down in late April 2023, marking the beginning of the execution of the Alpental Aspect plan.


== References == == References ==
{{reflist|30em}}
<!-- ----------------------------------------------------------

See http://en.wikipedia.org/Wikipedia:Footnotes for a
==Further reading==
discussion of different citation methods and how to generate
For more information on recreation in the Alpental Valley see:
footnotes using the <ref>, </ref> and <reference /> tags
* {{cite book|author=Spring, Ira|authorlink=Ira Spring|author2=Manning, Harvey|authorlink2=Harvey Manning|year=2001|title=55 Hikes around Snoqualmie Pass|publisher=The Mountaineers|isbn=0-89886-777-0}}
----------------------------------------------------------- -->
* {{cite book|author=Volken, Martin|title=Backcountry Skiing Snoqualmie Pass|isbn=0-7627-1066-7|year=2001|publisher=Falcon}}
<div class="references-small">
* {{cite book|author=Nelson, Jim|author2=Potterfield, Peter|title=Selected Climbs in the Cascades|publisher=The Mountaineers|isbn=0-89886-767-3|year=1993}}
<references />
For maps of the area see:
</div>
* {{cite map|publisher=Green Trails Inc|title=Snoqualmie Pass, WA – No 207|year=1996|scale=1 : 69,500|series=15 Minute}}
* {{cite map|publisher=]|title=Snoqualmie Pass Quadrangle, Washington|year=1989|edition=Provisional 1989|scale=1 : 24,000|series=7,5 Minute Series (Topographic)|isbn=0-607-58301-0}}


== External links == == External links ==
* History of area and virtual tours *
* Environmental group opposing backcountry development *
{{Washington Ski areas navbox}}

{{coord|47|26|35|N|121|25|46|W|display=title}}


] ]
]
]
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Latest revision as of 03:48, 9 June 2023

Valley and part of a ski area in Washington, United States

Top of Armstrong Express (also known as Chair 1)

Alpental, named after the German word for alpine valley, is both a valley in eastern King County, Washington, United States, and part of a ski area in the valley. The valley is about 50 miles (80 km) east of Seattle, Washington and is north of Snoqualmie Pass, in the Washington Cascades. It is a popular outdoor recreation destination in summer and winter. The ski area is one of four areas that make up The Summit at Snoqualmie.

Topography

View from the top of Edelweiss Chair (also known as Chair 2)

The valley runs north to northwest from Snoqualmie Pass for about 3 miles (5 km). Geologically, it is a three-sided canyon. Along the west side of the valley a ridge runs between Denny Mountain, The Tooth, Bryant Peak, and Chair Peak. Source Lake occupies the upper valley area on the north side of the valley. This lake is the source of the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River, which meets the other forks of the Snoqualmie River before Snoqualmie Falls near North Bend, Washington. On the east side of the valley lies Guye Peak, Cave Ridge, and Snoqualmie Mountain.

The valley is about 50 miles (80 km) east of Seattle, Washington. The Alpental Road (Forest Service Road No. 9040) begins at I-90 Exit 52 at Snoqualmie Pass and runs into the valley. The Alpental Road may also be reached by taking the Denny Creek Road (Forest Service Road No. 58) in the summer months.

Recreation

See also: The Summit at Snoqualmie

Alpental Valley is a popular outdoor recreation area in the Cascades during summer and winter.

In the summer, Alpental Valley provides a starting point for hikers and climbers. The hiking trails provide access to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness; there is a rich climbing history starting from the Alpental Valley floor.

During winter, people downhill ski and snowboard at the challenging but historically relaxed Alpental Ski Area (part of The Summit at Snoqualmie ski resort). Recent additions by Booth Creek Holdings have added gas fire pits, heated sidewalks, and other human comforts. While most of the mountain is skiable by intermediate and advanced skiers, the cliff areas are the roughest skiing terrain in the state, and must only be attempted by very experienced skiers. The expert-run International is well-known among Puget Sound area skiers and snowboarders, and has been affectionately nicknamed "Nash." Four chair lifts and a magic carpet on the west side of the valley beneath Denny Mountain serve the ski area. People backcountry ski, snowshoe and ice climb in Alpental Valley using the upper parking lots, traditionally known as lots 3 and 4, as a starting point.

Olympic gold medalist Debbie Armstrong developed her skills at Alpental while growing up in Seattle. The run "Debbie's Gold" and the "Armstrong Express" chairlift are named for her.

Avalanches are a risk in the Alpental Valley; several people have died in the valley as a result of avalanches.

Ownership and development

The land in the valley is in a mixture of public and private ownership. Most of the upper slopes of the valley are publicly owned under the management of the United States Forest Service (USFS). The Summit at Snoqualmie (including Alpental) is owned by CNL Income Properties with a long-term lease to Boyne USA Resorts. The ski runs of the Alpental Ski Area are on USFS Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest land and are operated under a Special Use Permit (SUP)

Alpental sign

Additional smaller private development includes two condo complexes in the upper valley, a small number of private homes in one Bavarian themed subdivision in the mid-valley that began in 1968. In the lower valley are two lodges of outdoor clubs: The Washington Alpine Club on the west and the Sahalie Ski Club on the east which operates two private rope tows above its lodge. These lodges have been cited as significant sources of particulate air pollution in the valley. In 1995 the Sahalie Ski Club clear-cut logged seven acres of land resulted in litigation with the mid-valley homeowners over resulting avalanche issues. In 1998 the new Armstrong Express detachable lift was installed.

In 2022, Boyne Resorts announced the Alpental Aspect, and in 2023 a timeline was established. To the frustration of many skiers, Alpental closed early and its slopes were torn down in late April 2023, marking the beginning of the execution of the Alpental Aspect plan.

References

  1. Porterfield, Elaine (January 23, 2005). "Beautiful backcountry can be deadly for the beaconless". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved January 1, 2007.
  2. Blanchard, Jessica (January 23, 2005). "Alpental avalanche kills one man, injures another". The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved January 1, 2007.
  3. Welch, Craig (December 28, 2005). "Bigger, better Snoqualmie envisioned". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 1, 2007.
  4. "Summit at Snoqualmie Master Development Plan. Draft Environmental Impact Statement". USDA Forest Service - Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. December 2005. Retrieved January 1, 2007.
  5. "Goldener Hirsch & Adler Condominiums at Alpental Ski Area, Snoqualmie Pass, WA". goldenercondos.com. Archived from the original on December 26, 2014. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  6. "Alpental Community Club - Home Page". www.alpentalcc.org.
  7. "Washington Alpine Club". washingtonalpineclub.org.
  8. "Loading Sahalie Ski Club..." www.sahalie.org.
  9. "Summit at Snoqualmie Master Development Plan". Archived from the original on January 14, 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  10. "Pages - Puget Sound Clean Air Agency Home". www.pscleanair.org.
  11. "FindLaw's Supreme Court of Washington case and opinions". Findlaw.
  12. "photos1". oberstrasse.com.
  13. "Summit 2030: The Alpental Aspect". summitatsnoqualmie.com. Retrieved April 28, 2023.

Further reading

For more information on recreation in the Alpental Valley see:

For maps of the area see:

  • Snoqualmie Pass, WA – No 207 (Map). 1 : 69,500. 15 Minute. Green Trails Inc. 1996.
  • Snoqualmie Pass Quadrangle, Washington (Map) (Provisional 1989 ed.). 1 : 24,000. 7,5 Minute Series (Topographic). United States Geological Survey. 1989. ISBN 0-607-58301-0.

External links

Ski areas in Washington
Alpine areas
Cross country areas
Heli skiing
Defunct ski areas

47°26′35″N 121°25′46″W / 47.44306°N 121.42944°W / 47.44306; -121.42944

Categories: