16-04-2025
Washington's Largest Ski Resort To Replace Aging Chairlift This Summer
Washington's largest ski resort, Crystal Mountain, will replace its Rainier Express chairlift this affectionately as "REX," the high-speed quad chairlift was constructed in 1988, becoming the first of its kind in the state. It delivers skiers to an upper-mountain ridgeline with views of Mt. Rainier. Trails beneath the chair, namely Sunnyside and The Doors, are popular spots for local skiers on powder in June, REX will be replaced with a new high-speed quad manufactured by Leitner-Poma. Crystal Mountain anticipates completing the project in December 2025."Since the original chairlift's debut in 1988, Rainier Express has been a cornerstone of our operations—a symbol of innovation and commitment to our guests. As we look ahead, we're proud to continue that legacy with the investment in a detachable grip quad chairlift," said Matthew Darbous, president and COO of Crystal Mountain, in a press release shared Tuesday.
Want to keep up with the best stories and photos in skiing? Subscribe to the new Powder To The People newsletter for weekly honor the departure of REX, Crystal Mountain is asking local skiers to submit their favorite photos of the lift. Every person who submits a picture will be entered into a raffle, and the winner will receive a REX swag bag and have a chance to win one of the REX chairs. "We want to see emotion and points for vintage photos!" a social media post from Crystal Mountain current iteration of REX will stop operating on May 4. The same day, Crystal Mountain is hosting The Last Riders of REX 1988, a retro-themed party at the Midway Yurt between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. that includes contests, live music, and other May, Crystal Mountain will also sell REX's chairs, with the proceeds benefiting the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC). Despite the planned construction of REX's replacement, summer operations at Crystal Mountain, like the Mount Rainier Scenic Gondola and The Flying Raven Adventure Course, will proceed as 2018, Crystal Mountain was purchased by Alterra Mountain Company, the conglomerate known for selling the popular Ikon Pass. The replacement of REX marks the first chairlift project undertaken by Crystal Mountain during Alterra's tenure, according to Lift isn't the only beloved ski lift in Washington scheduled for an upgrade this which hosted its final day of skiing last weekend, is replacing its Edelweiss two-seater with a three-person chairlift. The Riblet two-seater last spun on Sunday and drew quite a crowd of revelers who visited Alpental's slopes to bid it Mountain's final day of skiing this season is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend. Seven-day-a-week operations at the resort conclude on April 20
