Is Stevens Pass closed because of a lack of snow or just to avoid refunds?

As ski areas across Washington state open to the public this week, questions remain about Stevens Pass, where the main route to the resort from the west, US Highway 2, is closed for the foreseeable future after suffering major damage from floods and mudslides.

A statement from Stevens Pass on Instagram and Facebook acknowledged ongoing efforts to clear access to the resort from both the east and the west, but blamed the ski area’s continued closure on a lack of adequate snow.

Longtime pass holders are crying foul. They say the ski resort has opened in previous years with less than the 42-inch base that is stated on its website as of Monday morning.

Some suspect that the resort’s owner, Vail Resorts, wants to avoid refunding season passes.

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If Stevens Pass remained closed due to a natural disaster, season pass holders would be in line for partial or full refunds, depending on how long the closure lasts. But no refunds are required if the resort’s closure is due to a lack of adequate snow.

“This is fraud. I don’t know how significant it is. I’m not a lawyer,” said Christian Knight of Kirkland. “I don’t study fraud, but this is fraudulent.”

Knight taught his three kids to ski at Stevens Pass and has been a season-pass holder for 12 years, with the exception of one year when he and his family tried Crystal Mountain.

He is almost done building a home in Index, in part to reduce his drive time to and from the mountain.

“My whole goal this entire time, from when we started, was to have this house done for the ski season,” he said. “So, I guess that's one silver lining. The delay in the opening is giving me a little bit more time to finish this thing up.”

On social media, Stevens Pass insists that it has delayed opening because of a lack of snow and not the direct result of damage to Highway 2 from flooding.

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“Our Passes are not refundable because they are valid all season long, and we plan to open for skiing and riding as soon as snow conditions permit,” the resort stated on Instagram and Facebook. “Our Epic Coverage refund policy does not extend to road or traffic challenges.”

Vail Resorts did not reply to emails requesting additional information or clarification.

Kayla Rocco, 35, learned to ski at Stevens Pass and last year took her two oldest boys up to the mountain for the first time. She said she felt like messaging from the resort in the wake of the flood was putting money ahead of loyal customers, like her and her family.

"We all take the gamble, knowing that weather and snow are not always guaranteed," said Rocco, who lives in Mukilteo. "We don't take the gamble thinking that the road is going to be washed out."

Other Washington ski resorts are opening this week and reporting extensive snow.

The Summit at Snoqualmie opened with limited operations Tuesday and reported 22 inches of new snow in the last five days.

Crystal Mountain opened Saturday with limited access and reservations required.

Farther north, no reservations were required at Mount Baker Ski Area, which reported 70 inches of new snow in five days. The resort opened to season ticket holders Sunday and to the general public Monday.

Mount Baker Marketing Director Amy Trowbridge credited state transportation crews with “working their butts off” to clear water and debris from Highway 542 and restore one-lane access for people who live east of Glacier and for those on their way up to the ski area.

“We consider ourselves very lucky,” she said.

The damage on Highway 2 was much more extensive. Work began last week to repair several miles of washouts and mudslides at multiple sections of the highway, with no immediate estimates on when the repairs would be completed.

If Stevens Pass does open soon, access will likely be limited to a four-hour loop around the closed highway using Interstate 90, Highway 97, and a stretch along the Chumstick Highway to reach the ski area from the east.

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That option is prohibitive for many of the mountain’s regular users, like Rocco and her kids.

"It's 201 miles from my couch to the resort one way. So, four hours, plus a day of skiing, plus four hours home," she explained. "That's not Season Pass skiing. That's not what we do. We go for a couple hours because the kids are in school."

Commenters online pointed out that they could reach another Vail Resort, Whistler/Blackcomb in Canada, in close to the same amount of time.

Meanwhile at Mt. Baker, Trowbridge said the closure at Stevens Pass had definitely boosted attendance on opening day.

“Conditions were just phenomenal today,” she said. “The snow was beautiful.”