Alpental Valley / Snoq Pass

Met a couple folks this morning heading up the slopes of Alpental. Coverage is still pretty thin but I guess touring season has begun on the low pass. A word of warning with regards to Alpental specifically; as the patrol begins to set up the mountain lifts will start and stop without warning and explosive control work may be done at just about any time. It is pretty common to try and shake things up this time of year both to protect the workers and to move snow from the cliffs down onto the slopes below. That means it may not be done immediately following new snow, or first thing in the morning, or follow any of the other sort of normal control scenarios. There are a few signs up about this and more will be seen soon. Nobody wants to take anything away from our favorite winter recreation but I am sure you can see the potential for trouble.  Under Forest Service Special Use Permit, the area's official position must be that these slopes are closed to use other than when the lifts are open, and then under the normal operating rules. We all know that enforcement is virtually impossible. No hour of the day is wrong for a trip into the mountains if we're out for fun, so I'm not going to try and take some " stance" on what's right or wrong, or who can tell who what to do. I just want all to take a hard look at where we tour and who else we might be impacting. I absolutely do not need someone bombing a slope above me, and I would also hate to be the poor bombadier who has just hosed some unsuspecting ski tourist. I love Denny Mt. and the rest of the valley as much as anyone, but when I go touring I make it a point to go where the only others I might encounter are likely there for the same reasons I am. Thanks for listening, see you in the "backcountry". - Gib

Hey Gib -

Well stated and good advise for all the early season Snoqualmie Pass skiers.

Please make some turns, throw a shot and say Hi to the bros for me.

Thanks.

Jan

OK, I'll make one more plea. Maybe the lack of posts means all the TAY'ers are already down with the program and I really appreciate the support. Alp was unable to do avalanche control today due to hikers with no respect, (or even the ability to converse politely). So... Avalanche Control scheduled for tomorrow morning (Saturday 11/25). This is to provide travel that is safer for patrollers to start working on setting up to open the mountain. AND the fact that we've had almost 3' of new in 3 days, and locals reported easily ski relesing soft slabs on all aspects yesterday above about 4500' before the next foot of new. It could be extremely hazardous to be on the Alpental slopes tomorrow. Thanks for listening, please advise if you would rather not have this sort of thing posted and I'll keep my peace.  Gib

Thanks for posting Gib -- sorry you're running into some folks unwilling to stay out of the way so the bombs can be thrown. I'll pass the word to my friends to stay away from Alpy tomorrow...

I have always had a great experience chatting with the Alpy folks, I'd hate to see that ruined. Alpental has been one of the few ski areas I've encountered that coexists wonderfulling with the backcountry scene, reminds me of Stowe back east. The positive vibe is returned in kind whenever I talk to people looking for world class lift served skiing in Washington. Thanks for the heads up, and please let us know any info such as you've provided here that could keep your BC neighbors in the know. It's much appreciated.

The folks using the backcountry are Alpental's allies, and I for one will respect their wishes for unhindered control work. That being said, sadly not everyone using the backcountry is sophisticated enough to read TAY!

Thanks for the heads-up, Gib. As far as I'm concerned, this is THE most appropriate place to post such information; we took your advice and skied the other side of the valley.  Bombs going off seemed to really get people's attention on the Snow Lake Trail.