Slate Peak Conditions?

I'm thinking about trying Slate Peak in early, early August. Does anyone have an update on the conditions at this time for Slate Peak? Would it be doable in early August?

I've completed 6 months in a row of skiing and I want to bag my first year. I suppose the hardest months are August/September/October. I've been working out of Burgdorfer, but it looks like I'll need to branch out in order to come up with ideas as to how to ski and have FUN doing it in the months of August and September. Does anyone have other suggestions for easy tours in August and September?

I was looking into Slate Peak last year around this time.  When I called the ranger station they told me a rock slide had taken out the road and would not be cleared for a long while.  I asked how passable it was on foot, and they told me with the loose debris and thousands of feet of exposure, they didn't recommend it.  However, looking into it this is what I found (below).  Looks like Hart's Pass opened yesterday and Slate Peak opened today. You might want to call the ranger station to double check that information though - if you do, post up on what they tell you.  I'm curious.

www.fs.fed.us/r6/oka/recreation/mvroadsn.shtml

I was up there during the mid-May warmup that closed SR-20. At that time we had to ski up 6 miles from cache? creek. After 5 days skiing (AWESOME!) it was more like five miles snow covered, and during that time the snow melted so fast we had 1+ foot "platforms' under our tents. Coverage was about 5-6 feet at the FS restroom at Hart's Pass, and melting FAST. I would be very surprised if any snow remained on Slate, but that is just a guess. The east Cascades go quick!

Also, a near-river had developed below where we were parked, and we just barely made it out. That road would be very scary during big rains.

I am only just getting to the hard months of my second year, so I am no expert, but- you can expect to hike for a few hours before you hit snow, there might be a lot of bugs, and you will want to be able to have fun on challenging snow. The volcanoes have the easiest late season access. The approach and the whole experience of bashing through brush with skis and boots on your pack has to seem like fun before you leave. It really just helps if you kind of like to suffer. It will help if you expect crap snow, because if it turns out nice you are surprised- that's what I do all year... Low expectations give more pleasant surprises.

Try the Tatoosh---start w/Burgdorfer and then branch off to either Pinnacle Saddle or Unicorn.
It's pretty slack for good snow at this time of the season.

The staff at the Methow Ranger Station said that the road to Slate Peak is indeed open all the way. It is gated 1/4 mile from the summit. The ranger said that the NE bowl has snow patches in it. She doubted whether one could ski it given the discontinuities. It sounded to me that in another week it really wouldn't work as a ski outing.

Just adding that personal inspection this afternoon (Sunday 27th) revealed no skiable lines, or even worthy patches, remaining off Slate Peak or anywhere in the vicinity.

Mark