Any Seattleites out there want to ski or snowboard in the comfort of an LGBTQ-friendly environment? Or maybe party with drag queens at a ski lodge? If so, consider heading up to Crystal Mountain Resort this weekend.
This weekend, the Enumclaw-based ski resort, just over two hours from Seattle, will host MTN Pride: Pride in the Pow. Attendees can expect to be treated to a mix of outdoor winter activities, including group ski and ride lessons, and indoor festivities such as mixers, parties, and drag performances. Pride in the Pow is the perfect space for those who might hesitate due to experiences in nonwelcoming spaces.
"Already there is a big barrier of entry, and I think it can be even more intimidating for those communities that aren't necessarily reflected in the outdoors traditionally, so making that space an inclusive, positive, fun environment and inviting everyone up is really important to us," Emma Brice, the resort's communications coordinator, told the SGN.
Seattle Pride is partnering with Crystal Mountain for the event. Their partnership began when Crystal Mountain reached out last summer, for its MTN Pride event. As conversations progressed, Seattle Pride was drawn to the resort's commitment to bringing inclusivity to such outdoor activities.
"It's been really great to hear [their] messaging, that the mountains are for everyone, and to really encourage folks who maybe haven't seen themselves as a skier or snowboarder... to think differently, and think, 'Maybe I could be,'" Krystal Marx, Seattle Pride's executive director, told the SGN.
The partnership also stems from Seattle Pride's Out to Play initiative, which enhances the presence of sports and outdoor activities for the LGBTQI+ community and was influenced by feedback from community members.
For LGBTQ Seattleites who are thinking of other ways to enhance community engagement in certain activities, Seattle Pride is always looking for more ways to help groups do just that.
"We want to hear from more people in our community about what's missing. As you think of yourself as a whole person... what are the things that you wish you saw more Queer and Trans representation [of] in our community? We want to help co-create that with people," Marx said.
Event timeline
Pride in the Pow will kick off with a snowshoe tour at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 11. Hikers will scale just under 2,000 feet, from Crystal Mountain base to Bullion Basin, where they will be treated to warm drinks before heading back down to a dinner party.
Tickets for the snowshoe tour and dinner cost $94 and must be bought separately. Thirty percent of the snowshoe ticket proceeds will go to QPOC Hikers, a Pacific Northwest—based group that connects Queer people of color to hiking and the outdoors and is also guiding the tour.
On Saturday, March 12, attendees will kick off the day with a mix-and-mingle at 8:30 a.m. "There'll be complimentary beverages and opportunities [to] meet people and get to know the community," Brice said.
Both Saturday and Sunday will start with meet-and-ski ride groups at 9:30 a.m. The volunteer-guided groups range from beginner to expert, and lessons (for purchase) will take place from 10:00 a.m. to noon on both days.
At noon on both days, a party will begin at Crystal Mountain's Tower 16, followed by drag performances at 1 p.m. "Hoochie Papa, Miss Monday Morning, and Rowan Ruthless will be here performing," Brice told the SGN.
Both days will also end with an après party (which is "a little more oriented to a happy-hour style," Brice said) and raffles starting at 4 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
Registration for the event is free, but tickets to ski and snowboarding lessons cost $125. Daily ski lift tickets cost $85.
Worried about having seen this too late? Latecomers may still be in luck — more event and ticket information can be found at prideinthepow.eventbrite.com, and Crystal Mountain is accepting purchases at ticket windows, depending on availability.