Hurricane Ridge TR

[grrrr]

Went to Hurricane Ridge for the Mitey Mite races over the weekend. Only my second time up there. The ski area is about 25 miles from my house, as the seagull flies, by as I don't fly, it was two ferries and five hours to get there.

Talked to the coach on the way, he told me their was 16" new at 24 degrees. Ski area is only open on the weekends, so if the weather holds cold, Saturday should be killer.

Got up to the area by 8:15, determined to get fresh turns. The palce is deserted. Get Grrrr Jr checked in, and we hike over the ridge. A few of the coaches and the few patrollers have already started making turns.

http://tinyurl.com/2bya6

Grrr Jr. Heads over to the slalom course for warm ups and I head over to the ridge. The Poma doesn't fire up until 9:30, but I have to gatekeep all day, so I'm going to hike until they open.

http://tinyurl.com/2bgbm

Runs are short - the vertical is 600' and it takes the Poma nad a rope tow to get you up, when they do open. Everyone else is setting up, but I can't help it. I continue to play hooky right up until the race is ready to start.
http://tinyurl.com/yvo33

I lap the face a few times. Short, but oh so sweet. And where are all the crowds? Almost 11. I pause at the bottom of the Poma to look back at the last run down Sunnyside. Gosh, I had to elbow my way into that one.

http://tinyurl.com/ywdlr

All through the race, I'm looking out at untracked snow just on the other side of the fence. Nobody's touching it. I try to pay attention to whether the kids make it through the gates. "Gates are overrated". Yells one of the locals. I point out the line I'm thinking, which is OB.
http://tinyurl.com/3xs8n
The race ends at 3, and he and I head out onto Idaho Bowl. It's a 2 minute traverse. We get there to find 3 or 4 tracks down the bowl. He drops in, and I climb up over the cornice for a sweet little 10' drop - about the best you can find out there. 3 or 4 turns, and we're into tthe trees. Another 4 tight turns and the traverse comes up. My mind is tracked, and I keep dropping, knowing I'll have to hike back up.

So sweet, but the temperature is now skyrocketing up. Hiking is sweating. We lap back through there once more before the Poma shuts down. Back just in time to see Grrr Jr get his first podium of the year, then head down for the showers and a beer.

My nomination for little areas that rock.

[ulty_guy]

shawing, nothing like untracked.

[CaddyDaddy77]

Cool TR, Grrr, where's that at? WA?

[grrrr]

It's in the middle of Olympic National Park, south of Port Angeles Washington. Not close to anywhere, and not big enough to attract anyone from outside.

They are trying to get permission to put in a chairlift - that would be sweet.

[The AD]

Originally posted by grrrr
It's in the middle of Olympic National Park, south of Port Angeles Washington. Not close to anywhere, and not big enough to attract anyone from outside.

They are trying to get permission to put in a chairlift - that would be sweet.

I wonder if Hurricane Ridge is the only ski area within a National Park in the U.S.? I can't think of any others.

[Telenater]

Badger Pass Ski Area is inside Yosemite National Park.

[Squirrel99]

wow, looks like some good touring options there. may have to check that out someday. how late in the season does that poma turn?

[dubu]

I could be wrong but is this one of the few spots in WA where you can car ski? I remember seeing a skier ski the north slope few years back.

[grrrr]

This coming Sunday ends their season. Coverage is marginal this year - probably good on the North faces for a few more weeks unless we start getting more snow at the 4000' level. The road will stay open through the summer. And yes, when the poma is shut down you can still get 500' of vertical with 100' of hiking if you have a car and driver for the other 400'

Caution: political comments ahead.

The road would be closed right now, due to Bush's cutbacks in the NPS funding. The city of Port A has voluntarily taken on the funding of snowplowing the road for the rest of this season.

[Chronic]

Wow, that brings back some memories. I skied there probably 20 years ago, and it looks like it hasn't changed much since then. Makes me want to check it out again...

[KQ]

Get pics & TR Grrrrrrr!!!

I was gonna mention the Bush cuts about the road but I see you've already brought that up - good going, ppl need to know this shit and kudos to the town for taking over the road (although they should HAVE to spend their money on it!)

[Buster Highmen]

Here's to a nice report about the way I wish skiing always will be.

[BakerBoy]

Originally posted by dubu
I could be wrong but is this one of the few spots in WA where you can car ski? I remember seeing a skier ski the north slope few years back.

Car laps are possible at Baker also... When Artist Point is open, laps down Table are possible.

[midget]

Yo Baker Beyyotch. I will be in the PNW for sure after WSI through the summer. We need to go get some shit done around Baker or Whistler if the weather cooperates.

- Grrrrrrr
how's the Side country just out of bounds out at HC? I've always wondered about that place. I'm from Seattle, but never made it out there.