Dan_Miller

More Howitzer bombardment! Hi all, The avalanche assessment turned into a control effort that successfully brought unstable snow in Liberty Bell #2 and #3 down and confirmed the rest of the chutes they were assessing are clear or stable. Sixteen howitzer shells booming through the 60 degree sunshiny afternoon - during a few 20 minute highway closures - including a little clean up work, should provide the driving environment you expect (until the next round of snow storms!) Maybe this will get to be the last e-mail update I'll have to send this spring! Happy May, Jeff Adamson (509) 667-2815 adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov

Oh no, not more Howitzer action. Hi all, On Thursday between noon and 3 p.m. you can expect some 20 minute delays east of Washington Pass under Liberty Bell Mtn. where an avalanche assessment will be underway. Our avalanche chief Mike Stanford and Twisp maintenance supervisor Don Becker are going to be taking some "assessment shots" to determine if they need to do a full control effort with the 70+ degree temps that are forecast through the weekend. Jeff Adamson 509 - 667 - 2815 adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov

You folks made the Seattle Times. If I'n not way off base here I believe the Chutes they were attempting to stabilize are the notorius Cutthroat avalanche paths. These are well depicted on the WSDOT North Cascade Hwy. website. By Kristin Jackson Seattle Times Avalanche control on the North Cascades Highway has been canceled for this afternoon, and the highway has not shut between noon and 3 p.m. as was planned. A group of mountain climbers ignored the avalanche-control warning signs Friday and went into the area where controlled blasts were scheduled, said Jeff Adamson of the Washington State Department of Transportation. That meant crews could not fire howitzers to set off controlled avalanches in the Liberty Bell area. The avalanche control may be rescheduled for Monday or Tuesday, but the pass is open Friday afternoon. Get updates at www.wsdot.wa.gov

It seemed that it might have been John, but a scan of all the new additions to his website didn't reveal to me any photos that current. I'll have to check the CMCR a little more closely. I retract my earlier statement. I was wondering if we might hear from you Drew. Thanks for setting the record straight!

Did anyone else happen to see the following conditions report posted in today's Canadian Mountain Cnditions Report. I wonder who took the photo (not John Scurlock as best as I can ascertain)? We need to thank our kind neighbors to the North for letting us in on conditions south of the 49th parallel! There was a similar north Cascades condition report about a week earlier, kind of buried in the ASCI text. http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/mcr/attachments/20100507/41164b68/attachment-0001.html> Paul Berndsen, Mountain Guide authored the Report. ACMG Mountain Conditions Report Summary for the Coastal Mountains issued May 4th 2010 SOUTH COAST / NORTH CACADES; The weekend weather is looking promising. The cool and unsettled airmass has brought periodic snow flurries throughout the week, is stabilizing as a weak ridge of high pressure builds onto the coast. On Wed afternoon (May 5th), I drove by the Coquihalla summit there was 10cm of moist snow over a firm base that held my weight. The snowline has fluctuated, and has been down as low as 3000ft In the Eldorado Pk area in the North Cascades, there is a report of a recent large slab avalanche (sz. 3.5) on an alpine south aspect. An aerial photo of the slide shows a large propogation that is many hundreds of meters wide.

Ryan and Spore, I was hardly kidding when I posted the report from WSDOT's Jeff Adamson.

You'll love this... Come on folks, fess up! Fire a warning round or two, that'll make em scramble. We had to cancel the avalanche control in the Liberty Bell Mtn. zone because a group of climbers ignored all our signs and Becker and Stanford had to pack up the howitzer and drive back to Twisp. Don says they may reschedule on Monday or Tuesday. He suggests you keep your fingers crossed that nothing slides in the meantime. So - if you were waiting until 3 p.m. to head over the passes - you can leave now! (I wonder if this would qualify for a Darwin Award?) Jeff Adamson (509) 667-2815 adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov

Hi all, I know I told you we were probably done with these e mail updates for the season, but what do I know? This weekend is the Winthrop 49er Days and several thousand of you seem to show up for it every spring. In the continuing effort to not see anyone buried under an avalanche, Don Becker (Twisp Maintenance Super) and Mike Stanford (Avalanche Control) decided a little control work is in order. (Liberty Bell #2 and #3 both dumped some snow on the road this afternoon and there's about 6" of new snow in the chutes, right now). Anyway - They are going to shoot howitzer shells into Liberty Bell starting at noon tomorrow (Friday) and depending on how big a mess that makes, the road should be cleared between 2 and 3 p.m. The official Highway Alert we're sending out says for you to expect the highway to be "closed from noon to 3 for avalanche control blasting". If you are planning a trip over the passes tomorrow for 49er Days, Oroville's May Day bash, Coulee Dam's Colorama or Manson's Apple Blossom festival (or just a date with some fish in your favorite lake) - include this in your plans and leave earlier or later. I could have sworn I heard some expert on TV this morning say that "El Nino" had broken and our weather is returning to normal! (I guess he meant "pretty soon"?) Happy May! Jeff Adamson (509) 667-2815 adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov

It's Open Again! Good news! The North Cascades Highway reopens at 3 p.m. A combination of fortuitous circumstances made it possible. (I could just as easily be writing that it was going to stay closed for a couple more days.) The snow that came in over the past two nights (and days) was heavier on the west side than on the east, and heavier above 6,000 feet. That meant that the Cutthroat Ridge avalanche zone (that can't be controlled with the howitzer from the highway) only got a couple inches of snow and the chutes remained stable. Liberty Bell got snow at the tops of the chutes. That's what caused the slides Monday morning. Since then, Washington Pass only got about a couple inches, further west, Swamp Creek got 6 inches, further west=more snow. However, the avalanche zones that dump on the highway are the ones to the east (that fortuitous combination...) The net-net was the crews were able to plow everything off between the two gates by about noon and the avalanche crew started shooting, bringing down snow across both lanes from LB#3, one lane from LB#2 and some slough and broken trees from LB#1. They expect to have that cleared by 3 p.m. so the gates can open. If you've got to go - expect yucky - uh, less than optimimum- driving conditions. It's been snowing off and on all day. It's overcast and there are big ugly black clouds moving in, which fits with the forecast for some more snow until this evening when it's going to freeze. You might want to reschedule your hike until the weekend... By the way, the west side crew that was scaling loose rock from the slope between Marblemount and Newhalem was successful in bringing it down - actually more successful than they expected so instead of unrestricted traffic - they got one lane open and are continuing to load and truck away what's still on the other lane and the shoulder - but you can get through with the assistance of the flaggers until they're done. One of our NCH e-mail recipients, Andy King, was up on SR 20 about an hour before Monday morning's Liberty Bell #3 slide closed the highway, so when he got back to his computer, he sent me some pictures that are now posted on our flickr site: www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/4575567519/in/set-72157623371473447/ NEW GATES! - I'll have more details for you, but to put everyone on the same page (We recently talked at a Winthrop Town Council Meeting about it) - WSDOT is going to install a couple more closure gates further up the passes on either side of the area where we've had summer/fall rock/mudslides. That way, when that happens and the road is closed, most of the recreation accesses (trailheads, etc.) will still be open to you. Since there's really no budget for this, (It all came about because Winthrop's Mayor Acheson suggested it to our traffic engineer) our region bridge crew will fabricate the gates as times allows, and it looks like they'll be able to install them around the first of September. Happy May! Jeff Adamson (509) 667-2815 adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov PS: For those of you who asked - NO Tootsie is not going to be at the gate with more free cinnamon rolls - you'll have to stop at her restaurant and BUY one!

From today's: NPS Morning Ranger Report. A bit more on the rescue last week of the couple from Quebec. Whatever cell phone provider they have, is the one You want to have. Again alls well that ends well! Mount Rainier National Park (WA) Climbers Rescued From Crevasse On Mount Rainier On Tuesday, April 27th, park climbing rangers, assisted by guides from International Mountain Guides and Alpine Ascents International, successfully rescued two climbers who had fallen into a crevasse during whiteout conditions on Mount Rainier. The two fell a distance of approximately 75 feet just below Camp Muir (elevation 9,700 feet). The initial report of the accident was received by a 911 operator when one of the climbers called out by cell phone from the bottom of the crevasse on Monday afternoon. They were unable to provide a location and early indications were that one of the two climbers was badly injured. Rangers began making their way to Camp Muir to stage for early morning search operations. Weather conditions on the mountain were adverse, with sustained 70 mph winds gusting up to 90 mph and temperatures down to 23 degrees (the wind chill was a degree below zero). A helicopter was placed on standby for morning operations. Early on Tuesday morning, one of the climbers made contact with the park on her cell phone. Questioning by park officials provided critical information that lead to identifying their location in the area just below Camp Muir. The rangers were directed to this area, where they were able to locate and extract the two climbers using high angle rescue gear. Both climbers, who were from the province of Quebec, Canada, suffered from relatively minor injuries and hypothermia. As they had fallen into the crevasse with their packs on, the two were able to set their tent up, get into their sleeping bags, and even heat up soup. However, the intensity of the storm required them to continually shovel snow off their tent throughout the night to prevent the tent from collapsing. An MD 530 helicopter was used to fly the climbers down from the mountain, where they were transported to the local hospital and subsequently released. Ranger Glenn Kessler was IC on this operation. [submitted by Chuck Young, Chief Ranger]

What's this, no reports from this Weekend's fun and frivolity in Mazama?

For once I beat Jeff to the punch (see above and below): Hi all, You probably know the North Cascades is closed. It snowed all night and when Liberty Bell #3 filled and dumped across the road, the plow truck driver who had been working all night was told to get out of there, and close the gate on his way. The forecast says we've got another foot or more coming between now and tomorrow, so it's not safe for our crews to be working under unstable avalanche chutes anymore than it's safe for you to be driving under them. I'm rooting around through the record books and haven't yet found an avalanche closure this late - but I'll keep looking. I just got off the phone with Mike Stanford, our Avalanche Control Chief. He will be up there tomorrow doing the assessment of avalanche danger. He's taking the howitzer along so if some avalanche control blasting can get us open again quickly, he'll be able to do it. It really depends on what happens to the Cutthroat Ridge chutes - if they're full and unstable - we might just have to wait a day or two for the temperature increase that's coming later in the week to cause them to empty. (Due to the topography, you can't shoot Cutthroat starting zones from the highway with the 105mm.) By the way - depending on how much of the forecast' 6 to 10 inches of snow hits Stevens - he may have to deal with some avalanche issues before he leaves his office at Berne Camp (that's our maintenance facility 8 miles east of Stevens Summit.) Sorry, no pictures (no one better be up there to take any!) We're manning the gates just in case any back country recreationist we weren't able to contact show up wanting to go home. Here's what the Highway Alert that went out this morning: WSDOT Alert DATE/TIME: May 3, 2010, 9:30 a.m. DESCRIPTION: SR 20, the North Cascades Pass, is closed from milepost 134 to milepost 170. LOCATION: SR 20 at milepost 170 North Cascades Pass START: May 3, 2010, 9:30 a.m. Est. END: Unknown OTHER: Due to avalanche danger, high winds, and incoming snow, the North Cascades Pass is closed until further notice. CONTACT: NCTMC (509) 667-2802 Here's the forecast: Snow over Washington and Rainy passes will continue through the day today with heavy snow showers and squalls expected during the midday and afternoon hours. There is the potential for significant snow accumulations over both Washington and Rainy passes (upwards of 12"+), with slush potential as low down the hill as Diablo on Mon afternoon and evening. Most of the snow concerns remain over the passes, with little cold-moisture making it much further E than Early Winters. Snow levels may drop as low as 1,500 feet Monday night into Tuesday morning with more snow expected, mainly West of the passes. Happy May! Jeff Adamson (509) 667-2815 adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov

NORTH CASCADE HWY SR20 Elevation: 5477 ft / 1669 m Temperature: Not Available Conditions: Pass is closed due to a snow storm with blowing snow, compact snow and ice on the roadway.Weather: Not Available Restrictions EastBound: Refer to conditions and weather column for current restriction information Restrictions WestBound: Refer to conditions and weather column for current restriction information Updated: 9:16 AM, May 03, 2010 This is the most current info available and is promptly updated when conditions change.

No question here Neil Roberts, MD is fellowship trained and very skilled however he is a foot and ankle Orthopod; not an upper extremity practitioner, where your concern lies. I've seen him for a foot surgery 2nd opinion in the past and he was knowledgeable. Check out E. Edward Khalfayn, MD at OPA (Seattle Mariner Team Orthopedist and Medical Director). He knows shoulders!

HWT 20 will close for awhile on Tue., 5/4/10 There's been a surprising amount of winter up there since we opened on the 16th, but some anti icer and snow plow activity has kept mishaps to a minimum. Off road parking is still an issue this early (before NPS or USFS opens their facilities) but the cold and snow and back country avalanche danger has reduced the demand, so hopefully it will start becoming summer soon. (Melt the snow in your parking spots and give you some reachable destinations). The reason for this e mail, however is more along the line of a highway alert - Rocks fell down a slope and onto the pavement on Tuesday between Newhalem and Marblemount. Our westside crew went out and cleared the lanes, but our geo-techs determined there is a more unstable rock up there and this coming Tuesday morning (May 4), we're going to scale those rocks off the slope. We can't do that with traffic below, so we're telling you in advance that SR 20 at about MP 112 will be closed for about 2 hours from 9 to 11 a.m. Now, of course, comes the wiggle! If everything goes perfectly, we could be done in an hour. If the whole slope decides to come down, 2 hours could become 2 days. If you're planning on using that stretch of SR 20 Tuesday - either get through there before 9 or plan for a leisurely breakfast in Newhalem or Marblemount. Here's the official notice: North Cascades Highway temporary closure next Tuesday Crews will close both lanes of State Route 20 for two hours next week to remove some unstable rocks above the highway near Marblemount. Maintenance crews found and cleared up a small rockslide from the highway on Tuesday night, April 27. Upon further investigation, crews found more rock and debris on the hillside that could become a hazard to drivers in the near future. Crews will close the highway at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, May 4, six miles east of Marblemount to safely break the material loose from the hillside and then clear it from the roadway. Drivers should expect lengthy backups and delays. There are no detour routes. The closure and delays could be cut in half if crews can safely clean and open one lane and use flaggers to alternate traffic after bringing down the debris. Dave Chesson WSDOT Communications | 360-757-5970

Just got a call from Don Becker - If you are planning to drive over today - expect some delays below the Liberty Bell avalanche zone just east of Washington Pass. Slides came down on Friday and Saturday. (Only one really put snow on the pavement that we had to clean up - Friday), but enough snow came down to fill up the snow ditches we'd dug to catch any more sliding snow and keep it off the road. While that worked as it was it is supposed to - we've got to clean those ditches to catch any more that may slide, especially with today's warm forecast. They'll have a pilot car leading you around the clean up operation and the worst delays shouldn't last more than 20 minutes. On a more cheerful note - there are a last set of flickr pictures posted from Friday's opening - some early morning snowslide clean up below Cutthroat Ridge and some nice shots of Tootsie Clark who fed everyone in line then drove to Washington Pass when the gate opened, tracked down the crew and gave them a box of cinnamon rolls. Jeff Adamson (509) 667-2815 adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov

In terms of the least time spent trudging with 'skis on pack' you gotta go for Easy Pass and then down into the hole of Upper Fisher Creek. There's likly snow on the descent route for a little while yet I'd guess from my past experience.

It's gonna have to firm up a bit before the hoardes will be hitting Graybeard's North Face Route. People heading over to the sunney Methow this weekend will doubtless be slowing down to have a look at mighty Graybeard Peak. The gates are open. It's 46 degrees at Washington Pass and cloudy. The forecast says it's going to get up as high as 70 in the Methow Valley. There's also an increasing chance for rain (60% tonight/tomorrow), but the freezing level is supposed to stay way up (6,000 ft.) Bare and dry pavement (okay - there's some wet spots from melting snow), right now. Enjoy your trip! Jeff Adamson (509) 667-2815 adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov

Just got the official "word" - The North Cascades Highway will reopen at noon tomorrow, Friday, April 16, 2010! The clean up is going well. There are lots of new pictures and even a couple short "movies" from the helicopter that have been posted on the flickr site. www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157623371473447/ I notified Tootsie Clark so those of you waiting in line tomorrow at the westside gate will get your cinnamon roll and coffee. The reference I made to cinnamon rolls was not understood by some of those who get these e-mails, so here's the story: Tootsie Clark, the matriarch of Clark's Skagit River Resort http://northcascades.com/ (near Marblemount), drives her giant old Cadillac up to the west side closure gate near Diablo, opens the trunk and serves fresh-baked cinnamon rolls and coffee to everyone waiting in line for us to open the gate. It's a tradition she has been carrying on for at least the 11 years I've been associated with the North Cascades Spring Re-openings. I'll probably send out one more of these when the gates actually open tomorrow - hopefully I won't need to be sending one anytime soon telling you that it's closed again due to avalanches! Have a wonderful spring. Jeff Adamson (509) 667-2815 adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov

The North Cascades Highway will NOT open tomorrow. We were hoping that today's helicopter avalanche control effort would be successful so that we could open on Thursday. It's a lesson in being careful what you wish for. Apparently so much snow came down from the control blasting that there's no way it can be cleared off by 11 a.m. tomorrow (which was the target.) As it is, the avalanche crew is on the other side of some of the slides and I won't be able to get an assessment from them about the possibilities of a Friday opening until tonight or early tomorrow. Who knows - We might even get some new pictures to post on Flickr. I have contacted Tootsie and told her to turn off the cinnamon roll oven until she hears from me. Stay tuned. Jeff Adamson (509) 667-2815 adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov

Here's what I've been able to piece together about yesterday. It was about 30 degrees, almost no wind and very light snow when they got to work. There was a fair amount of clean up necessary - a little more new snow from Friday through Sunday (mostly Friday) and some new snowslides. (We cut "ditches" above the roadway, below the avalanche chutes so new slides fill those instead of hitting the "now cleared" roadway.) The weekend filled the snow-ditches and the avalanche crew spent the day with the snow cat, cleaning out the ditches. Avalanche Chief Mike Stanford got an adrenaline rush, however, when he finished clearing out the ditch below Liberty Bell #2 and moved on a few hundred feet to Liberty Bell #3 when an avalanche came blasting down LB 2. In his words "It would surprise you just how loud an avalanche is!" Besides filling up the ditch again, that slide dumped 3 to 4 feet of snow across the two lanes of the highway, too. That's when Mike decided he wasn't going to let the highway reopen until he had the opportunity to examine the starting zones directly and do any control needed. Tomorrow, he's renting a helicopter out of Darrington to inspect/control Whistler, Liberty Bell and especially the Cutthroat Ridge chutes that can't be "shot" from the highway. (Since they'll have the chopper, they're going to do some repairs at the Washington Overlook Weather Station and a microwave repeater site that they weren't expecting to be able to get to until July). So far as progress is concerned - the east and west side crews did meet west of Rainy Pass yesterday. Today, they're widening and using some eastside equipment (primarily the grader) to deal with some layers of ice on the pavement at various places between Diablo and Rainy. The blowers are also going to be busy cutting emergency cut outs. They've brought up the "broom" to sweep the cleared pavement. Depending on what tomorrow's avalanche assessment/control brings, the highway could open as early as Thursday - or not. The key will be the amount of snow in the chutes because of the warm temperatures that are coming. Mike pointed out that since the reopening effort began on March 22nd, almost 100 inches of new snow has fallen. "We haven't had "spring" up there yet, so trying explosives is the only option we have right now, to empty those chutes so we can safely open the highway. Stay tuned! (Sorry, no Monday pictures available yet.) Jeff Adamson (509) 667-2815 adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov.

In the words of Yogi Berra "It's Deja Vu all over again." When the crew got to work this morning, it was 22 degrees, there was a foot of new snow on the ground and it was still snowing. The 50 mph wind put visibility close to zero. The wind spent the day re-distributing the snow the crew spent the last couple of weeks moving "off" the road. Despite the new drifts, somehow the two Kodiaks managed to widen yesterday's single cut from Bridge Creek to the summit of Rainy Pass from guardrail to guardrail. The westside crew battled new snow and "testing" that smaller Loader-mounted snow blower, managed to widen another half mile toward Rainy, so the two crews were within a mile and a half of each other by the end of the day. The forecast between now and Monday includes more snow and depending on temperature, etc., avalanche danger could play a part in just how soon they might be able to open next week. Their optimism is tempered with the expectation that Monday will be entirely devoted to re-clearing from the gate all the way to Rainy (about 15 miles). Twisp Maintenance Supervisor Don Becker stopped by the Winthrop Chamber of Commerce meeting this morning and assured them the highway would not be open for this weekend. "With the snow falling outside, they took the news pretty well," said Becker. You might want to print a copy of this and tuck it into your snow shoe - It's highly unlikely 22 degrees and a foot of new snow will be what you see outside the window next April 8th! Jeff Adamson (509) 667-2815 adamsoj@wsdot,wa,gov OH, Don sent 10 new pictures - We could probably call them "Blowin in the Wind!" www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157623371473447/

Another day (#11) of clearing done while new snow continued falling off and on. As planned, most of the effort today was focused on cleaning up the snowslides below Liberty Bell Mtn. and then some more cleaning - guardrail to guardrail to Bridge Creek. The second Kodiak spent the day completing a single cut from there to Rainy Pass. The westside crew continued the uh, "testing" of their loader-mounted snow blower, clearing from guardrail to guardrail to MP 155, about 2 -1/2 miles from the summit of Rainy. (Today the two crews actually had vehicle to vehicle radio contact a couple of times!) The weather is the biggest unknown for the next day or two - we're expecting a bigger blast of snow tomorrow. That could ramp up the avalanche danger again. Other than that - the big Loader has been getting tired or bored and decided to lock up its power steering unit now and then...Hope it remains just annoying instead of serious. New pictures from today are posted on Flickr (page 2) www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157623371473447/ - check 'em out! (Katie Litzenberger from the region safety office was on site today - she's the one who doesn't look like a grizzled old guy...)! The crew is still optimistic for an opening sometime next week. Jeff Adamson (509) 667-2815 adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov

Four inches of new snow greeted the crew when they got to work this morning. It continued snowing all day which made for pretty crummy picture taking, so you'll have to look at yesterday's again! The crews on both sides continued to make pretty good progress, however. The roadway is cleared, guardrail to guardrail to Bridge Creek, which is about 2 miles from Rainy Pass. The westside crew finished a second day of testing on a repaired loader-mounted snow blower, clearing about 4 miles of highway to Swamp Creek, about 3 miles from Rainy Pass. The snow in between is 3-1/2 to 4' feet deep. The avalanche crew will be on duty tomorrow so the clearing will shift back to the slides that came in below Liberty Bell Mtn. They won't need both Kodiaks there, so one will continue the clearing from Bridge Creek toward Rainy. Hopefully the weather will stabilize the avalanche chutes - there were more slides back in the Cutthroat Ridge zone today, but nothing that hit the road. No equipment breakdowns or flat tires today! Jeff Adamson (509) 667-2815 adamsoj@wsdot.wa.gov

Monday was kind of a "lost day" - The crew spent most of it re-clearing the 1 to 1-1/2 feet of snow that fell since Friday (and continued until about 1:30 this afternoon.) Check out the pictures on flickr - there are shots from today of the repaired snow blower being tested on the west side of Rainy Pass and my favorite of the two eastside Kodiak's passing each other at Whistler, about a mile and a half west of Washington Pass (widening the cut to Blue Lake they finished on Thursday). There are also some Wednesday-Thursday photos taken by the avalanche crew of the work below the Liberty Bell avalanche chutes, that you'll want to look at. Crews also found 10 to 12 feet deep snow slides across the road below Liberty Bell 1, 2 & 3. For now, the Kodiaks cut a single width swath on the outside shoulder so the plow, grader and loader could get through the zone and start the re-clearing and widening from Washington Pass to Blue Lake. (It was snowing too hard to see, much less safely monitor the avalanche chute starting zones which are 3,000 feet above the highway - so the plan for tomorrow is to continue working toward Rainy Pass and go back and clean up below Liberty Bell on Wednesday. Here's the link to the Flickr photos of the opening: www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/sets/72157623371473447/ (This is the link to the North Cascades Web page:) now available. Any of you who might have been harboring hopes that the highway could be open by this Friday saw those hopes dim today - our original "mid April" estimate is looking more likely. Jeff Adamson (509) 667-2815 adamsoj@wsdot,wa,gov