Nearly 2,000 turn out for Stevens Pass opening day

STEVENS PASS — Christine Hickox was kicking herself.

She had been on four chairlifts at the Stevens Pass ski area by 10 a.m. The snow was heavy and the lines were light — ideal opening day conditions, as far as the Lynnwood skier was concerned.

The snowfall was so fresh and thick, however, she realized too late that she should have brought a wider pair of skis better suited to the conditions.

“It just keeps dumping, which is great,” Hickox, 29, said. “I wish I had my Phat Luvs.”

The ski area along U.S. 2 drew 1,999 people on opening day, according to Stevens Pass officials. The crowd whooped with delight at the chance to ski one week before Thanksgiving and a full month earlier than opening day in 2008. Generally, the pass opens closer to Thanksgiving.

At least five of the 10 chairlifts were open, and the ski area had 4 feet of snow at the base and 4½ feet at the top. More lifts may open by the weekend, Stevens Pass spokesman Chris Rudolph said.

Despite the good conditions, opening day attendance was off from 2008, when about 3,000 came to the pass. Rudolph said last year's opening day numbers were unusually high because the season's late start caused a pent-up demand.

“Conditions are way better this year,” he said.

That seemed to be the consensus among the skiers, a group mostly made up of die-hards and ski bums. No one took a beginners lesson all day, and the Daisy chairlift was practically empty.

The skiers came from as far away as Oregon and Moses Lake, although most seemed to be from Snohomish, King and Chelan counties.

Jim Rose, an Edmonds retiree, said he was marking an anniversary on his visit. The 63-year-old has made it to opening day for 50 consecutive years.

“Before Thanksgiving, to have conditions like this, is to me absolutely incredible,” he said. “It's a gift.”

The steady snow hurt visibility, however. Rose lost track of two of his friends, he said.

Others commented on the snowfall, including Lily Paterson, 9.

“It felt like we were getting showered in really, really fluffy cotton candy,” the Bothell girl said.

Granted, the better the snow, the worse the drive. Traction tires were required, and snowplows tried to keep U.S. 2 clear. Some skiers fishtailed on their drive to the pass. Others, such as Lake Stevens resident Rhonda Mietzner, made sure to take the right kind of vehicle.

“It was pretty slick,” she said after climbing out of her Chevy Avalanche.

Skiers weren't frightened by the weather, of course. They were just thrilled to ski. Some took a day off work or school to make it out.

Jessica Nicholas, a nursing student living in Gold Bar, said it wasn't difficult to pull herself from her studies.

“You got to prioritize, you know?” she said. “You got to take care of your head first.”

Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455, arathbun@heraldnet.com.