March 16th, 2020 ALPENTAL Uphill Travel

Thanks for the ongoing updates. Good luck with the work in the week ahead. We had great fun at Hyak Tuesday and West today. And though we met several nice folks we didn't know before (along with a few old friends), everyone was spaced quite far, except at points like tops of climbs where we got close enough to talk but WELL over the 6 foot mandate. Much safer than getting gas or buying toilet paper

We changed out the signs today and updated the websites.  Uphill at Alpental is now allowed. Our operating season for 2019-2020 has officially ended with our on-hill work this week.  Thank you to everyone who supported those efforts.  Please remember - winter is not over.  With no avalanche hazard reduction being done, 6 inches of new snow and a bit of wind can create a significant hazard quite quickly. We still have a very substantial snowpack and recent springs have been quite active.  We always want to support the touring community, but we are also the ones who get the call when things go wrong. Please be conservative and be careful out there -Thanks again for the ongoing support / Gib

Oh the irony. The day uphill travel restrictions are lifted is the day the USFS clamps down on access. From what I've seen, effective 12:01am Sat. 3/27, all trailheads, campgrounds and day-use areas on USFS land in the state of Washington are temporarily closed until further notice or Sept. 30th, whichever comes first :'(

Oh the irony. The day uphill travel restrictions are lifted is the day the USFS clamps down on access. From what I've seen, effective 12:01am Sat. 3/27, all trailheads, campgrounds and day-use areas on USFS land in the state of Washington are temporarily closed until further notice or Sept. 30th, whichever comes first :'(

While ski areas are not specifically mentioned in the announcement, I'm guessing it's fair to assume they would classify as either day use areas or trailheads?

I'm not sure what the fuss is about. The governor's order as of last Monday was that you can't drive there anyway. No excuses; doesn't matter how much you need it, want it, crave it, or find it essential to your personal mental health. So unless you happen to live within walking or biking distance of Alpental, you cannot legally get there.

I am aware that people are breaking the rules all day long. I see them driving to various recreational venues here, too. I'm not making a case on moral grounds; my concern is that breaking the rules--easily justified by anyone determined to ski--will provoke even more draconian controls on us all. In fact, the governor's announcement last Monday followed close on the heels of his people consulting with locals around the state about the degree of compliance (or lack thereof) with the existing voluntary guidelines that they observed locally.

quickly second the previous post, but only in the interest of clarification. I read the entire order, and there's nothing in it that say you can't travel by car to "engage in outdoor exercise." Markharf I'd appreciate if you cold share where you found the information that you can't drive to exercise outside.

From the perspective of common sense, no one is going to get coronavirus skinning around a ski area if they drive alone and maintain space from other users. Not gonna happen. I suppose you might need to stop for gas and touch a gas pump. I'd pack my own food for sure.

If bc skiing is enough of a contagion concern to be banned, then all take out food should for sure be immediately banned: it's not necessary, and carries probably 1000 times the transmission risk of skiing up a hill or walking in the woods. It's more dangerous than the supermarket because to survive on takeout you need ~10x exposures compared to loading up at the supermarket.

We still apparently need unlimited burritos and french fries, but moving around in nature is so dangerous and extraneous? hmmm.

I'd hate though to endanger first-responders. In thousands of trips to the wood, I've never needed help. The risk of skiing though certainly is bigger than walking the dog around the block. Is it really that much of a concern? If so then so be it, the State can lock me up inside for the rest of the year I guess ....