KIRO NEWSRADIO OPINION

‘We’re so blessed in the Northwest’: Jake and Spike eager for possibly snowier ski season

Oct 16, 2025, 5:01 AM

As Washington sees its first notable mountain snowfall, Crystal Mountain Resort is projected to open on Nov. 28, while Stevens Pass’ opening date is scheduled for Dec. 5, The Seattle Times reported.

KIRO host Spike O’Neill shared what it was like for him to ski for the first time at 31 years old.

“Horrifying, and then the most gratifying and invigorating feeling of being able to control yourself rolling down a hill. It’s an amazing feeling everybody should experience at some point in time,” he said on “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio. “And we’re so blessed here in the Northwest, when we get snow, and we’re getting snow pretty regularly.”

Spike highlighted that people don’t have to travel very far out of the Seattle area to ski.

“You’re an hour out of town. Almost any direction you can get water skiing and snow skiing in the same day, and that’s the only place in the world you can do that,” he said.

KIRO host Jake Skorheim pointed out the various options for skiing in the area.

“We have Snoqualmie, which is great. If you’re out on Highway 2, you can head out to Stevens Pass. There’s Crystal Mountain over on the east side, there’s Baker,” he said.

Looking at the forecast, Jake noted that a weak La Niña is expected for winter, which typically brings cooler, wetter, and snowier conditions.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

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