In terms of easy access from the Seattle metro area, nothing beats Snoqualmie Pass, now officially named 'Summit at Snoqualmie.' The Pass is actually 4 seperate areas, 3 on the south side of I-90 and the other, Alpental, on the north side of the highway and about a mile up the valley. The 3 south areas, known as Summit West, Summit Central, and Summit East are mostly beginner and intermediate terrain with a few exceptions. Countless Seattle area parents bring their children to these areas to learn how to ski. Because of this, they can get quite crowded on the weekends. On the opposite side of the road, where Alpental lies, the story is completely different. Alpental has some of the best terrain in the world, let alone the state. In addition, the Alpental backcountry opens up a whole range of new terrain for advanced skiers. While the snow can sometimes get a little heavy at all the Snoqualmie areas, Alpental generally recieves better snow than the others. Considering the fact that you can drive to Snoqualmie in less than 45 minutes from Seattle and night skiing is offered at both Summit West and Alpental, I find the area hard to beat. In conclusion, if you are looking for a top notch resort ski area, Snoqualmie is not the place for you. If you are looking for easy access to a quick ski fix and are willing to brave what are sometimes less than ideal conditions, give Snoqualmie, especially Alpental, a shot.