Chinook/Cayuse Pass 2011

Any rough estimate on Cayuse opening? Don't want you to go out on
a limb but this time of year lot's of people are asking. How are they doing on the east side, still lot's of Avy activity?

You can see John (Stimbuck) and his crew working to open Chinook Pass by going to:

www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/05/21...opening-chinook-pass

Thanks yakAT. Not much to update at this time. Our equipment operators have been busy with flood repairs, so the work has slowed a bit. Hopefully some solid progress will be made this week and next.

I notice the WSDOT portable reader board in place at Pete's Pool. That usually means a pass opening (Cayuse) is soon around this time of year.

Apparently it's opening today: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/cayuse/

Pass status as of May 23, 2011

Cayuse Pass remains closed.

We are tentatively planning to reopen the pass at noon on Thursday, May 26, 2011.

Cayuse Pass has been closed since noon on Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2010.

FYI

Updated May 19, 2011

    Crews were met with more challenges this week.
Dangerous flooding conditions prohibited crews from
safely entering the work area, and there was no
significant snow melt at higher elevations.

    Cayuse Pass may reopen this week, but Chinook Pass
will not reopen by Memorial Day weekend. We will update
this message as soon as we can accurately predict a
reopening date.

    Current snow depth is 18-20 feet. Total accumulation
of snow so far this season is about 700 inches.