HW 20 to open May 1st, maybe

DOT says:

April 2006

Pass Status: Closed

Crews Aim to Open Pass May 1st
Crews are working as quickly as possible to open the North Cascades Pass by May 1st. Mother Nature and equipment problems are constantly threatening to delay the opening. However, we're confident that we can get it open by then.

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Only ~a week away!!

Here is the latest information:

"... We are not optimistic that the snow sitting in the avalanche chutes will release this week due to the unusual layering of the snow from this winter. Instead of lots of layers of snow, most of the avalanche chutes only have two layers, and with six to 16 feet of snow in the chutes, it takes a lot of heat and explosives to release all that snow.

On top of the avalanche danger, two of our snow blowers are having mechanical problems and are not running.  It's going to be a stretch to open the pass on Monday.  We may not be able to open it until Tuesday or Wednesday."



I plan on sleeping in the Blue Lake parking lot Thursday night, May 4th.  Anybody found in the parking lot on Friday morning will be considered a volunteer for the Whistler Glissade Gully:

media.admcs.wwu.edu/video/test/stills/whistler.jpg

Sounds good, Tim, but my day off is Wednesday . . .

Tim, any chance it might be Friday night/ Saturday??

Sounds good, Tim, but my day off is Wednesday . . .

Unfortunately (for me) WA Pass will be open at noon today. Your Wednesday sounds a lot better than my Friday, considering how warm it will be Wednesday and Thursday. Unfortunately, I am pretty well tied in to Wednesday as a day off this week. Enjoy!

Clem, I plan on staying the weekend. There will still be things to ski Saturday, I am sure!