Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Related Stories • Rain, sleet and snow wreak havoc in Northeast, but ski bums love it 12/4/07 • Grandpa's 5,001 secrets prove he's really handy 12/4/07 • Flake by flake, state's ski areas are getting snow needed to open 12/1/07 • Outdoors calendar 12/1/07 • Mission Ridge opens ski slopes to cheers 11/25/07   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Tuesday, December 4, 2007 Skiers can hit Stevens Pass on Thursday By Eric Fetters Herald Writer STEVENS PASS -- The string of winter storms that delivered general misery to the Puget Sound region the past three days will bring joy to skiers later this week. Stevens Pass ski area plans to open at 9 a.m. Thursday, the resort announced Monday, thanks to several feet of snow that dumped on the mountain over the weekend. Details about lift ticket prices and which runs will be open the first day will be released Wednesday, said Chris Rudolph, marketing manager at Stevens Pass Mountain Resort. He did say the resort's 28-acre Top Phlight Terrain Park, designed specifically for snowboarders, is scheduled to be open. "It's raining right now, so it's hard to believe we'll be open Thursday," Rudolph said Monday afternoon from the ski area, which is located about 50 miles east of Everett. But the rain didn't threaten the several feet of snow that fell Friday and Sunday, he said. He called the dumping of snow during the weekend "incredible." As of mid-day Monday, Stevens' snow base was measured at about 4 feet. Of course, even if the resort was open, it would have been hard to reach, as U.S. 2 was closed at the pass because of nearby landslides. This season's opening is relatively late for Stevens Pass. Since the winter of 1986-87, the ski area's opened earlier than Dec. 6 18 times and later only three times. In 2007, Stevens Pass opened Nov. 17. In the 2004-05 season, however, skiing didn't begin there until Dec. 28. Crystal Mountain, which was open over the weekend, also plans to reopen later this week. Mount Baker's ski area is scheduled to reopen Wednesday after accommodating skiers during the past weekend. For the latest conditions and details about opening day at Stevens Pass, skiers and snowboarders can check online at www.stevenspass.com. The Stevens Pass Snowline can be reached at 425-353-4400. Reporter Eric Fetters: 425-339-3453 or fetters@heraldnet.com.

1. ‘One bad choice' blamed in death of 4 friends in fatal wreck 2. Man failed to scrape windshield before crashing into Everett school bus 3. County official's alleged intoxication at fatal crash site under investigation 4. 2 injured in Everett fire 5. Father gets 13 years in 6-year-old's fatal shooting 6. Man’s car plunges into Lake Stevens 7. Whining, lying and crying 8. More slaying scene evidence is linked to Shawna Forde 9. Gregoire backs off move of state parks into Department of Natural Resources 10. Boeing rival Northrop Grumman threatens to drop out of Air Force tanker contest 2 - Top 10 Stories Most Talked about 3 - Top 10 Stories Most Emailed

• Wildcats fall to familar foe in semis • ‘Nutcracker' times three • Road warrior • Mavericks reloading • Holiday Lightings & Santa Sightings • Cities prepare for winter blast repeat • Wolfpack duo takes last shot at state tourney • This Weekend in Your Town • Tips for the stormy season • Boeing will build, flight test and deliver 787s in South Carolina to spe ... • Snohomish County EDC promoting job growth in key industry clusters • $4 million grant to advance brain tumor research has Everett links • Providence medical center construction tops off its 12-story steel frame ... • Tulalip affordable housing project to be financed by KeyBank, Raymond Ja ... • Arlington's Lak of Ink has a growing following for Luke Kooyman's creati ... • Bank of the Northwest formed • Cascade Bank earns $1.6 million