Snow in the PNW 2019-20

[oftpiste]

Most people around here use red ones.

Beat me to it goddammit.

[pipedream]

Well this place looks different

[gnarbro365]

Pre covid




RIP CJN 1/18/20

Post lockdown





RIP Dime 7/3/17

[kamtron]

Hey @Norseman! Nice eye. Those were my tracks at Paradise. I think I'm done for the season. A couple of laps on Koma Kulshan and the cups are getting big. Time to go hiking and search for swimming holes.

By the way, I'm moving from Seattle to Bellingham so going to change from an Alpy to Baker local. I'm contemplating buying a pass but not so sure I'll get my money's worth with the whole COVID business going down plus a busy new job. Thoughts?

[Jason4]

By the way, I'm moving from Seattle to Bellingham so going to change from an Alpy to Baker local.

Pump the brakes. One does not simply move to Bellingham and become a Baker local. I've been here a while and some days I still don't feel like I'm a local.

Welcome and buy the pass.

[glademaster]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but nobody living 50+ miles from any ski area qualifies as a local, even if that is the closest ski area.

[::: :::]

So, when a ski area isn’t in a town, there are no locals...got it

PNW filled w/ em

[kamtron]

Local in the sense of... it's the most local ski area, so I will visit it.

[Sky_Shoe]

Only Dan in an uninsulated camper on the back of a 4cylinder pickup truck parked at Heather Meadows qualifies.

[gregL]

By the way, I'm moving from Seattle to Bellingham so going to change from an Alpy to Baker local. I'm contemplating buying a pass but not so sure I'll get my money's worth with the whole COVID business going down plus a busy new job. Thoughts?

Bring me an assorted dozen from the Bagelry when you visit the shop!

[Ted Striker]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but nobody living 50+ miles from any ski area qualifies as a local, even if that is the closest ski area.

Only Dan in an uninsulated camper on the back of a 4cylinder pickup truck parked at Heather Meadows qualifies.

Heh, yeah.

By that metric, the Howats aren't locals.

[kamtron]

I have some friends from high school in VT who work up there and have for years. They live in employee housing Winter and Summer. So they are the true locals.
Anyway, I don't really care about your definition of local. Loaded word.

Mostly I just am wondering about people's inclination to buy passes or not for the next season. I'd probably get my money's worth, although day passes at Baker are relatively cheap, whereas their season passes are relatively expensive. Then we've got the virus situation which I'm guessing will mean longer lift lines than usual for distancing (if it comes to that). And I'll have some but not infinite midweek days, so I'm not sure whether it's worth it for me. I'll be touring anyway.

[Norseman]

Man it's hard to guess what the scene will be 6mo from now.

My opinion:

If you have limited midweek days, I'd be inclined to skip the pass and only do tickets when friends are in town, etc.

If you can grab the occasional 4 hour block of time midweek, then the pass makes sense from a flexibility stance, where you can ski hard for 2 hrs and not worry about the ticket being worth it, nor the approach for touring one lap.

[XavierD]

So you’re gonna hold off and save the money to buy a mini van?

[kamtron]

Van life at Baker would be pretty deluxe. Mostly we are saving up the buy a house at the moment, though. I realized last week while camping for the Squak that I can sleep half in the trunk of my Accord, so I could go full dirtbag and do that.

Those 4 hr blocks are definitely a possibility, Scott.... shit I've got to consider.

[pyromaniacman129]

I've held off on buying my pass until I maaaaybe had a better idea what the season would realistically be like. Thinking this season could still go either way with how things are trending.
In the past I've waited until the last week of Baker's price increase, usually late Sept. Will probably do the same again.

[pipedream]

Passes for Baker aren't even on sale yet. You've got time to see what develops...

[pipedream]

Some of y'all might recognize this gem, esp. those on the windier side of the crest



Short story long, met up with some bikepacking friends, one of whom hails from Levvy and has a family friend with a nice cabin up Derby Canyon they let em use over the weekend while they were out of town. Turns out the owner is a longtime Mission patroller. You better believe I smoked a doobie while basking in the sun on such a historical gem

[steveski]

Some of y'all might recognize this gem, esp. those on the windier side of the crest



Short story long, met up with some bikepacking friends, one of whom hails from Levvy and has a family friend with a nice cabin up Derby Canyon they let em use over the weekend while they were out of town. Turns out the owner is a longtime Mission patroller. You better believe I smoked a doobie while basking in the sun on such a historical gem

Most excellent.

[puma]

I am new to the Seattle area. We need to get out of town. Any recommendations on a great spot to go? Looking for:

Dog NEEDS water, so a lake or river access
Not much more than an hour drive from the eastside
Opportunity to stretch the legs, but not up for a 10 mile hike or anything.
An awesome spot, need to showcase the area as the family is missing PDX...

I was thinking a lake up towards Snoqualmie pass or maybe Cle Ellum...

[plugboots]

I'll go all KQ on you.
https://www.theoutbound.com/always_a...noqualmie-pass

Franklin Falls.
Lodge Lake.
Snoqualmie Mountain.
Snoqualmie Falls.
Snow Lake.
Granite Mountain.
Ira Spring Trail
Lillian Lake.
etc.

[m2711c]

Praxis Rx.

[HappyCamper]

I'd skip Snow Lake unless going early or late on a weekday. Incredibly crowded.

Try Mirror Lake (just past the Pass heading east) - short hike. Not going to be deserted, but not crazy like Snow Lake. Bring something to float on if it is nice out. If feeling a little adventurous, scramble Tinkham, which overlooks it.

Lodge Lake is a good one too - has some freeway noise, but also a short hike.

Grab outdoors beers/food at Dru Bru or Commonwealth.

[wooley12]

Issaquah Alps are about an hour from East Seattle. Sometimes two.

[puma]

Thanks for the advice all. We decided to get east of the crest to escape the moisture. Showed my wife and son the summit area as they had not seen the ski area. Went to kachess lake and checked out camping areas and the shoreline. Finished with a tour of Cle ellum and then refreshments and mule and elk in outdoor area. I 90 is a nice pass road. Are the closures in winter due to the last bit to right just before the turnoff to Summitt?