11/14/09 Skinning at Snoqualmie Pass Inbounds

Thanks for all the suggestions, I'll head up to hyak then and see how it goes, i don't have a problem w/ paying for a nordic center pass as they are much cheaper than lift tickets if I do run into any unhappy campers. I also checked online and according to the summit website the nordic center isn't open yet anyways so if that is up to date I anticipate nothing but fun,
Thanks again,
Ben

Have fun, your stoke is contagious...sounds like you deserve a good day in the mountains! Hope to see you creeping around the Hyak "backcountry" someday.

The nordic center isn't scheduled to be open this weekend -- so it shouldn't be a problem.

I've also skinned/skiied up from the Silver Fir base area over the years.  Usually sticking to the outer edge of the "Outback" run or perhaps in the trees between the run and the creek.  This area is public forest service land, while the rest of "Summit Central" is actually private land.

Once the area is in full operation -- the officially sanctioned method of skining up in the area is to use the "Nordic Pass" route.  You can get an idea of where this route goes from the summits expansion plan maps:  www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/projects/summit-at-...rdicTrailNetwork.pdf   note that the route is also marked with "Blue Diamonds"   I suspect this weekend that coverage along the route may be a bit sketchy.  That said -- it does cost a bunch of money for the grooming they do at the nordic center -- so if your are going to ski the groomed snow you should buy a trail pass when the nordic center is open.

Thanks Ben for starting the thread, appreciate the opportunity to remind the faithful.  As Marcus noted (and it makes my day that it's so quick to his mind) Alpental will be doing Avalanche Control work at almost anytime from now on.  From this amount of snow onward, It's really best if the slopes of Alpental and the Alp BC are not used at all for touring. Staff will be both assessing the current conditions and potentially bombing and ski cutting to make it safe for the crew to set up the hill, and then to operate.  Also don't use misread the fact that others are ascending as an indication that nothing is going on on that particular day.  Already pro patrol and lift maintenance have had to skin up the hill themselves a handful of times to either de-ice or correct mechanical lift malfunctions.  While the ski area does not have an "exclusive" use permit to operate on their leased public lands, the feds do allow for full closure of particular areas at particular times if it is a safety issue - avalanche control certainly fits in that category. The Alpental area has been designated an "avalanche control zone" and there is a project afoot to provide web and phone resources to users to help clarify and communicate what rules or restrictions may apply in what zones, more on that later.  Despite what was said earlier about Sherrif's and sno-mos, for the most part you will not have a terrible time finding someplace around the pass to safely skin or snowshoe up the hill to get a run or three in. Everyone understands that with summer grade work and occasional brush cutting, the ski areas around the northwest do offer some desireable goods.  It's the thoughful user that minimizes conflict, avoids the winches, groomers, snowmaking and bombs.  Lack of confict = continued safe access for all, (and may also mean I can get more runs too).  Thanks for your help - G