Chinook Pass opening

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/htm...ookpass24.html

Chinook Pass could break record for early opening

The Associated Press

YAKIMA — Chinook Pass on state Highway 410 east of Mount Rainier National Park could open as early as April 1.

That would break a record for the earliest opening of the 5,430-foot pass, which closed for winter Dec. 7. The current record is April 6, 1973.

Work crews only needed 16 hours on March 9 to carve a path through the snow and ice accumulated on the 16.5-mile stretch of highway. The job usually requires several weeks of 10-hour days, said Mike Westbay, state Department of Transportation regional spokesman.

A small section of the pass about 3 miles east of the summit was whittled down to one lane by a washout sometime this winter, which could reduce the highway to just one lane for several weeks.

But traffic could be passing through eight weeks ahead of the normal late-May opening, Westbay said. The April 1 target date is the earliest a National Park ranger can be on duty in the area.

Westbay cautioned that a heavy snowfall could change plans. Once the pass does open, drivers should be prepared for winter driving conditions that can arrive unexpectedly as late as May, he said.

has someone already posted that Chinook is open? I was in Beautiful Buckley and Bonney Lake yesterday and saw the sign that said OPEN!!!

Updated: 12:14 PM, Apr 28, 2005
CHINOOK PASS
Elevation: 5430ft / 1655M
Pass Open // We have concluded the mountain pass reports for this season.[Q]

and if the telemetry is accurate, it's been snowing up there since about 0300 this morning! Anyone up for a late afternoon ski?

This oughta pass through soon enough for some nice sunset gloppy pow turns up there!!!!!!
http://radar.wrh.noaa.gov/radar/imag...atx/latest.gif

so seriously, whos in? I need ammo to convince my wife I can go :rolleyes:

I >>>might<<< be able to go Sunday. If it rains Saturday, it could be a real goo-fest.

I will be at either Chinook or paradise on sunday with three to five other UPS kids. Depends on the weather where we end up. Looking probably like it will be Chinook because the temps there have been consitantly colder.

hmm...please report conditions as soon as you see them...

...I'm stuck away for another two weeks, was going to hit it first week of May, and I'm chomping at the bit.

Chinookie is a little far for me, but I'll take it if I can't find anyone looking to go out this weekend further north.