It felt like we were plotting a heist straight out of The Italian Job Mark Wahlberg style. But instead of gold bars, we were after something way better. Fresh. Untouched. Powder. Flashback to my corporate days sitting at my desk when an instant message popped up “You ready?” I felt like Neo getting offered the ultimate choice red pill or blue pill? Nah I took the pow pill and shot back a “Hell yes!” I glanced around no bosses in sight then made a smooth exit swinging the office door open to slap high fives with my buddy. Our mission? Snag some untracked powder turns late on a Wednesday night. Wait skiing powder at night? Yep. If you’re in the greater Seattle area, you’re in luck. That legendary spot is called Summit West.
Nighttime Pow Mission
We jump in the car and speed out of Seattle, heading east on I-90 toward Snoqualmie Pass. With laser focus on our mission for fresh powder, we barely notice we’re going against the flow. Everyone else is heading home. Our windshield wipers swipe away the rain as traffic thins out. After about 30 minutes, the road gets twistier and more remote. The raindrops turn heavier, then slowly shift into wet snowflakes. The forecast had promised nonstop snowfall for days, and now we finally arrived.
Pulling into the lot, towering walls of snow block the view of the ski area, cranking up the suspense and excitement. With just a few cars around and steady snow falling, the stoke was almost too much to handle. We didn’t waste a second, out of the car, ditching office clothes, and into our comfiest, brightest snowboard gear. Let’s go!
Untracked Pow At Night? No Way!
Rushing to the chairlift, we glance up and see wide-open runs with barely a track on them. How is that even possible? Here’s the scoop: during the workweek, as the season winds down, Summit West shuts down on Mondays and Tuesdays and opens at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday. Translation: first tracks and fresh pow right after work!
As we ride the chairlift, we spot a few people carving turns below, letting off steam after a long day. We finally reach the top, strap in, and pause to slap high fives while taking in the untouched snow stretching out before us. Under the orange halogen lights, we carve turn after turn, hollering just like the others we saw from the lift. At the bottom, we look back at our tracks, amazed. Just an hour ago we were stuck in cubicles, and now we’re in a full-blown winter wonderland. Grins wide, we hop back on the lift, ready to do it all over again.
Recipe For Getting Untracked Powder At Night
If your work schedule isn’t flexible, there’s a few different ways to get these mid-week treats.
Find A Resort That Has Night Skiing
Even out west there are a couple ski resorts open at night. From Keystone in Colorado to Boreal in Tahoe, this gives you a chance to get the goods mid-week.
Check The Weather Forecast
For the best possible conditions, check the snow levels of the storm & understand when the snow will fall. If the resort is open all day, having a storm that rolls through in the afternoon will make it more likely to find fresh snow under the lights than a storm that starts in the a.m.
Find A Resort That’s Closed During The Day
If you’re lucky enough to live in the Seattle area, Summit West at Snoqualmie is the place to be. As winter starts to close out, the resort shuts down some of its bases midweek, with closures varying from week to week. Make sure to check Snoqualmie’s calendar so you know exactly when lifts reopen. The sweet spot is usually 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, giving you prime time to carve through fresh powder as the sun sets.
