$75,000 opens Hurricane Ridge 7 days a week!

Olympic National Park has agreed to open the Hurricane Ridge Road 7 days a week if $75,000 can be raised from the community. 

If you can contribute contact
Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce
121 East Railroad Ave, Port Angeles WA 98362

Or donate tax deductable online at www.wnpf.org. Be sure to specify ONP and Hurricane Ridge Road.

Hurricane Ridge offers a spectacular backcountry experience as many on this board can attest.  Great views, lots of snow, plenty of terrain to go around.  Plowing the road every day should also make weekend access more consistent.

Help support backcountry access!  Donate today!

A link to an open letter from the mayor of PA is attached.

www.cityofpa.us/communityBrief.htm#Hurr

The appeal for money is more palatable with some stoke to go with it.  Here is some of what sits up there every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday every week regardless if it's blue bird or hurricane conditions.
www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...ex.php?topic=16346.0
The Olympics can be seen from most of the Puget Sound area.  Every week we pray that it doesn't rain or warm up any new snow before the gate finally opens, and then pray it's not snowing too hard on the weekend.  Prayers don't seem to be too effective.
www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...ex.php?topic=10159.0
This post is a nice summary of the highs and lows of the current  management
www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...dex.php?topic=4043.0
Not too many places in the world where you can surf and ski the same day.  Not to mention kayak, mt bike, in the Dungeness desert (5" of rain so far this year), while there's 300 inches of snow on the Ridge less than 20 miles away.
www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...dex.php?topic=4196.0
With the road open more than 2 days a week this trip and all the terrain it accesses becomes more doable.  One of the great ski traverses in the PNW.
www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboardi...dex.php?topic=4039.0
In this case, the way the Park is matching funds, putting $100 in the pot equals $333 in return.  Instead of one lift skiing day next winter, donate your $60 to keep the Ridge open, then come over and get a return on your investment.  We need your help!

Thanks for posting this. I've only skied at Hurricane Ridge two or three times in my life, but this sure seems like a good cause.

A link to an open letter from the mayor of PA is attached.

www.cityofpa.us/communityBrief.htm#Hurr

I just read the open letter and saw that the deadline for raising this money for the winter of 2011 is August 15. Not much time! It would be really cool to see Hurricane Ridge more accessible in winter. The Mayor's letter is reproduced below:

Open Letter to the Port Angeles and Surrounding Communities

RE: Winter Funding to Keep Hurricane Ridge Road Open All Week

Posted July 7, 2010 - For the past several years the community has been talking about the desire for winter access to The Hurricane Ridge by keeping the road open all week during the winter.  There is a window of opportunity that has been presented to the community to partner with the National Park Service.

According to Olympic National Park (ONP) staff the additional minimum amount needed per year to keep the road open seven days a week is $325,000. The Washington , DC office of the National Park Service has offered to cost-share with our community for a three-year trial period by providing $250,000 per year, with a required community commitment for the other $75,000 per year. The project to raise the funds is now up to the residents of the Olympic Peninsula.

To coordinate the effort the City of Port Angeles along with the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce have teamed up to try and make this happen. This is the classic “if everyone gives a little then the end result is significant” scenario. If every resident of Clallam County contributed as little as $1.25 per year we could make it happen. While it is unlikely we will be able to get everyone to participate, this still shows how doable this funding request really is.

Hurricane Ridge is a huge component to enticing visitation to the Olympic Peninsula and having this winter access would certainly be beneficial to both residents and visitors to the area. We only have until August 15 to raise the funds. The reason for this short window of time is due to the process of hiring and preparation needed by ONP. If we miss the goal we will then ramp up for 2012.

A separate account has been set up for these funds. Corporate sponsor opportunities are available and can be arranged with Russ Veenema. Checks should be made out to either Olympic National Park or The Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce and sent to the Port Angeles Chamber at 121 E. Railroad Ave., Port Angeles, WA 98362 . If you wish to pay with a credit card please call Russ, Vanessa or Lindsey at the Chamber office to process or come in to the Chamber Visitor Center . Should the goal not be reached, everyone will be contacted to confirm if they would like a refund or will allow the money to be used for the 2012 effort.

In addition, the City and Chamber are willing to make presentation to local organizations about this fundraising effort. Please contact Kent Myers, City Manager at 417-4501 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like a presentation made to your organization.

Time is definitely of the essence so please help us with the terrific partnership opportunity. For additional information contact: Russ Veenema 452-2363, extension 13, or Teresa Pierce at 417-4630 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sincerely,

Daniel A. Di Guilio
Mayor

Now two ways to give:

The PA Chamber of Commerce as noted above or...

Washington's National Park Fund is accepting matching contributions to keep Hurricane Ridge Road open 7 day per week in winter.  If the public contributes $75,000, National Park Service Headquarters in Washington DC has pledged $250,000.  So each $1 contributed by the public will be matched by $3.33 from the NPS! 

Checks should be made payable to "Washington's National Park Fund" with the notation "Olympic NP - Hurricane Ridge" and can be mailed to:
Washington's National Park Fund
PO Box 64626
University Place, WA 98464

For those who wish to make a secure online donation by credit card, visit wnpf.org and click the "Donate Now" button.  Select Olympic National Park and note this is for the Hurricane Ridge Road project.

Washington's National Park Fund is a 501(c)(3) organization; contributions are tax-deductible, EIN 01-0869799.

If you can get the current Park Superintendent of the MRNP, Dave Uberuaga fired by August 14th, I pledge $75,000 of my own money for the Olympic Park Road on Aug 15th.

Boycott MRNP and come to ONP.  Our new superintentent is awesome!  Seriously, great public speaker and listener, HR washout fix in 6 weeks, this deal, Boulder Creek and Spruce Railroad trail improvements, responsive to tribal concerns about Ozette expansion, etc.  If your guy gets fired, she'll move over there, and that would be a net loss for us even with your $75k.

Boycott MRNP and come to ONP.  Our new superintentent is awesome!  Seriously, great public speaker and listener, HR washout fix in 6 weeks, this deal, Boulder Creek and Spruce Railroad trail improvements, etc.  If your guy gets fired, she'll move over there, and that would be a net loss for us even with your $75k.

Exactly. She's showing what can be done when you're interested , motivated and in partnership with your end users rather than fixated on real estate prices and keeping guide concessionaires sweet. I'll be making a donation even if we can't get the MRNP idiot fired.

From the March 29 Kitsap Sun:
Let’s hear it for the Port Angeles City Council and Department of Interior officials who are considering a proposal to keep the Hurricane Ridge Road open year round. It’s a great idea, and it’s about time.

The subject was brought up at a meeting a couple of weeks ago between Port Angeles Mayor Dan Di Guilio and a Department of Interior staffer. Council members Cherie Kidd and Patrick Downie and City Manager Kent Myers were attending the National League of Cities conference in Washington D.C.

The Interior staffer showed interest in keeping the road open during a two- or three-year trial basis beginning next winter. For me, that’s the best news out of Olympic National Park since they waived the entrance fee the last two weekends.

As most winter enthusiasts around our neck of the woods know, the 17-mile road to Hurricane Ridge is closed on weekdays. That makes it difficult — if not impossible — for most people to enjoy an extended stay in the area’s only alpine winter wonderland.

If you want to take a snowshoe hike, or a cross-country ski, or slide down a hill in an inner tube on a weekday, you face a half-day drive, round-trip, to the snow. For most of us, Mount Rainier National Park is probably the closest public venue for winter outings.

So keeping the Hurricane Ridge road open daily in the winter is a big deal. One that should appeal to a growing number of retired folk and younger snowseekers on flexible schedules.

Under the proposal — still said to be in a very preliminary stage — the Department of Interior would provide the funds to clear the road of snow on a daily basis. Olympic park officials estimate that cost to be about $467,000, which could be provided for a trial period of two or three years.

I’ve always thought the park could actually save money by keeping the road open on weekdays. There’s really little advantage to waiting until the end of the week to plow, especially if a big dump of snow arrives midweek. Under those conditions, the road sometimes doesn’t get open at all.

And anyone who has visited Hurricane Ridge on a winter weekday (by hiking up the Whiskey Bend or Hurricane Hill trails, or, as I once foolishly did, skied across from Deer Park) will tell you that park staff drives the road often on a daily basis in the winter. There are midweek days every winter that require little or no road maintenance at all.

If the road is to be opened, it’s most important for anyone who wants to get outside in the winter to begin using the Hurricane Ridge Road. Kitsap and Olympic peninsula snowseekers will have to visit Hurricane more during the weekdays to provide the numbers Olympic park officials need to justify assuming the cost.

So: Way to go, Port Angeles. Good show, Department of Interior. If it works, that frozen snowman some winter weekday next year at Hurricane will be me.

Seabury Blair Jr. is the author of Backcountry Ski! Washington; Day Hike! Olympic Peninsula; Day Hike! Columbia Gorge; The Creaky Knees Guide to Washington; and The Creaky Knees Guide to Oregon, to be released this spring.

© 2010 Kitsap Sun. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.



Read more: www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/mar/29/seabu...dge-a/#ixzz0tmAo6frY

Thank you so much Greg for all your efforts in your support and endless encouragement of our dream to keep our ridge road open seven days per week. The possibilities are endless as well as the the adventures our Olympic mountains have to offer if we make this dream a reality. I could go on and on about the many different options this opens up to all of us in numerous ways but I believe the beauty of the mountains tugs at our hearts in everyones own way. I choose to spend nearly every free moment of my time spent some where on some new adventure deep in our forests and the summer months offer wonderful adventures as well as Winter. Keeping the road access open 7 days per week in the winter will help to insure that the road will already be plowed during the weekdays which in turn will make the load that much lighter to plow for weekend use. This allows much better assurance for weekends to be open since as of yet its such a heavy load to tackle on a friday which too often is too heavy a burden leading to many road closures during our precious winter months. Like Greg I ask all you you who come out to enjoy the natural beauty of the Olympic mountains to find it in yourself to help us out with this task by August 15th. If you wish to make a tax deductable donation do so by going to wnpf.org click donate now button and select Olympic national Park with a note that the donation is to be used for Hurricane Ridge Road
Thanks again !
Split girl

Fund raising event Friday July 30, at the r bar 134 E Front Street, Port Angeles.  6-8 happy hour with buffet, 8-late bands, silent auction, etc.  $25 at 6, $10 after 6.

Here is a link to all the information:

northbynorthwestsurfco.sports.officelive.../YearRoundRidge.aspx

Obstruction Point road is open, Elk Mt. still has plenty of snow, ride the hurricane is Sunday am.  Come make a weekend of it!

Sorry for too many different threads. Now the party is over, will revert to this one again.
Tee shirts are available with Hurricane Ridge 7x365 Team and a spacecraft logo on the back. Contact Frank at www.nxnwsurf.com.

I'm mailing my donation today. Support the ridge!

Looks like they're getting very close, over $62,000 as of last Monday + $5000 more from Sequim City Council:

www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100...al-sequim-antes-5000
www.sequimgazette.com/news/article.exm/2...ars_fundraising_mark

I sent my donation in 2 weeks ago; not much, but after visiting Obstruction Point and Elk Mountain yesterday, I'm really glad I contributed.  What a place!  The lines out there in winter will be incredible, and skiers will have more opps. to get at them if the road is open more days.    ;D

Only $1420 still needed; TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO CONTRIBUTE!
www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100...ign-nearing-its-goal

Thanks for the reminder -- chipping away at it!

Looks like you did it!

Vogtski sent me this link just now -- nice work everyone!

Congratulations to you who made this work!
It is a great investment for the city and outdoor recreation.
I wonder if it could open the door for getting MRNP to potentially plow the road to White River or even the road to Mowich if there is money matched for funding??? Wonder what the cost of that would be? Compared to ONP the road to the WR campground would be a cinch, but the rangers manning could be a different beast.

Thanks again to all who supported this in any way. I was on a trip through the Pickets Aug 10-18, so didn't learn the final outcome until a couple days later. Word on the street is a La Nina, so they may have their hands full with the plowing, but hopefully we will have our faces full of snow.

Again, a great example of cooperation among a tremendous amount of entities and people that should have a postive affect on this little corner of the world.

Now come ski the Ridge, so that there is a payoff, and the program continues.

Olympic National Park begins winter Hurricane Ridge Road planning
www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100...-ridge-road-planning

I was reminded a few days ago by a colleague on Vancouver Island that there is a shuttle terminal adjacent to the ferry dock in PA that runs a daily rig up to HR.  Not sure about the winter schedule, but it should be an angle to consider for local boosters of winter use to the area.  He leaves his rig in Victoria, ferries across, shuttles up and down, and gets a full day (or more) in.  Kinda green, anyway..

The Victoria market has certainly been on our radar from the beginning. The park is/was in the planning stages of a transportation plan that would include busing to the ridge. I do not know if or how the 7 days a week initiative affects that process.

For this winter, I am pretty sure that the local charter bus companies-All Points Charter for sure- would be able to give skiers a ride on an appointment basis.

Clallam Transit should be able to get you to within an easy walk to the Visitor's Center, from which hitching a ride should be pretty easy, if you have skis on your back.

The Heart 'o the Hills campground near the entrance station should be open all winter, although depending on snow levels it may be closed to vehicles at times. Don't know if the new funding covers plowing the campground.

Or make some friends over here!

I don't know if any Vancouver Island residents read TAY much, but PM me if you have any ideas to make getting from Victoria to Hurricane Ridge as simple and cheap as possible.