No one can compete with Snoqualmie this year when it comes to exciting news. Alpental, the steeps quarter of the multipart resort, gains a new experts chairlift with the new Internationale Chair, adding an alternate route up the upper mountain. For generations of skiers who've waited in long lines on a powder day, it's a game changer.

Across the highway at Summit West, a new Wildside Chair replaces the old one, but with a shifted base to make it more accessible from the rest of the ski area. Other changes involve less heavy construction but include opening Alpental on Mondays in January and February (but limiting the night skiing days there), and opening Summit East, a.k.a Hyak, on Fridays. A new parking system charges $5 for day ticket buyers and Ikon Passholders and $55 for backcountry (non-resort) users.

After construction cluttered the base area for years, the new Mountain Commons day lodge opens with a coffee shop, food hall, retail shop, and patio of sun loungers. The area's biggest ski resort announced a big change last spring: Instead of just seven days on the multi-mountain Ikon Pass, users get unlimited access. Details on Crystal's parking system have not yet been fully released; weekend reservations will be required, but no word on how or when they'll drop. Free bus shuttles from Enumclaw will run again this year, and the mountain has arranged for the departure site, the Enumclaw Expo Center, to be used for parking by private carpools as well as bus riders. Opening day is as soon as there will be enough snow, hopefully around Thanksgiving.

No big changes at Highway 2's ski area, but the good times vibe hangs on with events like an avalanche dog demo and meet-and-greet (meet-and-pet?) and the second annual woman's weekend. Owner Vail Resorts brings a hands-free mobile pass on skiers' phones, and ski bar the Foggy Goggle continues its mug club; buy a cup for $75 and then get discounted drinks all season. A shift in parking comes to Stevens with a reservation and paid system for four lots (G, A, B, and E), with free options for carpoolers. Six lots (C, D, 1, 2, 3, and 4) are free and without reservation. Opening day is December 6.

The indie powerhouse is, as always, marching to the beat of its own drum up near the Canadian border. Season passes sold out quickly, but day tickets are sold only in person and are just $94.27 before tax this year, still the best deal in the Cascades. The famed lodge cats are still in residence, and they appear in a wall calendar for sale at the resort's retail shop.

Thanks to cold temperatures and flakes already falling, the Wenatchee-area ski area has already begun its snowmaking for the year. The lifts should be running Thanksgiving weekend, possibly even the weekend before if the weather keeps up. Though not a lot has changed this year—a preseason email to passholders noted that it was a summer for "essential maintenance." With a strong community vibe, Mission has the best beginner's package in the region: a Freedom Pass with unlimited rentals, lessons, and beginner chair access, plus discounts on the inevitably season pass you'll buy once you're hooked.

Changes came to White Pass last year in the form of a new ownership group, one with local Yakima roots. And there's more big stuff on the horizon, like a new day lodge and maybe even a new chairlift, but no new construction this season. So this year expect a fairly standard season at the Highway 12 ski area, but with a new learning area with varied terrain.