Believe it or not, Crystal Mountain, 76 miles southeast of Seattle, is Washington state's only destination alpine ski resort, with base area lodging that accommodates 700 visitors.

When the sun is out, the snow is deep, and avalanche danger is minimal, hardcore skiers from all over the West Coast beam themselves to Crystal for unparalleled skiing. The terrain is steep and thrilling, and there's enough of it to keep the adrenaline rushing all day. There's enough snow, too—often 12 feet of base at the 7,000-foot summit.

Expert runs make up nearly half of Crystal's terrain, but a lot of that is due to the 2,600 skiable acres in the backcountry areas, both north and south. It's the kind of terrain that is out of bounds at most ski areas—woods, chutes, and steep bowls. During the 2007-08 season, Crystal Mountain opened Northway, a new lift that services 1,000 acres of the backcountry, making this pristine terrain all the more accessible.