Possible new pay parking policy at Mt. Baker

The upper Mt. Baker lot ("behind the big maintenance building") was packed tight on Saturday. So was the Mountaineers Lodge parking lot, and there were cars parked down the highway from there and around to the family sledding area. I've seen the lot full before, but never with so much attention clearly paid to stuffing in as many vehicles as possible. I've never seen so many cars along the highway.

The localized backcountry was also packed, mostly with snowshoers, avalanche classes, and at least a couple of large parties of tent-campers. Duncan's got his own perspectives on these things, but the ski area sure appears to be prospering these last few decades. Seems to me like there's room for all, except during major weekends like the Banked Slalom. Would Duncan be willing to fund shuttles if parking were available elsewhere? Like, say, at the giant, empty snowpark down in the Nooksack valley?

I overheard a conversation just like this one a few years ago. I think this attitude has trickled down the ladder as my last few experiences with ski patrol leaving the upper lot were not Representative of good customer relations. They feel like they own the place....

I'm surprised he said $10/day and not $20/day or $40/season like all of the other sno-park permits. fortress.wa.gov/parks/ecomm/prod/Store/SNO/SnoChoice.aspx

I've been warning about growing tensions between the ski area and the backcountry community for a few years now. The upper lot fills up quickly and there isn't really a lot of parking in the shoulders near the lodge, especially with ski buses running after Jan 1. It's not just on event weekends either, the lot is full most weekends now with cars for the ski area parking well beyond the Mounties lodge and even as far as the Firs lodge.

I've said it out loud a few times, hwy 542 should be a toll road. Why should everyone in the state pay for my recreation? It's paid out of tax dollars? Which tax dollars? Gas tax from all the fuel I buy? Or sales tax from my season pass?

If the backcountry skiers don't like it then maybe it's time for someone to organize and arrange for plowing up to Skyline Divide for better high access for skiing.

I wonder what the Howats would think of the state keeping the road cleared to Artist Point and operating it like a sno-park from Nov. - April...

They get to operate their ski area not only on FS land but across the last few miles of the WSDOT-owned road, you know, stuff the taxpayers are paying for...

I hate this.

IMHO, ski area operators on Federal land (mostly USFS) profilt from their contractual privilige to operate a skiing/shopping mall accessed via public highway maintained by the state. I would urge the USFS to ignore the needs of the oligarchs and require maintenance of parking lots for bc users who don't wear Bognar clothing or use snowboards.