Stevens Pass Celebrates its 75th Anniversary

LEAVENWORTH, WA – October 10, 2012 – Stevens Pass is honoring its 75^th anniversary this winter and the resort is celebrating with a season full of events and more than $1 Million in improvements  to ensure guests have the best experience ever.  These include new state-of-the-art grooming equipment, extensive summer tree glading, convenient lift ticket options, and exciting, new stay and play packages at Washington’s best winter destination.   From its humble beginnings in 1937, Stevens has strived to offer a mountain experience unique to the Northwest and this year they are mixing their historic culture with newfound pride to create a winter experience that is as pure as their snow.

Chris Danforth, Vice President of Marketing and Sales, said “We are excited to share our 75th anniversary with our new and loyal guests.  I invite everyone to come out, see the new improvements and experience the best the Northwest has to offer.”

These improvements mark the most significant upgrades in recent years and the first major investments by the resort’s new ownership group.

On Mountain Improvements:

Trail Brush Cutting & Glading – Stevens’ summer grooming department, which consists of eleven workers, has been busy creating new lines and opening up gladed tree areas from one side of the resort to the other.  Notable regions of brush clearing, tree limb cutting, and trail maintenance include Corona Bowl, the Aquarius zone, and the area in between Wild Katz and Double Diamond runs.  These areas, normally overrun by brush, are now open offering intermediate to advanced skiers and snowboarders a better experience than ever.  Plus guests can spread out and discover new powder runs on snowy days.

Terrain Park Expansion – Stevens Pass is committed to having the #1 Terrain Park in the Pacific Northwest.  This summer, they have been busy increasing and improving their fleet of boxes and rails with hopes of having more than 40 brand new, non-snow features ready to launch by season’s start.  These include the new Space Needle Bonk, a 10-foot replica of the Seattle tower that can be tapped, slid, or soared over.  Two new satellite parks will also allow Stevens to place features on the front side of the mountain, creating more fun and unique rail zones.  These areas are specifically designed for lower level riders to get them used to the feel of terrain features and progressing faster than ever.

Safety is Stevens’ top priority but this season skiers and snowboarders will not need a specialized pass to enter the park.  The mountain does recommend that all skiers and snowboarders wear a helmet and follow the rules of safety and etiquette found here.

New Snowcats – Three new Pisten Bully 400 Park Cats were added to the fleet this summer allowing the grooming department to expand its schedule and cover more terrain each night.  Stevens is known for its incredible, in-bound, steep and deep terrain but the mountain also offers terrific corduroy cruising trails as well.  This year guests will notice more pristinely groomed terrain and fresh corduroy each morning, perfect for making big sweeping turns.

At its heart though, the Pisten Bully 400 is designed for the rigors of park development with strength and agility to let builders create almost anything their minds can conjure.  The extreme range of motion of the front blade lets the park builders push, carry and place snow exactly where they need it.  Plus the 400’s increased range of motion at the rear means the Alpine Flex tiller can put that finishing touch high up on the wall of a feature.  The Pisten Bully Snowcats are specially designed for a wide range of mountain needs including the ability to groom steep terrain, and with 370 horsepower they have plenty of guts to accomplish any task quickly and efficiently.

Guest Experience Improvements:

Flex Ticketing –Stevens Pass is excited to be the only resort in the region to offer the innovative Flex Ticketing program. Now you can ski on your schedule, not the resort’s.  Guests can arrive whenever they like for the ultimate level of convenience.  Instead of traditional all-day or half-day afternoon tickets, skiers and snowboarders at Stevens Pass can now enjoy 4 or 8-Hour Flex Tickets.  Flex Tickets are good any time of the day and don’t begin until the guest takes their first run.  Now families can come and go as they please because they always get their full value.  And, without the mad rush to be on the chair by 9 a.m., both traffic and parking congestion is reduced.  Flex tickets also extend into the night when the resort is open past 5 p.m.

6 & Under Ski Free – Stevens is committed to providing kids with healthy outdoor activities at an early age. This season, families can bring their children, ages six and under, up to explore the mountain completely free of charge.  Guests should purchase or renew their child’s pass online to ensure season long direct-to-lift access.  Free skiing for kids is just one of the many reasons Stevens Pass is an excellent choice for families this winter.

Ski & Stay Packages – The nearby town of Leavenworth gives guests a unique opportunity to stay and play.  From their annual Christmas tree lighting to Stevens’ Ice Fest Rail Jam, there is always something to see and do in this historic, Bavarian-themed town.  With the combination of Leavenworth and Stevens Pass, guests can experience Washington’s best winter destination. Packages for two people, which include lodging and 8-Hour lift tickets begin at just $149 per night.  Guests who have a season pass to any other resort can ski or ride for free and get a night of lodging for two people for just $89.  Now residents from Seattle and beyond can enjoy a true winter destination without having to travel across the country.

New Mobile App – New this season, Stevens has partnered with veteran winter resort mobile app builder Resorts Tapped out of Jackson Hole, WY. Free for both iPhone and Android, this app lets users track all aspects of their day including vertical feet, distance traveled, top speed, and more.  Using the “check-in” feature, guests can locate themselves on the digital trail map and pinpoint their friends.  The app also produces a simulated playback at the end of the day so visitors can relive their routes and share them with family and friends.  Beyond tracking, the Stevens Pass app provides users easy access to weather conditions, webcams, trail updates, and social networks.  It is a one-stop shop for all on-hill information and a must have for guests of Stevens Pass this winter.

About Stevens Pass Mountain Resort
Celebrating its 75^th year of operation, Stevens Pass is located 78 miles east of Seattle on the crest of the Cascade Mountain Range. On average, Stevens receives about 450 inches of snow annually, covering 1,125 acres of ski-able terrain including 37 major runs and numerous bowls, glades, and faces. The resort has a variety of terrain for every age and skill level. Normal winter operations run from early December to mid-April.