SKYKOMISH — If the gift of skiing or snowboarding is on your list this holiday weekend, plan ahead.
“Fresh powder, the holiday, family in town — it is going to be a super busy time this weekend,” Washington State Patrol trooper Heather Axtman said.
This Christmas weekend is expected to see record travel, thanks to relatively low gas prices, a Sunday holiday and many workers off Monday.
Parking already is a problem at Stevens Pass Mountain Resort.
The resort this year added a new parking lot on the north side of U.S. 2, bringing the number of parking lots to 11.
Still, spots fill up fast.
“People in the past have been known to park on the road. It is illegal,” Axtman said. “You’re setting yourself up for a potential ticket and also getting your vehicle towed at your expense.
“We ask people to be patient and just keep driving around, trying to find a legal parking spot.”
To encourage carpooling, the resort offers free parking to cars with four or more people in the new lot (Lot G) and Lot A. Parking is $20 otherwise in those lots, and free in nine other lots. You can receive parking alerts on your cellphone by texting “follow stevensupdates” to 40404.
Stevens Pass plans to be open until 4 p.m. Saturday and until 10 p.m. other days, including Christmas Day. The resort has seen more than 6 feet of snow this month.
“There’s more snow coming. … Conditions are going to be really good for the holidays,” said Chris Danforth, vice president of sales and marketing for the resort.
It’s hard to predict turnout, but Danforth said attendance ranges from 3,000 to 7,000 skiers on peak days, depending on conditions.
Calls to the resort’s sales lines have been jammed.
“We’ve just had unprecedented call volume with interest in skiing over the holidays, mainly from people interested in learning to ski. … So we’re really excited to see that,” Danforth said.
On peak days, the resort recommends arriving by 9 a.m. if you want to ski in the daytime, or wait until after 1 p.m. on days the slopes are open until 10 p.m. “You can still get in nine hours of skiing, and you don’t have to fight the traffic as much.”
Mostly, though, resort staff and troopers alike urge people to be prepared for mountain driving.
“That’s a big thing we see — people not prepared,” said Danforth, noting the need to bring chains, especially if your vehicle is two-wheel drive. “The conditions can be great first thing in the morning and be snowy by the time you want to go home.”
The state deploys two snowplows to keep Stevens Pass clear. For big storms, it calls in extra crews.
Troopers will patrol roadways with an eye toward traffic problems and illegal parking.
“We especially ask people to be safe driving there,” Axtman said.
Those heading into the mountains should pack chains and an emergency kit stocked with blankets, water and food, and take winter-driving precautions.
Record travel expected
Past traffic data for the holiday from the Washington State Department of Transportation indicate stop-and-go congestion is likely Monday over Stevens Pass as workers freed from their desks hit the slopes.
Expect even more traffic jams in the lowlands.
Drivers heading south on I-5 are likely to see considerable congestion.
In WSDOT charts, predictions call for far more “red” conditions (stop-and-go) than “green” (light traffic) for this holiday.
The best times to hit the Tacoma-to-Olympia stretch are likely before 11 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Friday; before 10 a.m. or after 2 p.m. Saturday; before noon or after 1 p.m. Sunday; and before 10 a.m. or after 5 p.m. Monday.
Heading back northbound, your best bet is Sunday. The worst congestion is expected to be 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Monday.
Traffic data company INRIX deviates a bit from the state. The Kirkland-based company predicts Dec. 26 will be the best day to travel north or south on I-5 between Seattle and Portland. It also says Dec. 27 and 28 will be the worst days to travel. If you do travel south on one of those days, plan to leave before 1 p.m.
For I-90’s Snoqualmie Pass, drivers can receive text messages about major delays by texting the words “wsdot snoqualmie” to the number 468311.
The worst time to travel over Snoqualmie Pass is expected to be westbound Monday afternoon.
Elsewhere in the mountains, the North Cascades Highway (State Route 20), Chinook (State Route 410) and Cayuse (junction of State Routes 123 and 410) passes have closed for the winter.
The WSDOT predictions combine past holiday weekend data with current traffic volumes.
Find out more at www.wsdot.wa.gov/congestion/christmasday/2016.
Tolls, ferries, buses
Travel in the I-405 express toll lanes and on the Highway 520 bridge will be toll-free through the weekend, including Monday.
Ferry traffic will be heavy, with the longest lines expected westbound Friday and Saturday, and eastbound Monday. Check the Washington State Ferries website, www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries, or call toll-free, 888-808-7977, for details.
Many buses will follow holiday schedules. Community Transit, including Sound Transit Route 512, will operate on a standard Sunday bus schedule for Christmas Day as well as Monday. Commuter service will be suspended on the work holiday.
Airport pick-up tips
At Sea-Tac International Airport, “think opposite” if you’re dropping off or picking up passengers.
During peak periods, the Port of Seattle advises drivers to use the departure lanes at the upper ticketing level for pick-ups, and use the arrivals area by the lower baggage claim doors for drop-offs. The busiest times are mornings for departures (upper) and evenings for arrivals (lower). The busiest travel days for the airport are expected to be Dec. 22, 23 and 30. The least busy days should be Dec. 24 and Dec. 31.
Or skip the airport and drop off or meet passengers instead at the Sound Transit Angle Lake Station, at 200th Street and International Boulevard. The site offers free parking up to 24 hours. The station is a four-minute ride from the airport on Link light rail.
Find more statewide traffic information at www.wsdot.com/traffic.
And then do it again…
Once Christmas is past, prepare for the next bout of holiday traffic.
New Year’s Eve falls on a Saturday this year.
Melissa Slager: mslager@heraldnet.com, 425-339-3432.
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