Keith_Henson

"...it should be a return to the deep stuff this week!" It's back. Yesterday, Crystal North Back. Ken from Sturdevant's tearing up the deep pow...

Friday at Big Mt was day 39 for me and yesterday was day 40. As you can see, the conditions were harsh on Friday! Blue sky and powder. A pic from the Glacier Chaser chair on Friday, 2_16_07

It's Henson (like the muppet guy). Good afternoon corn at Crystal on Saturday put me at 36. My son and I are leaving for Big Mountain tomorrow morning via Kellogg and Silver Mt.

TAY report by Jason http://www.turns-all-year.com/skiing_snowboarding/trip_reports/index.php?topic=6153.0 you guys are true cascade hardmen

I'm back from Lookout Pass, Big sky, Moonlight Basin, Bridger. The latter 3 areas had serious lack of snow. In fact, when the powder I was skiing from the top of Lone Peak turned into a couple inch veneer of snow over a steep rock field I cracked a rib in the ensuing wreck. Now up to 35 days. Heading to Big Mountain next week. More pics: http://weblife.earthlink.net/photo/PhotoAlbumView?AID=jxblncrd:/737/737741-0-77a7cd5783522579acc010c9b957185d6cd3a4c1.jpg:LO:a6g3 http://weblife.earthlink.net/photo/PhotoAlbumView?AID=accmchit:/740/740082-0-0897f712cd717c2100ad167aced27f18ec79572f.jpg:LO:a6g3 http://weblife.earthlink.net/photo/PhotoAlbumView?AID=otjkmnhk:/746/746028-0-908872e4a31b51cdcb0eb74ba4287ac576f6cb6e.jpg:LO:a6g3 http://weblife.earthlink.net/photo/PhotoAlbumView?AID=jdykipzj:/749/749965-0-2b76657852739f304efb785bb939c92eab8a453c.jpg:LO:a6g3 A couple of YouTube movies:

So where are folks on the 100 day goal? Yesterday was day 22 for me and crystal had remarkable--rocky mountain-like snow, blue sky, light powder, super cold. crystal 15 days white pass 2 days stevens 1 day schweitzer 3 days 49 degress north 1 day off to Big Sky next week to use my 10 free days...

Galen Rowell's "In the Throne Room of the Mountain Gods"-- a gossipy ("written with unflinching honesty") and fascinating account of 1975 K2 attempt and starring the Whittaker's, Bertulis, Dunham, Wickwire..

I still wear mine! 20 years behind? Here's a picture of Marilyn Monroe sans u trou from the 60's. Not shaved though like Brit...

For the disappointed who really wanted to see Brit sans panties Warning:photo of shaved, exposed pubic area of beautiful woman

And now for the biggest spray yet. I played guitar at his wedding! He married my ex-girlfriend. Go toni! I know for a fact that Pope owns a pair of lycra climbing togs (bright yellow as I recall) (He's earned the "lycra privilege") and I played saxophone with my quartet at Pope's wedding.

Join the Glade-iators. Trees here's a kool tree skiing vid-not of me unfortunately

wow! Once in Dayton I saw Sun Ra (actually I saw the Arkestra a number of times) and there weere only 3 of us in the audience. The band surrounded us at our table and Sun Ra looked in my eyes and said, "Give up your death to me." Freaky! I recorded El is a Sound of Joy on my band's first CD.

Columns, The University of Washington Alumni Magazine's cover story in the December issue is "100 Top Books By 100 UW Authors". This "Husky-centric reading list" includes: Beckey, Fred, '49 Cascade Alpine Guide, Vols. 1-3--The legendary local climber literally wrote the book on mountaineering in the Northwest--a three-volume, 1,100-page classic packed with geology, natural history and historical anecdotes as well as climbing routes.

those pictures are really interesting--especially of the trail circling the mountian. Thanks

Last year I skied 35 days. The Zaritsky filkm "Ski Bums" and Warren Miller’s taunt that “If you don’t do it this year, you’ll be one year older when you do” got me thinking. So this year I decidied to take a year off of work and be a ski bum (a "ski"battical, if you will), before I get too old and my knee totally deteriorates. I hope to get 100 days... I will be in Utah twice, Montana for over 3 weeks, and I have a crystal pass so I think I can do it. Day 4 of this year’s season had me today at Crystal in powder over my thighs! Yeah Baby!

I get Jeff Renner's report by email. Go to the link below and under "weather" you can subscribe to "KING 5 Jeff's Sound to Summit Forecast" In addition to all the other things suggested above. I just go from weather report to weather report until I see the one I like, i.e., SNOW! king 5 email subscriptions Crystal tomorrow!

Kevin Remarkable-extraordinary! You have truly turned your camera into a device for producing art--not just a photographic document. Beautiful.

Watched the tivo'd first episode of Everest: Beyond the Limit last night on the Discovery channel A mountaineering soap opera, it was pretty riveting--especially if you can skip the commercials. EPISODE 1: SUMMIT DREAMS Tuesday, Nov. 14, at 10 p.m. ET/PT At three miles above sea level, the base of Mount Everest is already higher than any mountain in the Rockies. Since the human body needs to adjust slowly to rising altitude, it is a huge effort just to begin the climb. The expedition team makes seven overnight stops to get to Base Camp (BC) on the mountain's northern face and will take a full month to acclimatize their bodies before they attempt the summit. The air is thin and the climbers feel physically weak, but the camaraderie is strong. As the team moves to Advanced Base Camp (ABC) at 21,000 feet to begin acclimatization climbs, they are shocked to discover how badly their minds and bodies cope. The air is so thin at ABC that helicopter evacuation is impossible. The expedition members begin climbs up to a ridge at 23,000 feet called the North Col, scaling 1,000-foot ice cliffs along the way. EPISODE 2: THE GATEKEEPER Tuesday, Nov. 21, at 10 p.m. ET/PT At ABC, more than 600 climbers prepare for summit attempts. All the climbers on Russell Brice's expedition must prove they're strong enough to climb from ABC to the North Col in less than five hours or he will not allow them to continue. Bouts of bronchitis and other altitude-related ailments call into question whether some climbers will be forced to head back to BC. Carrying almost half their body weight in ropes, gear and oxygen, six Sherpas from Russell's team are sent ahead to rig four miles of safety ropes to the summit as the rest of the team continues to acclimatize. Russell, who religiously checks weather forecasts every six hours, spots a period of light winds in two weeks' time that looks ideal for an early summit attempt. To make this window, however, he'll have to push both his Sherpas and climbers extra hard to be ready two weeks early. More than 130 bottles of oxygen and 90 tents will need to be shifted in preparation for moving up to the North Col — all without tipping off other teams at ABC. And, with a few team members continuing to have difficulty, Russell has tough decisions to make as summit day approaches. EPISODE 3: TO THE SUMMIT Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 10 p.m. ET/PT With all high camps ready and a promising forecast, Russell splits the group into two teams for the five-day, 8,000-foot summit climb from ABC. The strongest climbers are assigned to Team One guided by Bill Crouse, including L.A. firefighter Brett Merrell, ER doctor Terry O'Connor and asthmatic climber Mogens Jensen. Led by guide Mark Woodward, Team Two includes double amputee Mark Inglis, Hollywood biker Tim Medvetz and Lebanese climber Max Chaya. Sherpas will climb alongside the teams, and they are the climbers' best hope for survival if they get into trouble. After leaving ABC, the climbers will spend one night in each of four high camps. Just after Camp 3, they will reach the death zone at 26,000 feet, where there is 70 percent less oxygen than at sea level. On the eve of their departure, Russell strongly warns the group of the very real dangers that lie ahead. He reinforces that the Sherpas are not there to die for anyone's personal ambitions or ego — and warns them that he will withdraw the Sherpas if any of the climbers disobey his orders and put them in danger. After taping personal videos for their loved ones, the teams set off in good spirits, but on the climb from Camp 1 to Camp 2, Brett begins to struggle. Will the firefighter be forced to abandon his summit dreams for a second year in a row, or will he continue, determined to place a flag at the summit to salute his comrades who perished on 9/11? The climbers face extreme difficulties as they move from camp to camp. Will Mogens, an asthmatic, be able to cope without oxygen? Can Tim, consistently slower than the others and suffering from bronchitis, make it to the high camps? How will Mark's lack of mobility affect him? And will Russell's gamble on an early summit bid pay off for the team? EPISODE 4: INTO THE DEATH ZONE Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 10 p.m. ET/PT Team One is the first to head into the death zone, where the extreme altitude shuts down digestion and the body starts to consume its own muscle tissue for energy. After only a few hours at the top camp, Team One leaves in the darkness at 1 a.m. for the summit. Almost immediately, they are caught in a frustrating human traffic jam that stops them in their tracks. If they can't pass some of the slow climbers on the ropes ahead of them, they could run out of time…and oxygen. The episode vividly shows the backups that occur at the top of Everest — a shocking row of people lined up on safety ropes — and the potentially fatal risks that inexperienced climbers pose to everyone on the mountain. As frostbite sets in and oxygen tanks empty, will Team One be able to summit and descend safely? EPISODE 5: MUTINY ON THE MOUNTAIN Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 10 p.m. ET/PT Members of Team One cope with the aftermath of their summit attempts. Many climbers are in danger from frostbite in the minus 40 degree F temperatures. Russell instructs Team Two, now at the top camp and ready to begin their summit attempt, to leave two hours early to try to beat the traffic. Although this might help, it also means an extra two hours in the elements before the sun rises on a very cold day. While some climbers make a strong start, others immediately struggle. Two of the team's slower climbers create havoc on the mountain when they refuse to obey Russell's orders. Because 80 percent of all climbing accidents happen on descent, Russell and others in the lower camps become gravely concerned. EPISODE 6: THE FINAL COST Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 10 p.m. ET/PT As everyone descends, the entire team suffers from the extreme cold. Frostbite affects more climbers on Russell's expedition than ever before. For each one who made the trek, whether or not they made the summit, the most important trip will be the one home. The climbers reflect on this year's expedition and whether or not they'll return to the mountain. Everest: Beyond the Limit

Taking the measure of a mountain 14,410 feet, or 14,411? What's Mount Rainier's official summit elevation? The U.S. Geological Survey says there isn't one. CRAIG HILL; The News Tribune Published: November 16th, 2006 01:00 AM Eight hours after we stood on the roof of Washington last summer, our guides rewarded us with certificates that read “Mount Rainier, 14,410 feet.” Aware many others believe the mountain is actually a foot taller, I raised my hand to get the scoop from Alex Van Steen, our lead guide from Rainier Mountaineering Inc. “Hey, what happened to the extra foot?” I asked. “I’m pretty sure I felt it up there.” “Nope,” Van Steen said with a smile. “The official height is 14,410 and 13 inches.” Van Steen isn’t the only person who has his bases covered. Ashford resident Steve Miller has vanity plates with Rainier’s elevation for his cars. The plates read “14410” on his Toyota pickup and “14411” on his Subaru Forester. So what’s in a foot? Most people – including career climbers and the U.S. Geological Survey – don’t really seem to care. In fact, it doesn’t have official summit elevations for most mountains, including Rainier, said Steve Reiter of the USGS. The 14,410 USGS listing on maps is calculated from the agency’s highest Rainier benchmark, which is at 14,399 feet. A benchmark is a permanent point whose known elevation is part of a national network. Mount Rainier National Park climbing ranger Mike Gauthier recently made the mistake of saying he didn’t care about the differing elevations during a slide-show presentation. “Sure enough, some guy raised his hand,” Gauthier said. “It’s a big issue to some people. … It’s the state’s icon. It’s on the license plate.” That’s precisely why people like Paul White think there should be an agreed-upon official elevation. “If it was some other mountain, it wouldn’t be that important,” said White, a Lakewood resident. “But it’s our symbol. It’s going to be on the Washington quarter. They wouldn’t have remeasured it if it wasn’t important.” In fact, it was the remeasurements in 1989 and 1999 for the state and national park’s respective centennials that tacked on the extra foot to the USGS 1956 measurement. Using Global Positioning Satellites, the Land Surveyors Association of Washington calculated Rainier’s elevation at 14,411.1 in ’89 and 14,411.05 in ’99. After the measurements, many changed their references for Rainier, but others stuck with the USGS calculation. The result has been a sometimes humorous, often overlooked discrepancy that has become a curious Rainier footnote. When two climbing guidebooks to Rainier were published in 1999, the first, written by Van Steen and Fred Beckey, listed the summit at 14,411 feet. A few months later, Gauthier’s version said 14,410. Eric Simonson says his company, International Mountain Guides, uses 14,411 feet, even though his Web site says 14,410. “I guess it depends on the day of the week and who you are talking to,” Simonson said. Even the USGS has one reference to the higher elevation on its Web site, and Reiter says the GPS measurement is likely more accurate. Wikipdia.com lists both elevations in the same article. And, for good measure, the Smithsonian lists the elevation at 14,409 feet. “Which elevation is most accurate?” said Dave Doyle of the National Geodetic Survey. “Well, that’s the stuff graduate degrees are made off.” NOT OFFICIAL Reiter says it’s a common misconception that there is a USGS benchmark at the summit of every mountain. In fact, the exact summit elevation isn’t vital to the USGS, he says. The highest benchmark on Rainier is 14,399 feet, placed in the highest exposed rock outcropping. “We place the benchmarks at known locations and elevations that are ideal for surveyors,” Reiter said, adding that precise summit elevations often aren’t necessary for making accurate maps. From these benchmarks, the USGS calculates summit elevations. Doyle says the USGS’ calculation of Rainier’s summit has a margin of error of plus or minus 5 feet. “Most people are surprised to learn that quite a few famous peaks like Rainier don’t have official elevations,” Reiter said. The USGS hasn’t measured any mountains in Washington since the arrival of GPS technology in the late 1970s, although they do use GPS. Mount Rainier National Park uses 14,410 feet for the elevation because it uses USGS numbers, said park natural resources manager Roger Andrascik. THE 1956 MEASUREMENT Before Enumclaw’s Larry Signani led the GPS measurements of Rainier, he got hold of the notes from the USGS’ 1956 measurement. According to the notes, the summit’s elevation was set based on the average of several triangulation measurements. And because of the margin of error, Signani says the elevation was rounded up as much as 2 feet, to 14,410. “This is not saying anything negative about past measurements,” Signani said. “This is the best they had at the time.” GPS: 14,411.05 Rainier was the first mountain measured using GPS technology in 1989. The Land Surveyors of Washington, led by Signani, hauled two suitcase-size GPS receivers to the summit. For reference, 12 more receivers were placed at known elevations on and around Rainier. “The more reference sites you use, the more accurate the reading,” Signani said. In 1999, the surveyors used 16 reference receivers in measuring an elevation 1.5 centimeters shorter than their first measurement. “Our measurements are accurate within a centimeter,” Signani said. “That’s pretty accurate.” RIGHT ROUND, FOR THE RECORD The Smithsonian Institution lists the summit of Rainier at 14,409 feet. Lee Siebert, the Smithsonian’s volcano data specialist, says the difference is likely a rounding issue. The Smithsonian uses USGS measurements; however, many USGS maps list Rainier at 4,392 meters. Sure enough, the conversion gives you an elevation of 14,409.4 feet. However, the USGS had already rounded down from about 4,392.2 meters – a difference of about 8 inches. The North Dakota Space Grant Consortium uses Smithsonian data. However, after being contacted by The News Tribune, the consortium’s content editor – Oregon State University geosciences graduate student Chris Harpel – said the organization plans to switch to 14,410 feet to match the USGS. Siebert did not indicate if the Smithsonian will change its elevation. WHERE’S ZERO? You aren’t going to get college credit for reading this section, but you probably should. We’ll start with a quiz. Mount Rainier is 14,411 (or 14,410) feet above what? A. Mean sea level. B. The geoid. C. The reference ellipsoid. If you said A or B you are correct. If you said C, you are off by 63.1 feet. The USGS has always used height above sea level for its elevations, and as a result that has become the popular reference. However, because the ocean’s surface rises and falls depending upon gravitational pull, sea level differs by location, Reiter said. And because most mountains don’t rise directly from the sea, scientists created a reference called the geoid, which extends mean sea level over the continents. GPS technology measures height above another imagined Earth surface – the reference ellipsoid. This is a smooth egg-shaped reference roughly Earth’s size and figure. In some places, the ellipsoid is below mean sea level, and in others, like the United States, it is above. GPS elevation is usually converted to feet above sea level. At Mount Rainier, the ellipsoid is 63.1 feet above mean sea level, according to USGS records, so you would add that figure to the GPS measurement. “Basically determining the elevation comes down to ‘Where is zero?’” Reiter said. “And can you even determine where zero is.” Not confusing enough? For extra credit, check out the National Geodetic Survey’s explanation at www.ngs.noaa.gov/GEOID. UPS AND DOWNS The elevation of Mount Rainier’s summit changes all the time. Because there is no exposed rock at Rainier’s highest point, the summit rises and falls depending on the temperature, snowfall and summit traffic. “Depending on if it’s summer or winter, it fluctuates a few feet,” said Peter Whittaker, RMI’s CEO. “What I know for sure is it’s a darn long way up there.” For those who make a living on the mountain, the summit seemed especially low this summer. “I think it was about a foot lower than normal this year because it was so warm,” said Gauthier, Mount Rainier National Park’s lead climbing ranger. “I even saw a small crevasse near the summit for the first time.” HOME MEASUREMENTS So, maybe you’re thinking, “I have a GPS handset; why don’t I just hike up there and put an end to the debate?” Well, it’s not that simple. Standing on the summit last year, I got a reading that wasn’t even close. After adding my geoid height (the difference between mean sea level and the ellipsoid), my handset said 14,151 feet above sea level. “That doesn’t surprise me,” Signani said. “Those little handheld receivers only have an accuracy within about 30 meters (981/2 feet) when you are measuring elevation. Plus, it has no reference points like we do when we use survey quality GPS, so that’s going to make it even less accurate.” How about an altimeter? “Altimeters are unreliable, too, because they are based on barometric pressure,” Signani said. “They are effected by temperature and humidity, so your reading will be different day to day.” THE FUTURE Soon surveyors in Washington will be able to measure Rainier – and everything else in the state – even more accurately. The state is installing a web of continuously running GPS stations called the Washington State Reference Network. “This will revolutionize the way we determine elevations,” Signani said. “It allows for centimeter positioning. This is the measurement future for Washington.” TNT STYLE It wouldn’t be fair to point out the inconsistencies of others without taking a shot at ourselves. The News Tribune has bounced between both elevations since the 1999 GPS measurement. We used 14,411 feet in stories last summer, but we’ve used the shorter height in stories as recently as last month. We don’t have an official elevation in our local stylebook. Hardly the consistency you’d expect from an organization that not only prides itself on accuracy but also has the mountain in its logo. However, after researching this story, we’ve decided to settle on 14,411 feet as our official style. “The first rule of journalism is accuracy. It’s also the second rule. And the third,” said News Tribune editing team leader Jim Kresse. “It just makes sense to go with the survey that uses the latest technologies and most recent measurements that give the most accurate reading.” Craig Hill: 253-597-8497 craig.hill@thenewstribune.com THE EVER-CHANGING ELEVATION Year, Elevation, Credit, Method 1841 12,333 Lt. Charles Wilkes Triangulation 1879 14,444 James Smyth Lawson Barometer 1888 14,524 E.S. Ingraham Barometer 1896 14,519 USGS Barometer 1897 14,528 Edgar McClure Barometer 1902 14,363 USGS Barometer 1905 14,394 Alexander McAdie Barometer 1914 14,408 USGS Triangulation 1956 14,410 USGS Triangulation 1989 14,411.1 LSAW GPS 1999 14,411.05 LSAW GPS SOURCES: National Park Service and Land Surveyors of Washington

the quince bush is also very ornamental--though if you want the fruit you have to buy "fruiting" one. I have one espaliared on my fence and it produces red floweres early in the year. I got mine from Burpee about 15 years ago. Watch the stems though. They produce wicket stickers--one of which puntured the tire of my mountain bike!

Glacier National Park flooding hits historic proportions Nov 11, 2006 06:08 PM Crews are working over this holiday weekend to try and repair some severe flooding damage that was done to Glacier National Park's Going-to-the-Sun-Road. Officials with the park say that they're trying to procure some emergency funds to repair the road, and to fix damages to the Many Glacier Hotel. Record rainfall this week resulted in roads being washing out, bridges threatened, and some structures in the park being damaged. To make matter worse, The National Weather Service was predicting six to 12 inches of snow over the weekend. Crews are still assessing the damage done at Glacier National Park, and an estimate of the cost of the damages has not yet been determined. source: http://www.montanasnewsstation.com

Crystal plans on opening on Wednesday, November 15!!!!! from the website: "It's snowing heavily on the mountain right now and with the forecast going in the right direction, we have set our opening plans for this WEDNESDAY NOV.15th.! Several forecasts show heavy amounts of snow throughout the next seven days. Tune in on Monday for an update."

yeah baby! Let it snow

Twenty articles about skiing this season in the Tacoma News Tribune... http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/ski_preview/ We are so ready...

from this morning's tnt: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/6199352p-5417940c.html Washington's winter dreams CRAIG HILL; The News Tribune Published: October 29th, 2006 01:00 AM When Lisa Lawrence lived in Moab, Utah, you’d have had to tie her to a snowplow to get her to Washington state for a ski vacation. Now living in Tacoma, she’s gone from skiing five times a week to four times a year. “The term ‘Cascade concrete’ is right,” Lawrence said of Washington’s famously challenging firm snow. “You just don’t think of Washington when you think of ski destinations.” That perception has led to what the state’s ski industry calls “leakage.” “We export many more ski vacations than we import,” said Scott Kaden, president of the Pacific Northwest Ski Area Association. Based on the experience of the state’s top ski areas, they agree with Kaden. In 2010, the industry gets a golden opportunity to plug the leak when the region takes the world stage for the Winter Olympics, 40 miles over the Washington border in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C. However, Washington’s less than ideal weather, lack of overnight accommodations and expansion limitations make it unlikely it can use the Olympics to springboard into the national spotlight. Many in the industry believe the leak will have to be plugged by convincing more Washington skiers and snowboarders to take less of their business to ski destinations like Colorado and British Columbia. “We need to be realistic about this,” said White Pass general manager Kevin McCarthy. “We aren’t going to be another Vail (Colo.), but we can make improvements that keep our skiers and snowboarders home more.” In September, the state’s resorts incorporated their once informal marketing arm, Ski Washington. Stevens Pass general manager John Gifford, Ski Washington’s president, says the organization will use its first few meetings to “find the best way to make hay with the Olympics in our backyard.” Its biggest obstacles will be the state’s wet and heavy snow conditions and U.S. Forest Service limitations on land development. “We have great terrain but we don’t have the facilities to back it up if we want to become a ski destination,” said Crystal Mountain owner John Kircher. Popular destination resorts such as Idaho’s Sun Valley and British Columbia’s Whistler Blackcomb have large villages with luxury hotels, spas, ice rinks, hospitals and four-star restaurants at the base of their ski areas. Most of Washington’s ski areas have little more than cafeteria-style dining, a pro shop, a bar and a parking lot. Crystal Mountain, The Summit at Snoqualmie and White Pass each has some lodging, but most overnight ski trips in Washington require at least a 30-minute drive from the hotel to the slopes. And because Idaho, Oregon and British Columbia boast well-known destination resorts, Washington is fighting an uphill battle. Local ski areas won’t be getting extra help from Olympia. The state Department of Tourism doesn’t track skiing’s economic impact and uses none of its $3.5 million budget to market any activity more than others, said department spokeswoman Michelle Zahrly. According to a 2004 department survey, skiing isn’t a major draw for Washington. It accounted for 2 percent of overnight recreational trips – about the same as cycling and horseback riding. Hiking and beach visits led the way, each accounting for 17 percent. Last season, Washington ski resorts had their second-most visits, 2.14 million, down about 13,500 from the 2001-2002 season. Still, that doesn’t compare to popular destinations like Utah. Last season, 4.1 million skiers and snowboarders had a more than $800 million impact on that state’s economy, said Nathan Rafferty, president of Ski Utah, the state ski industry’s marketing organization. THE MEGARESORT Kircher knows what would happen if he built a small village with condos at the base of Crystal Mountain on the northeast border of Mount Rainier National Park. “We’d have the coolest regional destination resort you’d ever see,” he said. “And people would be trampling each other to purchase the condos.” Such was the case in 2004 when Tamarack Resort opened near McCall, Idaho. In January 2005, the resort sold 134 properties ranging from $325,000 to $1.5 million in one day. And Tamarack is quickly emerging as a major four-season destination resort, even luring President Bush for a summer vacation. While Crystal’s 1,300 acres are 200 acres larger and more challenging than Tamarack, the Idaho resort has the one thing destination resorts must have if they want to erect mini-cities at the base of their lifts: Tamarack’s 800-acre base area is on private land. All of Washington’s six major ski areas are on U.S. Forest Service land, meaning that if they want to expand they face reams of paperwork, detailed environmental impact studies and building limitations. Crystal waited seven years and spent $5 million on consultants to get Forest Service approval for its current master plan to expand its terrain and hotel service. White Pass in Lewis County is four years into an effort to get the OK to double its terrain to about 1,200 acres. “If we were on private land, this would have been done decades ago,” McCarthy said. “The Forest Service will never let Washington resorts expand so that we look like Tahoe, and that’s not a bad thing. In some ways the Northwest is the last bastion of wild lands, and we need to protect that. Just give us a couple acres.” Should Washington determine it needs a destination resort to be competitive, the logical location would be Mount Adams in Yakima County. The Yakama Indian Nation owns the undeveloped east side of the 12,281-foot volcano and wouldn’t have to meet Forest Service standards. “But let’s hope we don’t have to tape wings to that elephant,” said Chris Rudolph, marketing director for Stevens Pass. “I don’t think anybody really expects that to happen.” In 2004, Mount Hood Meadows Development Corp. approached the tribe to build an 11,000-acre resort with 10 lifts, a casino, three golf courses and 2,500 housing units. The tribe declined because “it infringed on the environmental and spiritual integrity of the area,” said Ronnie L. Washines, editor of the Yakama Nation Review. “This won’t likely happen in our lifetimes,” Washines said. ‘THE W FACTOR’ An even bigger challenge than public land limitations might be the Northwest’s weather. As editor of California-based OnTheSnow.com, J.D. O’Connor gets daily inquiries from readers planning ski and snowboard vacations. Few ask about Washington. “The perception is that the Pacific Northwest has wet, heavy snow,” O’Connor said. “Most people want to go some place known for light powder, like Colorado or Utah.” Washington’s major ski resorts typically get plenty of snow – an average of 395 inches a year – but the Northwest’s climate doesn’t produce the most skiable snow. Compared to Utah, for instance, Washington’s snow falls in a wetter and warmer climate, making it more dense and quicker to freeze. Heavy powder and firm snow make skiing and boarding more challenging. “If you can ski in Washington, you can rip any place in the world,” said Rudolph. “But ‘Come ski our hard snow’ doesn’t exactly make a great marketing slogan.” Utah’s top resorts average 430 inches of snow, higher elevation and a colder, drier climate that assures fluffier snow. “At Brighton, we can pretty much count on having good snow every year,” said Kircher, who owns the Utah resort and lives in Seattle. “Here, entire months of our business can swing on one precipitation event. You have good years and bad years where you are just breaking even. “You have these plans, but the big ‘W factor’ impacts how much return you get from the capital you can put into a resort. So you work just to stay up to date and before you know it 10 years have gone by. That’s why in many ways Washington is behind a little bit.” BACK TO THE FUTURE Mount Baker Ski Area at the eastern terminus of Highway 542 in Whatcom County might best embody what some believe is the future image of the Washington ski industry. Not only does the resort not have a hotel, but it also has no TVs in the bar or advertising on the walls. It even removed the Pepsi logos from the vending machines. “We’re not a destination resort and we are making a strong effort to go in the opposite direction,” said Gwyn Howat, Mount Baker’s marketing director. “When people finally arrive here we want them to feel like they’ve arrived at a ski resort, not another corner of corporate America. … It’s the way nature intended it.” Howat says Baker sacrifices about $50,000 in corporate sponsorships to maintain its image. However, the ski area has become a cult destination, especially for snowboarders. As the local industry determines how to market itself to the world, many believe Washington should follow Mount Baker’s lead and promote itself as a counterculture destination. “Not everybody wants to spend their vacation at a megaresort,” Rudolph said. “Some people just want good skiing – we’ve got plenty of that.” Crystal Mountain and Alpental, one of The Summit at Snoqualmie’s four ski areas, already have national reputations for their expert terrain. “Washington will never be a Colorado-style destination,” said Summit public relations manager Jon Pretty. “We need to promote ourselves for what we are – day-use ski and snowboard areas with great terrain.” While this likely won’t draw the coveted fat-wallet family vacationers, it might lure the hardcore ski bums. “People who come here are intending to experience their sport,” said Kaden of the Northwest ski association. “They’re not worried about spa treatments and five-star restaurants.” COURTING THE SKI BUM In the coming years, Crystal Mountain will open 600 more acres of skiing, add 250 hotel rooms to its base area, replace its summit lodge and build a base-to-summit tram. While this will make it the closest thing Washington will have to a destination resort, Kircher’s view of the future isn’t so different from the just-the-basics approach of Mount Baker. “I think we will always be almost 100 percent local,” Kircher said of his customers. “We talk about wanting to bring in people from out of state, but on weekends, we wonder if we can handle more people. The local day-use model is a good business.” Dave Riley, general manager of Mount Hood Meadows, has similar plans for his Oregon day resort. “With the exception of Mount Bachelor, Oregon is like Washington,” Riley said. “We have good skiing, but people don’t want to come here because, for the most part, your hotel is going to be 30 miles from the ski area. It’s a bit of a hassle when you can go stay at resort like Whistler or Sun Valley. “We need to be looking at building modest, tasteful lodging at base areas like Crystal and White Pass. And we need to make it easier to get to the mountain, whether that be public transportation, trams or highway improvements.” If for no other reason, he adds, such improvements are needed to keep up with local wants and population growth. “Even if that’s not enough to get the guy in Chicago to get on a plane and come to the Northwest,” Riley said, “it might be enough to keep people in the Northwest home instead of taking their money to Colorado and Utah.” 50 TRAILS FOR SKIS AND SNOWSHOES SNO-PARKS Nonmotorized Sno-Parks are some of the most popular cross-country skiing trail systems in the state. To use these trail systems, you must purchase a vehicle pass. Passes are $9 per day, $21 for a season pass and an additional $21 for a Special Groomed Trail pass. For more info, visit parks.wa.gov/winter. Sno-Park km groomed contact Salmon Ridge 30 Yes 360-856-5700 Shadow of the Sentinels 15 No 360-856-5700 Highlands 18 Yes 509-486-2186 South Summit 30 Yes 509-996-4003 Chiwawa* 15 Yes 509-763-3103 Lake Wenatchee* 28 Yes 509-763-3101 Pipe Creek Varies No 509-852-1100 Swauk Campground Varies No 509-852-1100 Salmon la Sac 6 Yes 509-852-1100 Blewett Pass Varies No 509-852-1100 Cabin Creek* 15 Yes 509-656-2230 Crystal Springs* 11 Yes 509-656-2230 Gold Creek Varies No 509-656-2230 Hyak* 11.2 Yes 509-656-2230 Kaches Varies No 509-656-2230 Lake Easton* 7 Yes 509-656-2230 Mount Tahoma Trails 80 Partial skimtta.com Crow Lake Way 9.7 Yes 509-653-1400 Hells Crossing 9.7 Yes 509-653-1400 Goose Egg 1.6 No 509-653-1400 Pleasant Valley 9.7 No 509-653-1400 North Fork Tieton 26 Yes 509-653-1400 Sun Top Varies No 360-825-6585 Cougar Varies No 360-449-7800 Marble Mountain Varies No 360-449-7800 Wakepish Varies No 360-497-1100 Pineside 27 Yes 509-395-3400 SnowKing 28 Yes 509-395-3400 Smith Butte Varies No 509-395-3400 Oldman Pass 64 Yes 509-395-3400 McClellan Meadows 64 Yes 509-395-3400 Koshko 64 Yes 509-395-3400 Curley Creek Varies No 509-395-3400 Rush Creek Varies No 509-395-3400 Lookout Varies No 509-395-3400 Mount Spokane* 25 Yes 509-238-4258 Deer Creek Nordic Varies Yes 509-775-3305 Frater Lake 16 Yes 509-684-7000 * denotes Special Groomed Trail pass required. OTHER WESTERN WASHINGTON TRAIL SYSTEMS Trail system km groomed contact Hurricane Ridge Varies No 360-565-3000 Paradise Varies No 360-569-2211 Salmon Ridge 30 Yes nooksacknordicskiclub.org Stevens Pass 28 Yes stevenspass.com Summit at Snoqualmie 50 Yes summitatsnoqualmie.com White Pass Nordic Center 18 Yes skiwhitepass.com OTHER METHOW VALLEY/LEAVENWORTH TRAIL SYSTEMS Trail system km groomed contact Echo Ridge 28 Yes 509-682-2576 Leavenworth 26 Yes skileavenworth.com Loup Loup Ski Bowl 21 Yes 509-826-2720 Mazama 32 Yes 800-682-5787 Rendezvous 44 Yes 800-682-5787 Sun Mountain 59 Yes 800-682-5787 Craig Hill: 253-597-8497