PSA: Sunrise Opens July 3

I had heard from a pretty good informant that the snowpack at Sunrise is unreasonably low for an opening. ???
In fact from what I hear Dege is done before it was skied and some of the north chutes are discontinuous to the Huckleberry basin. :'(

Not to be a killjoy, just wanted to throw an update, certainly would like to hear the full report later. As the price of gas is outrageous and time is equally important just thought some people with plans should consider the field report.
As reported to me: "There is skiable terrain, but the snowpack is like when most people give up on Sunrise for the year."
Hmmm...Near record snowpack, No Dege.
Me thinks there is something rotten in Denmark!
Sounds like the NPS is trying to burn the skiers.
Letters may follow to the Park service.
Sonics move to Oklahoma, no snow at Sunrise on record snow year...What's next??
IMHO-If there is snow there is still skiing at Sunrise, just not as plentiful as anticipated.
Let's wait for the field report...

Joe - I was wondering a little about that based on the meltout patterns I've watched thus far this year. It has struck me that by the time a few things were open (road to Windy Pass accessing Silver Peak being just the latest - Earl and a few others reinforced this notion in my head), the stuff up higher was more melted than in prior years when access opened. Perhaps there's indeed a little ranger strategy going on here too, but at any rate the simple fact of what I've been seeing thus far had me wondering about Sunrise (and eager to see someone report from today, though the weather may have lowered the odds of that)...

I was Joedabaker's advance scouting party. Got to the park entrance at 9.30am. Sign said Sunrise Closed. Showed my pass to the gate agent and asked when the gate was opening, she said she didn't know for sure but maybe 10.00 am. Drove to the gate , it was open!
Stopped at the hairpin, Dege Peak nearly bare, no complete lines from top. Called Joe, broke the news to him. We cried!
Drove up to the Visitor Center. Tried to get in touch with Zap by radio, no response. Another skier there booting up.

Walked over to the first slope along the path to the ridge. No continuous snow to basin there.
As I told Joe, the conditions are like when I usually give up on Sunrise for the year. I never investigated the slopes between Antler and Dege and maybe there is some skiing there and maybe fear factor has kept a line but it's done by my standards but you should make your own decision and don't expect  a lot of lines. I probably shold have done some more investgating but I was so bummed by the areas I saw I went back to the Visitor center in disgust.


Maybe some decent stuff over on Burroughs and further out but I was very disappointed and  will be going to Tatoosh or Chinook this weekend.
It was still very beautiful and visibility was great.

Talked to a couple of rangers and they where very sympathetic and told me the Superintendent was arriving soon. I asked to speak to him and they said sure but after 2 hours of waiting he never showed up and I gave up.  Rangers both told me that they where very supportive of any attempt that could be made to work with the NPs to figure out a way to open it sooner, and encouraged me to get skiers to try and engage with the Superintendent. They had been talking amongst themselves about portatoilets etc.

Any volunteers as I know I have the diplomatic skills of John Bolton!

Heartbraking news... :'(

Thank you very much for the field report, Scotsman.

Scotsman, thanks for the report.  We were packed but awoke to thunder and pouring rain.  Yuck !!!  Looked at the radar and saw enough yellow and red blotches to dampen my enthusiasm.  I'm depressed.  :'(

Yea Zap I nearly turned around myself. Raining in Enumclaw but the closer and closer I got to the mountain the drier it got. Halfway up sunrise road , the road was bare dry and hazy sunshine. Go figure.

Sunrise was warm, partly sunny and although the mountain had clouds, everything else was clear, no fog in Huckelberry.

As I said, in MY judgement it's done, but others may eke out a nice day up there and the views from Sunrise are so spectacular.