Earliest significant snowstorms in the Cascades

In my memory, this recent and likely still ongoing period of snowfall is the second earliest I can recall.

I noted the posting at Baker for some 4' above 5500'; I found 12-20" between 5500 and 7000' east of Stevens, also great powder. Unfortunately my choice of gear meant a lot of postholing. It certainly would have been good skiing with about 7" of soft crust at the base and 12"+ new powder. But with the shallow depth, it also would have been a great opportunity to run the tips under a log, so I left the skis at home. A spectacular winter day, nonetheless.

The earliest significant snow storm I ever recall was about 1970 with some 50" of powder (up to the top of the ski poles) at Baker on September 24th-very skiable.

I also recall skiing near Baker in the late 60's and early 70's with up to 15-18" of total winter snow on about October 6th or 7th a couple of different times.

Crystal once opened the C-4 lift, but with only 8" total on, I believe October 5th, in the early-mid-70's and I clearly remember skiing on the Baker lifts on October 12th with 35" or so - I think that was in the late 60's.

Anyone else recall or have records of snowfalls as significant as this recent one so early in the season?

Hopefull the early storm ends up giving us a return to a winter like the 60's and early 70's. I also don't recall such a mediocre summer in the North Cascades and Olympics (less so at Rainier) in perhaps 20-30 years.

Hi Gar.

To clarify, if its the same day as I remember, that Sept 24th session was around Table Mt, not high up on the volcano itself. That run we took from below the SE side Table into the valley is still imprinted on my mind. Not light but amazing for Sept. However, the Oct 5 TR on the Colman this week sure got my attention!!!!

Also I recall Crystal opening C2 on Oct 18 in about 1972. I think they were open till July 23 that same year.....and they honored the season pass the whole time. Nice.

Eric

Crystal's October opening was in 1970 - the start of what turned out to be a monster year. I remember because it was my first season in the NW, and I thought it was normal.

In, I think, 1979 there was an end of September storm that dumped 3 feet on Paradise. No ski areas opened, though.

The earliest ever new snow opening for me was just a few years ago, when we had about 20" on Heliotrope Ridge on Sept. 20. Unfortunately little happened afterwards and that was a terrible season overall.

Along those lines, the construction crews at Paradise looked a little frantic trying to get the new visitor's center finished/weatherized before more snowfall.

Here's another one for the record books! Although I didn't go, my late 60's ski buddies went up to the back bowl of Table (small icefield) about August 20th about 1968 or so. They told me they had skied powder! I don't think it was a big dump, just several inches, but noteworthy nonetheless.

As to this year, it is interesting to note the downtrend in how nice the summers have been in the past 4 years, with 4 years ago being very hot, three years ago being the driest, 2 years ago there were some poor weather periods, and then this year. The hall mark for the great ski years in the late 60's and early 70's was a short summer with significant deteoriation in mid-August. Some of those years did rebound for a week or so of Indian Summer but I don't recall if all did. This summer's September had very little good weather, just a four-five day stretch and a couple random days. Those good winters just grew out of poor fall weather (poor meaning stormy).

A good sign right now is that despite the powerful storm of a week ago, we didn't build in a strong ridge behind it. In the mediocre winters of late a cold storm is often followed by a forever ridge beginning as an Omega or Rex block and then just becoming a strong ridge centered on us. After this past storm there was a Rex block but it was very short-lasting.

Now it looks like there could be major cold snow again mid to late next week, followed, unfortunately by a load of Pineapples on the weekend _ sort of like the scenario that just played out. The Pineapple Express must be the dieing tatters of those typhoons that just hit China this week.