TRbetaFlash Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Literally, there is no way out of Western WA right now. Well, unless you want to go get rained on more in BC.. Today would be an ideal day for a few laps at vertical world. Excelsior mountain has snapped twice in the last 48 hours, blocking hwy-542 to Baker. There's another slide up by Galena creek. Anyone see how big that deposition was when it slid a couple years back? The scummit is closed. An avalanche at Hyak took out some lift towers and a structure here or there. 4ft deep, 200ft wide. PICS! http://www.nwac.us/photos/current/ hwy-20 is blocked in Concrete due to a mudslide. We're not able to go south through Lewis County on I-5 due to water on the roadway. When are they going to build a bridge over those hobbits down there? Stevens is closed simply due to the threat of avalanches. This is reason enough to add another step to my pre-alpine assault checklist. Go check twitter. =) Closures by county http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/News/Update/countynavigation.htm a WSDOT badass on twitter http://twitter.com/Terpening NWAC avy report http://www.nwac.us/products/SABSEA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bug Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 The end is near. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlpineK Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 If you believe ski area reports Baker, Crystal, and Stevens will be open tomorrow. White Pass isn't saying anything about opening. Right now your stuck with either work, home projects, or urban hiking. You might make the news if you went kayaking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dberdinka Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Can't wait to get up in the hills and see the chaos. Unfortunately SR 542 is now blocked by a mudslide 250' wide and 6' deep! No access to eastern Whatcom County now. Ouch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Literally, there is no way out of Western WA right now. Well, unless you want to go get rained on more in BC.. Hwy 3 and 5 are both closed past Hope due to slides and avalanches. Hwy 1 or 99 are only ways out of Lower Mainland to "rest of Canada" at the moment. Hwy 1 also closed Sicamous to Revelstoke, Revy to Golden and Golden to Yoho! Plus many small closures thru the Kootenays. If trying to escape WA at the moment best choice is Hwy 99 to Cache Cr via Whistler & Duffy Lake, then Hwy 5 to Valemount and on to Jasper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Right now your stuck with either work, home projects, or urban hiking. You might make the news if you went kayaking. if you live in pdx-area though you can avail yourself of the 3 short weeks left to climb at beacon rock before the birdies get it fir humping all winter/spring! sounds like it should be sunny this weekend too! look out though, i'm planning on kicking off a few giant boulders on saturday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-spotter Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 oh well, they opened the 3 again. as far as grand forks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1W Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Dru, Thanks for the updates - scheduled to make the drive to Golden tomorrow morning. What is the best source for BC highway updates? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snoboy Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 drivebc.ca Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dannible Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 If you really have nothing to do you can always find a place to fill sandbags! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bug Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 If you believe ski area reports Baker, Crystal, and Stevens will be open tomorrow. White Pass isn't saying anything about opening. Right now your stuck with either work, home projects, or urban hiking. You might make the news if you went kayaking. Went to the Powerhouse several years ago during a flood like this. The ride was quick and nerve wracking. BIG water. At the bottom where it curves left, I was trying to avoid being scraped over the rocks and stayed middle right. About 50 ft ahead of me a 5 ft diameter hole opened up into a whirlpool. I paddled frantically and managed to avoid it. As I passed by it, the thing slapped shut and dissappeared. From an eddy below, I waved to Jan to cut river left which he ignored. The hole opened up right in front of him and he dove straight down and dissappeared from view. I was quite worried knowing that the rock below is like a giant cheese grater. He popped up about 30 yards downstream and was totally unhurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRbetaFlash Posted January 8, 2009 Author Share Posted January 8, 2009 carnage on SR-542! and Baker thinks they're going to be open tomorrow? it looks like a port-a-potty factory on the hillside above just spontaneously blew up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
letsroll Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 I should be driving one of these this weekend to get around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Choada_Boy Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 I blasted through the SR542 mayhem on one of these: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
max Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Somebody posted a wsdot link above, but here's some more for the lazy surfers: wsdot's "Storm Jan 2009" flikr page HWY 530: Hwy 20 I like the guardrail... White Pass "Yeah, your gun'a need to turn all those semis around and..." Hwy 542 three words: carbide tip chain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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