Construction across from Alpental

Anyone know what's going on there, on the east side of the road next to the Snow Lake trail? They've installed two light poles, mowed down a whole bunch of brush, and there's a tractor sitting there. Is the town expanding into there ???

Anyone know what's going on there, on the east side of the road next to the Snow Lake trail? They've installed two light poles, mowed down a whole bunch of brush, and there's a tractor sitting there. Is the town expanding into there ???

Are you sure they are new light poles? The old light poles along with the old rope tow remains were still on that section of the mtn (never removed) from back when the beginner slopes were over there. Maybe they will reuse that area for something? Now I will need to go stop by there and check it out next week....Thanks for the info!

It's possible I never noticed those before. They looked new though, and the higher one near the edge of the trees seemed to have a new-looking light fixture on top. And an above ground power cable leading to it. Maybe that's always been there. Someone's definitely been chopping brush there though, that's what made me look around. I didn't know there used to be a beginners area there.

Just doing brushcutting with the spider to preserve the cleared area that was once "Rope I" in the old days.  The last two years this has been the location of beacon basin, a transceiver practice field sponsored by BCA.  It has also been used for 1 day avalanche awareness courses sponsored by the local Alpental rescue dog group - B.A.R.K. (Backcountry Avalanche Rescue K-9's), avalanche rescue dog certification tests hosted by the Alp chapter (Crystal Mt and Stevens also have B.A.R.K. chapters), and King and Kittitas county K-9 units have also done winter training here.  The light poles are old.