Chinook Pass- Spring 2010

Cayuse to open today. Please remember that avalanche and snow clearing will continue along SR 410 Monday-Friday.

Also note that our crew continues to encounter wet slab conditions. Ski triggered wet slabs have been encountered as conditions warmed and the snow becomes a bit soft. Typical depth has been about 8-14".

$

stormy week. the sun came out Thursday and a few naturals, though mostly snowballs. One ski triggered avalanche grew in size and pulled a slab further down slope (~5000' level). Explosive triggered cornice work triggered a wind slab as well. When it got to the lower 1/2 of the slop (~5500') the debris really grew as the slide dug into deeper/wetter layers.

Thank you!

Is there any update on conditions from Cayuse/Chinook?

I was also wondering, how large an area do the road crews need for their work? In other words, are there any areas accessible from Cayuse to ski during the week when the crews are working on the highway?

Thanks to all involved for their hard work!

Should be good from the top of Cayuse. I've seen people park at the Chinook/Cayuse "Y" in the past when Chinook had not yet opened and you can tour from there. The link below are progress photo's from April 1 - 27th just before they opened.

www.wsdot.wa.gov/Traffic/Passes/Cayuse/2010Photos.htm

in the past we had usually parked at the first turnout on the south side of the pass, then made a beeline up through the trees to the hairpin and up from there again through the trees.  Puts you in the flats above Tipsoo Lake.  Somtimes it can be tricky getting up onto the snow from the highway.