Possible new pay parking policy at Mt. Baker

Duncan decided to block the upper lot today...

The USFS law patrol posted to the area today said it was Duncan's lot to use as he sees fit. Ostensibly the reason is an expected, unauthorized party in the lot.

ski area Special Use Permits on USFS land don't allow the ski area operator to generally exclude the public from the permit area.

You were saying?

Spoke with the permit supervisor for Mt. Baker.  There is no specific plan at this time to start a fee based parking plan for the upper lot.  There are lots of discussions and ideas being thrown around. For most of us who backcountry ski and arrive at the ski area early this is a none issue.  You are free to park on the state maintained highway anywhere.  That includes the area just past the upper lot.  So if you don't want to pay the fee to Mt. Baker, park on the road near the old aid room.  At the end of the day you will still be able to ski to your car, you will just have to travel another 50 meters or so.  If you have ideas or thoughts about the upper lot contact Seth Greenfield at the Mt. Baker FS office and give him your input.  Snowpark, yearly fee?, what would people stomach?  He is curious to hear people's ideas.  He will be meeting with the ski area this spring to let them know how people feel about this and try and come up with a solution for the congestion there. (Seth Greenfield, 425.238.8308) Again, if you don't like it you can just do what I will do, arrive early and take a spot by the upper lodge, which is part of the highway system.

There are no shoulders to park on on the section of the road that you're talking about, I don't think it's technically legal to park in a lane of travel but it's currently tolerated.

I'll bet that what is going on behind the scenes is that Mt Baker Ski Area wants an update to their special use permit to expand their parking lots. 

Collecting $10 from a carload or granola powered skiers/snowboarders/snowshoers and risking generating bad will doesn't seem like a winning business plan.   

But getting an updated permit that will allow them build another 250 parking spaces with the potential to sell another 1000 lift tickets on peak days has a better prospect for good business.

Ostensibly the reason is an expected, unauthorized party in the lot.

I hear that the party was a rave that had no permits and no plan for keeping tripping morons alive in winter conditions. Apparently super high ravers were seen walking up avalanche prone slopes in party wear.

I'm not defending the parking bs but this was a LEO response to a dumb ass party.

Apparently super high ravers were seen walking up avalanche prone slopes in party wear.

... and this is different than a normal weekend in the Baker backcountry?

Actually, thanks for the clarification about the party. I have no issues with either the the ski area or the USFS trying to avoid potential problems. The manner in which it played out was screwy.

My impression was that the management of the situation by the ski area and the USFS enforcement on hand was sub-standard and was done with no postings or notification of the action. The enforcement staff was apparently unaware of the road blockage and appeared to not be coordinated with ski area regarding the road closure. Several dozen cars were in the upper lot that day. Loads of hikers, snowshoers, skiers, and sightseers were using the access as they have for years. The closure left those wanting to leave scratching their heads.