Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort is excited to announce that opening day of the 2022/23 season will be Saturday, November 19th. The pre-Thanksgiving operations will be the earliest opening in 5 seasons. The early opening has been made possible by the Ridge’s top to bottom snowmaking system and the best in the Northwest Snowmaking crew combined with significantly higher than average November snowfall. The resort will kick off the season with Chair 1, The Wenatchee Express (Chair 2), Chair 4, and the Pika Peak rope tow scheduled for operation from 9 am to 4 pm on the 19th and 20th.
“We are off to a great start for what is going to be a very exciting season,” said Josh Jorgensen, Mission Ridge’s General Manager. “We’re rolling out a number of improvements and are most excited about the expansion of night skiing to the top of the mountain and a new magic carpet lift in our learning area. There will be new opportunities for both beginner and advanced skiers and snowboarders to enjoy.”
Mountain Operations Director Brad Whiting added that, “with the early season snowfall, our snowmaking team has capitalized on the cold weather opportunity. In a typical season, it may take up to three weeks of work to make snow from the top to the bottom of the mountain. Taking advantage of 21″ of snow and cold weather, we completed snowmaking from the summit to the Base Area in just 9 days. Snowmaking is now expanding to Chair 4, our Terrain Parks, and high-traffic areas. We are primed and ready for an amazing opening day.”
Open terrain and ski runs will be limited for the opening weekend and additional chairlifts and terrain will open as conditions permit. All of the resort’s services will be open with early season menus at the Chair 5 Pub, Ka Wham Cafe, and Midway Lodge restaurants on offer.Current forecasts for Saturday calls for mostly sunny skies, temperatures in the mid-teens, and light winds.
Lift ticket prices will be discounted to $89 for ages 25-69, $79 for ages 18-24, $69 for ages 13-17, $59 for ages 8-12, $9 for ages 7 & under, and $30 for ages 70+ for tickets purchased in advance and online to reflect the limited opening of chairlifts and terrain.
Mission Ridge Announces Night Ski Expansion and Carpet Lift Installation
Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort announced Wednesday the expansion of the night light system to the top of the mountain and the addition of new terrain for night skiing this coming season. After years of planning and preparation, 42 new light poles have been added in the Upper Basin of the resort to open several runs off of the Wenatchee Express chairlift. Topping out at 6,820 feet at the summit of the ski area, the Wenatchee Express will be open during night ski operations this season in addition to Chair 1, Chair 4, and several surface lifts. The increased vertical rise to a total of 2,250 feet will make Mission’s night ski operation the second tallest in the country that resort staff are aware of.
“On a clear night, our guests will have one of the most amazing night views in the state,” said Mission Ridge Mountain Operations Director Brad Whiting when asked what makes this addition so unique. “From the summit, you will see the city lights of Ellensburg to Ephrata and many points further in all directions. This project will offer our night skiing guests more advanced terrain to ski and ride on, as well as provide one of the longest vertical drops for night skiing in the world.”
The added night ski terrain will be a 78% increase over the previous season. When combined with a 2019 night ski expansion, Mission Ridge has increased terrain open for night skiing by over triple what had been available for several decades prior. Skiers and snowboarders can now enjoy turns under the lights on 40 nights this coming season starting December 26th. The standard night schedule will run Wednesday through Saturday from 4 pm to 9 pm through the end of February. In total, 11 runs on over 70 acres of terrain will be lit. Night terrain will now be served by 3 chairlifts and 3 surface lifts.
Mission Ridge has several season pass options available that include access to some or all-night ski nights. The Twilight Pass in particular delivers even more value now thanks to the additional night terrain. With access from 2 pm to close every day Mission Ridge is open, the Twilight pass gives guests access to all 40 nights of the season as well as afternoon access to the entire mountain from 2 pm to 4 pm on each of Mission’s 117 scheduled operating days. For more information on the Twilight Pass and all other 2022/23 Mission Ridge Season Passes, visit www.missionridge.com.
Mission Ridge To Install New “Magic Carpet”In addition to the expansion of Night Skiing to the top of the mountain, Mission Ridge also announced Wednesday that a new conveyor surface lift, or “Magic Carpet”, is being installed in the Pika Peak beginners area. Located in the Base Area of the resort, the Pika Peak beginners area is where many people have made their first turns on skis or a snowboard. With the installation of the carpet lift, the experience of taking the first steps towards a lifetime of enjoyment on the mountain will be easier than ever.
“This new addition to our beginner area provides a significantly better learning environment for students of all ages, both skiers and snowboarders,” said Jodi Taggart, Mission Ridge Skier Service Director. Carpet lifts are easier to load than rope tow lifts and will have kids and adults alike even more excited to get on the snow this coming season. “The carpet will be a game changer for the ski school, particularly for our youngest skiers and riders who can struggle initially holding on to the rope tow,” said Ski School Director Mark Music. The current rope tow in the Pika Peak beginners area will remain in place and operate alongside the new carpet lift, increasing the uphill capacity in the Mission Ridge beginner area.
Continued Investment In The ExperienceThe expansion of the night lighting system and installation of the carpet tow are just two of the improvements being made for the coming 2022/23 winter season. Over half a million dollars have been reinvested into the resort this off-season in ongoing efforts to improve the overall guest experience at Mission Ridge. “We’re excited to continue moving the needle forward in our efforts to improve our guest’s experience here at Mission,” said GM Josh Jorgensen. “ We look forward to welcoming everyone back up to the mountain in just a couple of short months.”
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