Editorial meeting

Happening now:

"We should tell all our readers about it, so they’re not as clueless as we are."

(–Overheard at today's editorial meeting)

Posted by Sue 

<sent remotely from my sock drawer>

Opener

WSDOT east side crew member Tyler Miller, who was on the clearing effort from day one, swings open the Silver Star Creek gate closure at noon while a dozen or so cars waited to travel over the North Cascades Highway.

May 25: Second latest opening date in the North Cross State Highway's 38 years.

– Paul

Blackpine

Don't make any Blackpine Lake plans for a while:

Sue

<Sent from my sock drawer>

Mazama mural

Next time you're in the Mazama Store, you'll most likely see this colorful mural created by local artist Lindsey Ashford hanging front and center. It really adds to the place!

– Paul

Gotta have the goat!

Got 'em!

Having stalked, located, and captured the "wild" asparagus, I arrive home: victorious!

I know what you're thinking, but if I told you, I'd have to kill you . . . .

~Laurelle Walsh~

Past WA Pass

Under brilliant sunny skies this Tuesday (May 17), only a few days from being the second latest opening date of the North Cascades Highway, the east side crew "blew" by Washington Pass on their way to meet the west side crew (who are as far as Rainy Pass but were dealing with a muddy mess of a slide back near Panther Creek). Despite ample rain over the weekend, not many slides triggered naturally. The crew may be dropping charges by helicopter near the end of the week to loosen up what snow and cornices are hanging above the highway.

At Washington Pass.

Here's a long quote from WSDOT communications guy Jeff Adamson:
"You all can imagine the uproar we'd cause if we kept the gates closed while the pavement is clear, especially from those who don't appreciate the avalanche danger from Cutthroat Ridge to west of Rainy Pass - note Sunday's slide. It only takes a few degrees or a couple hours of direct sunlight (or more snow!) to trigger a slide. That's why we'll try to empty them by placing charges via helicopter directly into the starting zones, if we have to. 
NOTE: for those who have complained we're not working 7 days a week to reopen – take heart – the forecast I'm looking at right now suggests it's going to be warmest Saturday and Sunday, so avalanche and maintenance personnel could be working this weekend."

I bet those hard-working crews up on the highway would like to see some overtime. They deserve it.

– Paul

Big ole wall of snow on LB#1.

Lost River cleared

While the cleanup continues at "Goat Wall" Creek on Lost River, the road is clear for traffic.

– Paul

A lot of that rock was on the road earlier.