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			{{Short description\|Valley and part of a ski area in Washington, United States}}
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			{{Use mdy dates\|date=August 2022}}
	'''Alpental''' 1.) ''lit.'' "alpine valley," ''(Ger.)'' alt. "Alpenthal" 2.) A particular valley located 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 SW, ] to the NW, and ] to the NE, with ] occupying the upper valley area and feeding the South Fork of the ], which eventually makes its way to ]. 3.) One of the four ] base areas , comprising ] (owned by ''Booth Creek Ski Holdings Inc.'', of which controlling shares are owned by ]) is located in the same area operating lifts on the NE (lower mountain), and SE (upper mountain) side of Denny Mountain and operates under a Special Use Permit issued by the ] Mt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
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			'''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 ].
	== Recreation ==
	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. The ski concession is part of ] ski area, and offers excellent advanced backcountry skiing access to pristine wilderness and roadless areas. From the upper chair (chair 2, or "Edelweiss," one can ski down the "Internationale," or NE slope of ''Denny Mountain,'' and traverse high, far up the valley to "Piss Pass," where one can either descend, or climb up and over the ridge of Denny Mountain, and descend to "Pinapple Pass." This is the far basin where a large alpine bowl offers excellent skiing, and Many peaks including Chair, Bryant, and the Tooth can be accessed for winter climbing.

	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 I. 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.

			== Topography ==
	The upper lots not only are a convenient place to park and ski down to the lifts for skiing and snowboarding, they have historically been an excellent point to access many winter climbing, skiing, and snowshoeing routes. Lot 4 is described as the start of several tours in Martin Volken's guidebook; Backcountry Skiing Snoqualmie Pass. Here is an excerpt:
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			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 ].
	Approach: Take Interstate 90 to the Snoqualmie Pass west exit. Drive on Alpental Road to the uppermost parking lot (3,220 feet). Leave your vehicle here.

			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.
	From the parking lot you'll see a groomed path leading deeper into the Alpental valley. Follow this path to the end. From here you continue up the valley, staying well above and south of the Snoqualmie River. Be aware that the north slopes of the valley are steep and very avalanche prone.

			== Recreation ==
	Volken, Martin Backcountry Skiing Snoqualmie Pass A Falcon Guide 2002, The Globe Pequot Press pp.71, 73, 74, 77, 81, 84,87, 89,91, 93, 95, 98
			{{see also \| The Summit at Snoqualmie }}

			Alpental Valley is a popular outdoor recreation area in the ] during summer and winter.
	There are indeed many opportunities for climbing as well as touring from Lot 4. For example if one wanted to climb Chair Peak (or the Tooth, or Bryant Peak) in the winter as Jim Nelson and Peter Potterfield describe in their guide:

			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.
	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 upper 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. Nelson, Jim and Potterfield, Peter, Selected Climbs in the Cascades, The Mountaineers,/Seattle 1993, p 46.

			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.
	For more information about the climbing routes, geology, and topography refer to Fred Beckey's Cascade Alpine Guide (3 vols.) (Mountaineers Press, 1973-1981) Columbia River to Stevens Pass ISBN 0-89886-577-8

			] 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.


			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">
			{{ cite news
			\| last = Porterfield
			\| first = Elaine
			\| title = Beautiful backcountry can be deadly for the beaconless
			\| work = The Seattle Post-Intelligencer
			\| date = 2005-01-23
			\| url = http://www.seattlepi.com/local/157790_avalanche23.html
			\| accessdate = 2007-01-01
			}}
			</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> As of the 2024-25 season there are five lift and one conveyer. The lifts are one High speed Quad, two old school no safety bar double's, and two new Triples.

			== Ownership and development ==
	<ref> {{cite book
	\| author = Martin Volken
	\| title = Backcountry Skiing Snoqualmie Pass
	\| id = ISBN 0762710667
	\| date = 2001-12-01
	\| publisher = Falcon
	}} </ref>
	<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>

			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 ].
	== Recent Development Controversy ==
			The ski runs of the Alpental Ski Area are on USFS ] land and are operated under a Special Use Permit (SUP)
	Booth Creek Ski Holdings Inc, and sub-contractor SE Group are petitioning the ] for permission to develop Alpental's backcountry.<ref> {{cite web
			<ref name="seattleTimes-2005-12-28">
	\| url = http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/projects/summit-at-snoqualmie/
			{{ cite news
	\| publisher = ]
	\| ~~format~~ = ~~pdf~~		\| last = Welch
			\| first = Craig
	\| title = Draft environmental impact statement (DEIS)
			\| title = Bigger, better Snoqualmie envisioned
	\| date = 2002-10-01
			\| work = The Seattle Times
	\| accessdate = 2006-09-28
			\| date = 2005-12-28
	}} </ref>
			\| url = http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=snoqualmie28m&date=20051228
	Organized opposition exists for this proposal.
			\| 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 ==
	* The Summit at ~~Snoquamie~~ ~~ski~~ ~~area~~		*
	* History of Alpental and virtual tours		*
			{{Washington Ski areas navbox}}
	* Conservation (stewardship/public access) group opposing backcountry development

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

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Latest revision as of 22:17, 5 January 2025

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

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

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)

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

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

External links

v t e Ski areas in Washington
Alpine areas	49 Degrees North Badger Mountain Bluewood Crystal Mountain Echo Valley Hurricane Ridge Leavenworth Loup Loup Meany Lodge Mission Ridge Mount Baker Mount Spokane Sahalie Ski Club Sitzmark Stevens Pass Summit at Snoqualmie (Alpental, Summit West, Summit Central, Summit East) White Pass
Cross country areas	49 Degrees North Leavenworth Loup Loup Meany Lodge Methow Valley Stevens Pass Summit at Snoqualmie John Wayne Pioneer Trail (Near Hyak) White Pass
Heli skiing	North Cascade Heli Skiing
Defunct ski areas	American River Ski Bowl Big Four Ski Area Blewett Pass Ski Area Cayuse Pass Chewelah Peak Ski Area Chinook Pass City Ski Acres Cle Elum Ski Hill Holiday Hills Martin Ski Dome Milwaukee Ski Bowl Mount Pilchuck Paradise Ski Area Squilchuck Ski Bowl

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

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