Local News

By Mark Yuasa / Seattle Times staff reporter

The stormy weather that has pounded the region the past few days has been good news for ski resorts.

Stevens Pass Resort will open Tuesday, Mount Baker and Crystal Mountain resorts plan to open Wednesday, and Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort will open Friday.

Stevens will be open from noon to 4 p.m. with the Brooks and Daisy chairlifts in operation. Lift tickets will be $20. Early season conditions exist so skiers and snowboarders should use caution. On Sunday night, 14 to 18 inches of new snow fell, bringing the base total to about 24 inches and 31 on top with more snowfall in the forecast.

Crystal Mountain Resort will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday with the Gondola, Green Valley and Rainier Express lifts operating. Much of the open areas are intermediate and expert terrain. Crystal plans to open Chinook and Forest Queen lifts by Friday, and possibly High Campbell for access to Powder Bowl on Friday, as well. Lift tickets on Wednesday will cost $45.

The base at Crystal is 20 inches and the summit has a depth of 40 inches, with 15 inches of new snow falling last night.

Mount Baker will have limited operations beginning at 9 a.m. Wednesday from the Heather Meadows area. Baker managers will assess conditions Tuesday and decide whether to open the lower White Salmon Base Area.

Mount Baker received 20 inches of snow overnight Sunday, and has a base of 41 inches at Heather Meadows and 50 inches on top of Pan Dome.

A warm front is expected to cause the freezing level to rise above 5,000 feet, but a cold front will bring much colder temperatures and more snow by late Tuesday and Wednesday, with 6 to 12 inches of new snow.

Snow: It just keeps coming down in the Cascade Mountains.

The folks at the Crystal Mountain ski area say 12 feet of snow has fallen there so far in March – more than any other month this season, and more than fell in November and December combined.

Meanwhile, the National Weather Service issued the latest winter storm warning for the west slopes of the Cascades, with another one to two feet of snow expected in the passes by 6 p.m. today.

At midday, it was snowing in the major mountain passes.  Traction tires were required on Stevens Pass and recommended on Snoqualmie Pass. Check for updates from the state Transportation Department.  Snowfall is expected to continue, but taper off, through the weekend.

At Mount Baker Ski Area, more than 14 feet of March snow had fallen by last weekend, and snow continued this week.  As of 10 a.m. today,  more than 17 inches of snow had fallen in the previous 24 hours.

The snowfall at Crystal has now passed the 500-inch mark for the season, and is continuing to climb. Strong winds were reported at the summit this morning.