‘We blew it:’ Summit at Snoqualmie, Stevens Pass apologize after overcrowding issues

It’s the busiest time of year for the slopes, but some local ski resorts appear to be struggling with the demand.

Two major western Washington ski resorts — Stevens Pass and Summit at Snoqualmie — issued apologies after overcrowding left many skiers and snowboarders to ring in the new year with a lot of frustration.

Many patrons of Stevens Pass said they were turned away after the parking lots hit capacity, even if they had pre-purchased tickets or scheduled lessons.

And those who parked in surrounding towns said they were left waiting more than an hour for transport to the resort. Drop-off was not an option for those visitors to the resort.

“On peak days … it’s busy. Those lines can get long, parking lots fill up fast,” said Austin Rex, who was visiting Stevens Pass on Wednesday. “For how much area they have, I think they definitely have enough room to add on a few parking lots or something, so people don’t have to park on the side of a busy highway.”

Ellen Galbraith, Stevens Pass general manager and vice president, addressed the issue in a statement released on Tuesday, saying her focus was now on parking.

“I want everyone to have a great experience at Stevens Pass, and that wasn’t the case for all of our guests on Friday and Monday. I joined our team in the parking lots to help direct traffic and witnessed firsthand how frustrated and disappointed some of you were,” said Galbraith. “Actions speak louder than words, and we look forward to sharing more details about how parking will be different with you shortly.”

She says the resort has identified several immediate steps to alleviate some of the congestion, including limiting the number of lift tickets and testing a new drop-off approach.

After visitors to The Summit at Snoqualmie encountered many of the same issues, the resort issued a statement on Twitter admitting that it “made a mistake.”