April 15, 2007, Jim Hill Mtn.

Cool temperatures on Sunday kept the snow surprisingly light.  We left the Stevens Pass Nordic Center parking lot, and skinned to Lanham Lake, then boot-hiked the steep timber (nice firm snow) to the ridge short of the summit. 
The mix of blue patches and a few clouds were just what had been forecast.  Stevens Pass looked like it was in an overcast all day--we were far enough east to be in the magic zone!  Skis were back on for the remaining distance along the ridge until the summit pitch.  The Henry Creek drainage had about an inch and one-half of fresh on a solid base--this was very fine, smooth skiing.  The snow cover was good getting into the lower basin, although it  turned rotten in places at that low an elevation.  Coverage should remain good in the lower basin for 10 days, perhaps 2 weeks, if it does not warm too dramatically.  We kept a high traverse and hit the logging road that extends from the Arrowhead Pk. clearcut, and skied on continuous snow cover until hitting US 2.     

We noted the infamous "no parking" signs the DOT installed this past winter at the parking area near the east portal of the Cascade tunnel.  Perhaps some e-mails to the DOT Wenatchee office would explain how valuable this parking is to backcountry skiers.