| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2010 12:22 am |
ADVERTISEMENT |
|||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
Local News 
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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. |
Photo Gallery: Opening Day at Stevens Pass
- Boeing may have to battle Russians, EADS for tanker contract
- Teen guilty of drunken driving, fleeing scene of wreck that injured officer
- Lynnwood finance director storms out of City Council meeting
- Washington, New Mexico hurt by East Coast bias?
- Silvertips rally, score OT win in playoff opener
- Lynnwood man arrested for alleged groping
- Police look for suspect in shooting of man in groin
- Supporters, foes of various tax increases fight to be heard in Olympia
- Sex offender who fled Arlington halfway house sentenced to 5 years
- Hatloe resigns as Everett city council VP
- Lynnwood finance director storms out of City Council meeting
(11) - Boeing may have to battle Russians, EADS for tanker contract (11)
- Teen guilty of drunken driving, fleeing scene of wreck that injured officer (11)
- Racist epithets fly at tea party health protest (8)
- Help revitalize Reiter Foothills (6)
- Supporters, foes of various tax increases fight to be heard in Olympia (3)
- State House votes to boost cigarette taxes by $1 a pack (3)
- State Senate trims sales tax increase in proposal (3)
- 15 arrested for drunken driving on St. Patrick's Day (2)
- Monroe girl guilty of murder in Sultan gang slaying (2)
- Archbishop Murphy graduate happy to be in San Jose
- Troupe improv-ment
- Best finish ever for Mavs
- Local businesses clean for a reason
- Edmonds Art Walk opens 9th year March 18
- Lynnwood girls wrap up at state
- Lynnwood wants outsider to review budget
- SKCC presents premiere of Jenkins’ composition
- Boeing to Offer NewGen Tanker to US Air Force
- New CEO at Valley General Hospital
- Dan Koffman's ‘TopSpin' marketing astounds, inspires, motivates, produces — just for starters
- Economic forecasts for Snohomish County, Everett, Marysville offer some bright moments
- Government officials influencing home prices
- Massive EPA energy regulations meet challenge
- Washington state healthcare reforms also needed
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
| TODAY'S TOP JOBS |
| View All Top Jobs |
| Top Cars |
|
| Top Homes |
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
|
|Contact Us
|Advertiser Services
|Home Delivery
|Newsstand Locations
|Classifieds
|Feedback
|About the Company
|Work@the Herald
|Site Map |
|
COMMENTS | Be the first to comment
Log in or register to post a new comment.
To read other terms and conditions, click here