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In this photo, state Transportation Department crews work to get one lane open for emergency vehicles on the Mount Baker Highway. More than 175 trees and some six feet of snow have fallen on the highway since Friday. (Photo / WSDOT)

UPDATE | The Mount Baker Highway reopened at 4 p.m. today. The Washington State Department of Transportation says it cleared more than 175 fallen trees and 6 feet of snow from the roadway.

EARLIER POST | If the weather behaves and the more than 175 trees and the six feet of snow that have fallen on the Mount Baker Highway since Friday are cleared, the roadway is expected to reopen by 6 p.m. today, according to the state Transportation Department.

That should make skiers happy because the road has been closed 10 miles west of the ski area since Tuesday. The DOT says the highway should be ready for folks wanting to hit the slopes this weekend.

Clearing the highway had been unsafe for days due to high winds. Crews working three excavators and a front loader began tackling the tangled trees and the snow this morning after the wind, rain and snow subsided a bit, according to the DOT.

Be warned, though, that if you’re heading that way tomorrow, you should be prepared for winter conditions. Carrying chains is required and may be needed this weekend.

There are more photos of the mess made by all the snow and those downed trees.