Chinook Pass- Spring 2010

Considering how the park kept roads closed even though cleared for weeks last year the chances of them taking advantage of low snow cover this year must be low.

That beardy ranger and his pals up at Sunrise will be fullfiling his duty as public servants and skiing up all the taxpaers snow.

Latest word from WSDOT-
WSDOT crews began clearing snow and avalanche debris from Cayuse Pass on SR 123 this morning. Efforts to clear Chnook Pass on SR 410 will begin in mid-April.
Crews are using plows and snow blowers to clear away tons of snow and debris that accumulated since the passes were closed for the season on Nov. 8. The west side maintenance crew from Greenwater will clear Cayuse Pass and then begin working its way up Chinook Pass in mid-April to eventually meet up with the east side crew out of Rimrock.
If weather allows, WSDOT plans to have Cayuse Pass open for traffic on Thursday, April 15 and Chinook Pass open by Friday, May 28. Weather changes quickly at these high elevation passes and heavy spring snow storms can interrupt the clearing work.
For information on SR 123 Cayuse Pass visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/cayuse
For information on SR 410 Chinook Pass visit: www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/chinook/

If weather allows, WSDOT plans to have Cayuse Pass open for traffic on Thursday, April 15 and Chinook Pass open by Friday, May 28. Weather changes quickly at these high elevation passes and heavy spring snow storms can interrupt the clearing work.

oh man, that would be awesome if true. A month and a half of touring Chinook from Cayuse. It seems like it's been a while since they've opened Cayuse much before Chinook.

Latest report is we begin work on the east side beginning April 12.

If Cayuse does open before Chinook please be advised that avalanche control and snow removal will be happening around Chinook Pass. The majority of the avalanche control is done east of the summit, but there are times when we need to perform control west of the summit. Work west of the summit primarily consists of ski cutting, the east side is a combination of ski cutting and explosives.

Thanks.

$

Update for week of 4/12-15:

West side crews at Cayuse, likely another 1-2 weeks before they get it ready to open. They estimate 10' at summit.

East side moving along, though there is way more snow than what we saw in mid-March (as if everyone hasn't noticed by now).

Evidence of some good wet loose activity from last weekend (mainly east of crest). The slides triggered a few good wet slabs as well. We kicked one off below the road on Tuesday- wet loose beginnings became a wet slab once it gained some mass.

We saw some tourers around Sheep Lake/Peak 69 area. They likely heard us when we engaged in some control work.

Very good snow coverage in the starting zones.

See you at Snowball - Stimbuck

The TNT says Cayuse Pass will open Friday, April 30:  www.thenewstribune.com/2010/04/25/116241...expect-to-clear.html