Ben Beckerich Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 Howdy Looking for some road beta for ye ol' North Cascades Highway during the closed months. What's the highway like around Jan/Feb skiing in from Diablo? Where exactly does it close on the west end, and what's parking like there? Skinning in 20 miles or so, what's the road going to look like? Does it stay pretty flat and road-like, or does it just pile up with snow and avy debris and blend into the slope (is it 20 miles of uncomfortable side-hilling)? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonG Posted September 25, 2013 Share Posted September 25, 2013 The sleds keep it pretty well worked in for some ways (Rainy Pass?) on the west side. You park at the Ross lake TH gate, most years, though I have had to park down at Colonial Creek CG. Plenty of parking off the road at either spot usually. It is much, much better to skin in from the east side if you are heading to WA pass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Beckerich Posted September 25, 2013 Author Share Posted September 25, 2013 Only going about 20 miles in from Ross Lake, so an east side approach is out. Sleds, eh? So it's probably a pretty hopping route, even in the winter, then? Lots of BCers, climbers, tourists... for some reason, I pictured it bleak and lonesome. Guess I didn't give it much thought. Well that's cool... should be skin tracks and breadcrumbs and snow bunnies to enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 It is the most avvy prone hiway in America. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted September 26, 2013 Share Posted September 26, 2013 Coming from Diablo it's only going to be lonesome during the week, maybe. It's very well frequented by snowmobiles et al during the winter. Washington Pass tends to be buzzing with them all winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Beckerich Posted September 27, 2013 Author Share Posted September 27, 2013 Well crap... maybe I can coax one to give me a tow in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chef_raekwon Posted September 27, 2013 Share Posted September 27, 2013 If you come in from the East I would bet you could get a tow pretty easily. Almost all of the skiers around here use sleds for access. This is the hairpin on a weekday late last season: http://d.pr/i/6SjH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Beckerich Posted September 30, 2013 Author Share Posted September 30, 2013 What's the overall grade like in either direction, from rainy or wa passes? How rideable is it overall? I'll be on a split, so it won't be quite as simple as just locking heels for the steeps... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete_H Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 I would suggest you consult a topo map or Google Earth to get an idea of the terrain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex Posted September 30, 2013 Share Posted September 30, 2013 The approach from the west is very long, undulating except for the last climb from Rainy Pass to Wa Pass. The approach from the east is pretty much uphill from town (Mazama) but over a fair number of avalanche debris fields that usually cover the road in a number of places all the way to Wa Pass, so YMMV with regards to how many time you have to hike But, bottom line: these are roads. Their grades are not very steep compared to real ski terrain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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