Skiers smile at the sky
Published 9:00 pm Tuesday, November 25, 2003
Skiers’ delight may cause travelers fright over the Thanksgiving weekend.
The Stevens Pass ski area opened for the season Tuesday amid a blizzard that was expected to drop up to 2 feet of snow by this afternoon.
"Perfect, absolutely perfect," was how Jesse Willis of Leavenworth described conditions at Stevens Pass Tuesday. "There’s better coverage now than there was all of last year."
Jim Burrell of Everett said the powder was deep off the groomed runs, but it was starting to pack down.
"You’ve got to watch it out there. You can get stuck," he said. "I didn’t feel any ice anywhere."
Getting to the pass may be the biggest problem for skiers and snowboarders. The rain turned to snow just east of Gold Bar Tuesday morning and thickened into a near-whiteout around Skykomish.
U.S. 2 was briefly closed several times as the Washington State Patrol and Department of Transportation dealt with accidents. State troopers were turning back anyone without four-wheel-drive or chains, and during the heaviest snowfall required even four-wheel-drive vehicles to put on chains.
"It’s been pretty nasty up here, a lot of collisions," trooper Robert Skinner said as he waved cars to the shoulder and told them to chain up. "It’s quite a snowstorm."
The tough conditions didn’t keep the Stevens Pass parking lot from filling up with snow lovers eager to get on the mountain.
"I’ve got a four-wheel-drive with chains," Luke Moury of Seattle said. "You’re not keeping me from a day of skiing."
Thanksgiving Day may bring a little more snow in the passes, but nothing like Tuesday’s storm, said Dustin Guy, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Seattle.
Friday should be rainy and windy in the mountains, with temperatures in the mid-30s, but more snow is possible that night and Saturday before things warm up slightly on Sunday.
"In terms of traveling conditions, the weekend looks pretty good," Guy said. "I wouldn’t recommend it in terms of Thursday night and Friday, but people should hopefully be at their destinations by then."
Stan Suchan with the Department of Transportation advised travelers to plan ahead before crossing the mountains. He said motorists should check roadway conditions at the Transportation Department Web site, www.wsdot.wa.gov, or by calling 800-695-7623. Also, carry a blanket, food, water and a raincoat, and make sure gas tanks and windshield wiper fluid are full before setting out.
"Mother Nature has already had us hopping this month," he said. "It’s an early winter."
Stevens Pass general manager John Gifford said the early opening will make a big difference in the ski area’s bottom line. The ski area usually opens the first week in December. In 1998, the last time Stevens opened in time for Thanksgiving, the three-day weekend brought in 18,000 skiers and snowboarders, Gifford said.
On Tuesday, he was just happy to be open.
"It’s a crazy day," he said. "Always is the first day."
Employees brought coffee out to the long line of skiers and snowboarders waiting to pick up season passes. Everyone was smiling, though, and even the people who had to work weren’t complaining.
"Having opening day before Thanksgiving is just awesome," said Diane Gott of Gold Bar, who was directing parking Tuesday morning. "This is just incredible for the time of the year."
Stevens Pass had limited operations Tuesday, but could open the entire mountain by the weekend if it keeps snowing. The Summit At Snoqualmie plans to open Summit West on Friday and might open Alpental if the weather cooperates.
"I’ve been told the last time we got open this early was eight to 10 years ago," said Jon Pretty, marketing manager for the Summit At Snoqualmie. "It looks great. It’s going to be really, really good skiing."
Crystal Mountain and Mount Baker both opened last week and now have full operations. White Pass plans to open Thursday. Whistler-Blackcomb in British Columbia and Mount Bachelor and Mount Hood Meadows in Oregon also are open.
Reporter Andrew Wineke:
425-339-3465 or
