- Ian Greenwood
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- powder.com
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- January 7, 2026
After a slow start to the season, Alpental, a hidden gem frequented by Seattle, Washington, skiers, is scheduled to open today, January 7, 2026, with a historic new chairlift, the Edelweiss triple.
The timing of Edelweiss’ grand opening aligns with the arrival of much-needed snow in Washington. The state’s mountains were drenched with rain in December. Now the temperatures have dropped.
Alpental is reporting a foot of new snow at its base, with a bit more up top, and around two feet of snow could fall there over the course of Wednesday, January 7, 2026, according to the National Weather Service.
That might complicate the opening of Edelweiss. “Because this is a control day, the exact timing of the [Edelweiss] opening ceremony will be fluid, but we expect it to take place after 10 am,” the Alpental snow report reads.
Still, the ski area added, “This promises to be one of the more memorable opening days at Alpental in some time.”
The new Edelweiss replaces the original 1967 Riblet two-seater, which, over the years, developed a legendary reputation. For decades, the lift was the only way to access Alpental’s upper mountain and its famed Back Bowls, a sidecountry area with mettle-testing terrain.
Keep reading for more on the new Edelweiss Triple at Alpental.
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Courtesy Summit at Snoqualmie
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According to the ski area group Alpental is part of, the Summit at Snoqualmie, the updated Doppelmayr lift makes upper mountain access faster and more reliable. That benefits local skiers and the patrollers who need to reach the upper mountain and conduct avalanche mitigation work.
The ride takes about six minutes. Edelweiss’s previous path through the mountains remains unchanged.
The updated Edelweiss lift joins two other lifts installed at Alpental over the past few seasons. First, the ski area replaced the Sessel chairlift. Then, it installed Internationale, which carved an entirely new path to Alpental’s upper mountain. The three lifts present a significant makeover for Alpental.
Courtesy Summit at Snoqualmie
“Adding three new chairlifts at Alpental over three consecutive years has fundamentally reimagined how guests experience Alpental's legendary terrain,” said Guy Lawrence, president and general manager of Alpental and The Summit at Snoqualmie, in a press release.
“The character of this mountain, the passion of our community, and the thrill of the terrain remain unchanged. We've simply made it easier to access the magic,” he added.
