Clearing Highway 20

**cascadianwarrior** · 03-13-2007, 10:34 PM

State to begin clearing North Cascades Highway next week

MAZAMA — The state Department of Transportation expects to begin clearing the North Cascades Highway next Monday, and hopes to open the highway from Mazama to Newhalem by mid-May.

The highway closes each winter due to avalanche danger. It closed last year on Nov. 13.

Avalanche technicians evaluated the snow on the highway last week and found four feet at the closure gate just west of Mazama, and nine feet at Rainy Pass, with some areas near the top as deep as 15 feet, a news release stated.

Areas below avalanche chutes ranged from 12 feet to 55 feet deep, and one 20-foot deep slide was 1,200 feet wide, the notice said.

Because of the snow depth in avalanche chutes, much of the work this year will be done by caterpillars instead of snow blowers, which will slow the work, Dean Hills, the agency’s Okanogan area supervisor said in the release. The pass usually reopens in mid- to late April. Last year, it reopened May 1.

Hell yeah!

**hop** · 03-13-2007, 10:37 PM

I hope they have a lot of caterpillars and they're being paid a competitive wage with benefits. Avy path clearing is a tough job for a human let alone a larvae.

ok that's pretty dumb. Must be the drugs.

**altasnob** · 03-13-2007, 10:39 PM

It doesn't seem like they've gotten that much snow this year. Mid May is a pretty late opening; I was/am hoping for mid April. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to buy a snowmobile.

I was over in the Methow earlier this winter and word on the street was next year, WSDOT was going to plow the road up to the Silver Star gate all winter long, which would provide vehicle access to some pretty sick bc.

**cascadianwarrior** · 03-13-2007, 10:46 PM

Originally Posted by altasnob

I was over in the Methow earlier this winter and word on the street was next year, WSDOT was going to plow the road up to the Silver Star gate all winter long, which would provide vehicle access to some pretty sick bc.

God I hope there is some truth behind that

**altasnob** · 03-13-2007, 10:49 PM

Also, I was told that once they start clearing the road, the crews don't work on the weekend and its fair game to drive up as far as they have plowed.

**cascadianwarrior** · 03-13-2007, 11:34 PM

Another perk!

Last year we had to park on the highway as the Blue Lake trailhead was packed on a weekday, 3rd week no less. We had a warning posted on our car when we got back. A couple of years ago I got a ticket from the WSP parked at the hairpin turn at Spire Gulch. But if no one is working weekends this year......

**char** · 03-13-2007, 11:40 PM

Yeeeesssss!

**Squirrel99** · 03-13-2007, 11:45 PM

Stoked to get back up there! Got a few routes I'd like to knock off. not so fast though- i'm hoping- hoping we can get back into winter for a bit first.

**philfort** · 03-14-2007, 01:07 PM

With the warmish temps lately, we need to get up there NOW, not two months from now! Ain't gonna be no mo' powder then....

**Lani** · 03-14-2007, 03:39 PM

That's right. There will never be powder again. Tomorrow is the LAST CHANCE.

**PNWbrit** · 03-14-2007, 03:48 PM

Anyone hear more about an extended/permanent closure of Hidden Lake Rd. due to November flood damage?

That'd suck.

**philfort** · 03-14-2007, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by Lani

That's right. There will never be powder again. Tomorrow is the LAST CHANCE.

Well except I'm one week away from being in the Canadian Rockies, followed by Rogers Pass.... so.... who @%$&# cares about Cascade "powder"!

Haven't heard anything about the road to Hidden Lk Pk... did it get damaged?

**altasnob** · 03-14-2007, 10:49 PM

According to the Forest Road Conditions Report page on the Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest webpage, pretty much every mountain road in Washington was severely damaged during the November rain storm:

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/conditio...s_report.shtml

**mtbakerskier** · 03-16-2007, 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by altasnob

It doesn't seem like they've gotten that much snow this year. Mid May is a pretty late opening; I was/am hoping for mid April. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to buy a snowmobile.

I just flew with N. Cascade heli today, and there is a SHITLOAD of snow up there right now. That and some deep ass debree fields. Its going to take them a while to get it cleared.

**Zeedashbo** · 03-16-2007, 12:53 AM

Originally Posted by mtbakerskier

I just flew with N. Cascade heli today, and there is a SHITLOAD of snow up there right now. That and some deep ass debree fields. Its going to take them a while to get it cleared.

and you are special!

**pollard** · 03-16-2007, 01:14 AM

on the flip side of things I was rolling down twenty today today to get whole nother kind of goods through deception pass. it accesses some diverse terrian

**rbtree** · 03-16-2007, 06:11 PM

Originally Posted by pollard

on the flip side of things I was rolling down twenty today today to get whole nother kind of goods through deception pass. it accesses some diverse terrian

lemme guess, medicinals? I've been sick lately, got any to spare?

**rbtree** · 03-16-2007, 06:12 PM

Originally Posted by Lani

That's right. There will never be powder again. Tomorrow is the LAST CHANCE.

Where's the trip report, slowpoke?

**EVILLIVE** · 03-17-2007, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by pollard

on the flip side of things I was rolling down twenty today today to get whole nother kind of goods through deception pass. it accesses some diverse terrian

glad u were safe