tips for lowquality pass

[minx]

taking a moment to reflect after opening day at snoqualmie pass. after a great day of skiing yesterday i was forced to stay local today. here's some observations some of you might find helpful if you come to the pass this year :

 

1. even though it's raining, snow still makes for hazardous driving conditions

2. the temperature on the sign at the best western is ALWAYS at least 2*C to warm. As far as i know it doesn't rain when it's -2*C

3. just b/c you have all wheel drive doesn't mean you can't get high centered (note to subie drivers)

4. corollary to #3: your little front wheel drive car will not make it up a steep hill w/5" of wet snow w/o snow tires and/or chains

5. the is cheaper at timewise than at chevron

6. just b/c there's snow on the road doesn't make it ok to walk in the middle of it so you can keep your feet dry

7. even if there aren't "no sledding signs" it's still stupid and unsafe to sled down a bank that lands you in the middle of a road.

8. it's really nice to offer to the chick who pulls your stuck front wheel drive car out of the snowbank

9. neon colored ski jackets from the 80s were ugly then, they're even uglier now.

10. riding the lifts to ski sorta sucks, it sucks even more when it's pouring rain, snoq. pass skiing sucks but damn is it conveniently located!

[Metalhead_Mojo]

[philfort]

minx said:

2. the temperature on the sign at the best western is ALWAYS at least 2*C to warm. As far as i know it doesn't rain when it's -2*C

 

It's called freezing rain.

I've seen it rain when it's -10*C.

[thelawgoddess]

minx said:

3. just b/c you have all wheel drive doesn't mean you can't get high centered (note to subie drivers)

 

also doesn't mean you won't slide off the road when you hit an ice patch!

 

i know snowcrummy pass isn't the best, but it's better than no skiing at all! (and alpental actually deserves some props. )

 

 

[JoshK]

11. 4WD does not mean you can get away without snow tires or chains.

12. No matter what the salesman told you, your SUV still sucks in the snow. Slow down and keep everybody safe.

13. Just because the subaru or Audi (or even little FWD car) took the corner at 35mph, doens't mean your SUV won't slide off into the snowbank trying it at the same speed (I've witnessed this TWICE now. )

 

Minx, reminds me of my new years eve skiing up at snocrummie a few years back. I got soaking wet but somehow it was fun anyway.

[EWolfe]

Go to Baker instead.

[Charlie]

JoshK said:

11. 4WD does not mean you can get away without snow tires or chains.

12. No matter what the salesman told you, your SUV still sucks in the snow. Slow down and keep everybody safe.

13. Just because the subaru or Audi (or even little FWD car) took the corner at 35mph, doens't mean your SUV won't slide off into the snowbank trying it at the same speed (I've witnessed this TWICE now. )

 

Minx, reminds me of my new years eve skiing up at snocrummie a few years back. I got soaking wet but somehow it was fun anyway.

 

Don't start........

[thelawgoddess]

MisterE said:

Go to Baker instead.

 

who wants to drive 3 hours from seattle to ski on that pile? you might as well go the extra 2 and cross the border for some REAL skiing.

[offwidthclimber]

philfort said:

minx said:

2. the temperature on the sign at the best western is ALWAYS at least 2*C to warm. As far as i know it doesn't rain when it's -2*C

 

It's called freezing rain.

I've seen it rain when it's -10*C.

 

no shit... rain at 28 degrees F and snow at 46 degrees F. it happens.

[minx]

i'd also like to add the following additions

 

a) no parking signs on the SIDE of the road don't mean that it's ok to park in the MIDDLE of alpental road.

b) if you leave your car parked on the side of the road the snowplow will cover it. stop bitchin and start diggin

d) know where you're going, following my tracks is only going to get you lost. and i don't care that you're lost.

 

[rr666]

minx said:

 

b) if you leave your car parked on the side of the road the snowplow will cover it. stop bitchin and start diggin

 

 

After a night of heavy snow in Montana, I got to see the remnants of a snow plow getting a bit too close to the cars parked on the side of the road... 3 cars right in a row were missing mirrors and were scraped all to shit... driveways are the best place to park when it snows. Snow plows are handy, but scary

[David_Parker]

Hey Minx, how much more snow do we need before Alpenthal opens? My kid wants to go skiing!!

[JoshK]

David_Parker said:

Hey Minx, how much more snow do we need before Alpenthal opens? My kid wants to go skiing!!

 

Yeah, I wonder what the deal is. I think they have enough snow??

[vegetablebelay]

 

 

http://www.cascadeclimbers.com/threadz/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=freshies&Number=280459&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

[minx]

additions to my original post:

 

a) digging your self out by throwing snow on my car is not cool

b) digging yourself out followed by stopping in the middle of the road to put your chains on is suck

c) the area that's been cleared so people can drive up to the chevron is not parking spaces

d) leaving the chevron w/ 6 pack in front of the sheriff will get you followed by said sheriff

e) if you're fucking around in the snow, you don't deserved to be helped when you get your lame orange truck stuck in a snow bank

f) there is STILL no parking on alpental road...read the damn signs!!

G) BE CAREFUL in the backcountry please

[cracked]

minx said:

additions to my original post:

 

a) digging your self out by throwing snow on my car is not cool

b) digging yourself out followed by stopping in the middle of the road to put your chains on is suck

c) the area that's been cleared so people can drive up to the chevron is not parking spaces

d) leaving the chevron w/ 6 pack in front of the sheriff will get you followed by said sheriff

e) if you're fucking around in the snow, you don't deserved to be helped when you get your lame orange truck stuck in a snow bank

f) there is STILL no parking on alpental road...read the damn signs!!

G) BE CAREFUL in the backcountry please

Sounds like someone has some pent-up angst!

[catbirdseat]

If you dig a parking space out of a snow bank and you find Beck sleeping it off, then what do you do?

[Dan_Harris]

Whose cars?

[chelle]

Dan, you know you want to leave that stinky state of CA and move up here with the rest of us.

[Dan_Harris]

Yeah Michelle, you're right. Guess that's why I head up that way every summer. I really should be up there. Best friend from college and two sisters in WA, wife's best childhood friend and daughter in school in OR.

[catbirdseat]

People who visit the PNW only in the summer don't get the complete experience. You must come visit us in November-December sometime.

[cj001f]

14) If someone volunteers to help push your car out of a drift - have your passengers get their fat asses out of the car!

15) 4WD helps you go in the snow. It does absolutely jack shit to help you stop.

16) It's called downshifting. Those things to the right of D.

[Dan_Harris]

catbirdseat said:

People who visit the PNW only in the summer don't get the complete experience. You must come visit us in November-December sometime.

Would love to, but have this damn thing called a job that doesn't let me get away during that time of the year. Family keeps us here during winter break. OK, I did make a round trip to McMinnville in 45 hours last January. Drive, eat, sleep, and drive some more! Some day I'll get up there during the winter.

[skykilo]

Don't go to Alpental to rip the fresh, it really sucks there! Especially when it snows heavily all weekend, better to check out real ski areas like Crystal and Stevens.