Chinook Pass 2015

No surprise that we are scheduled to open early this year. Updated info can be found at
www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/passes/chinook

The snow cover is ok around the summit area including Naches and Yakima Peaks. South facing slopes are a bit thinner as one might suspect.

Biggest concern from us with the early opening is the potential for continued snowfall throughout the spring. If snow does arrive/continue we should expect delays and closures for avalanche control and snow removal.

Please keep in mind the potential to trigger avalanches onto the highway when traveling on slopes above the highway. We will do our best to address the highway hazard, but I'm also counting on BC users to have some good sense as well.

I'll provide updates if anything changes

Cheers!

Still on schedule for April 3. West side crews making repairs to the highway. We did a few days of avalanche work on the east side near the summit during this week's snow and warming.

Thanks for the updates.

Stimbuck, do you know when the Morris Creek gate will open on Friday?

Stimbuck, do you know when the Morris Creek gate will open on Friday?

not till after morning coffee, second cup should get the gang outdoors.

Thank you Norseman!

PhilH check the WSDOT page for updates. There's still some work happening in the area, but 8 am. is the scheduled time. I'd check the update this afternoon.

Hope you all find use from these updates. I take the time to make these posts to benefit the backcountry community, but I don't come here to be trolled. Enjoy the early touring!

Thank you for posting the info, and in particular the snowpack details. Every data point helps!

Thanks for the updates. I'm going to try to get up to Naches Peak tomorrow.

Thank you, Stimbuck! With the arrival of this week's storm, I'd been wondering if you'd (reasonably) wait to open up or not.

A big thank-you to you and everyone at WSDOT!

For everyone headed to the passes this weekend, John has written an NWAC guest-blog concerning skiing near the highway: www.nwac.us/blog/2015/03/23/know-you-go-...iding-near-highways/

Chinook opened late afternoon. Earliest opening on record

Awesome! Its a much quicker drive for me now from Enumcaw to Yakima!

Road looked in good shape this afternoon

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next week looks interesting, hope the plows have a reason to fire up their engines..