Chinook Pass- Spring 2010

Hey now,

Looks like we are starting on Chinook Pass the week of April 5, 2010.  West side crews will begin March 30 towards Cayuse.  I'll continue to post updates through the spring, plus you may find info at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/chinook/

As a reminder, we typically work Mon-Fri.  Snow removal equipment, explosives, and ski-cutting will be happening, so it is best to cut us a wide swath in the areas above and below SR 410.

I'll put up some photos and snow information as we get under way, particularly info that helps all of us make good avalanche safety decisions, and obviously good skiing reports.  Personally, I'm looking forward to some corn after a rather dismal season of powder.  I also appreciate the support and positive comments related to this annual spring post!

Cheers,

Stimbuck

Joedabaker and I were literally escorted out of the park the day it closed last year..... this means we have first dibs on opening day.. right?!
Please give Joe and I special updates 24 hrs in advance of anybody else.

Thank you Mr Stimbuck.. you guys do great work.

Also have you sent this message to a Vermont skier website as they tend to like to roam?????

Also have you sent this message to a Vermont skier website as they tend to like to roam?????

Baaaa-Zingggggggggggggg!     

Can't wait!  More practice terrain for the newcomer.

Any chance they'll open Cayuse and White River early, while continuing to work on Chinook, as the snow pack is so thin at the lower elevations?

The work on Cayuse (Cayuse Pass south to US12) is funded by MRNP. I don't know the status of the funding at this time, but I'll make a post if I hear anything certain. White River is up to the MRNP, WSDOT isn't involved in that one.

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

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.

Just wanted to provide an update- last week saw some of the most active avalanche conditions that I've experienced in some time. Snowballs were putting large avalanches to the valley floor, near constant natural activity Tuesday and Wednesday, and still seeing slabs to 2' from smaller explosives and wet loose slides triggering slabs. A larger buried shot (~150#) produced a 2.5-3.0 meter slab!

I would anticipate the activity to subside when conditions cool this week, but we've now had several nights w/o a freeze, so probably still generating avalanches, even on previously slid slopes.

Quick side note- We had two skiers come through our work area this week following the PCT South (Crystal to Chinook)- never made contact, but it was on Wednesday and I must admit that the conditions were crazy. I just can't see why someone would willingly travel through this terrain when conditions were like that, let alone while we were doing avalanche control.

Be safe out there, and please respect our zone while we are working.

Cheers,

$

Nice work DOT!
I was up at Chinook Pass yesterday (see post "May 14-16, 2010, Cryatal & Chinook Pass pre-corn" here on TAY. I second your feelings towards excessive avalance activity, still ongoing.

NB: There seems to be a double-wide trailer sized block of snow trying to sepparate itself from the hill and shift onto the newly plowed rd at the first hairpin uphill from Cayuse Pass.

It must be frustrating. You plow it, it slides. Plow it again, now with rocks and trees, it slides again . . .

It looks like we are on track for next weekend, unless weather or equipment throws us a curve ball.  Avalanche conditions subsided last week and the crews were able to make some good progress. 

Keep an eye on:  www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/chinook/

For a story and photos on the annual pass-clearing work (complete with quotes from Stimbuck) go to: www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/05/26...-day-weekend-opening

Looks like tomorrow at noon...

Thanks to everyone for your cooperation and patience while we open Chinook.

$

Just a reminder to folks traveling in and around the Chinook area- we will continue to monitor snow conditions and may perform control activities as needed. Also, please avoid the slopes above the highway east of Chinook Pass- this is the control area and we don't want people triggering avalanches onto the highway either.