[jd_hiker]

Latest update: The west side crew got into the Whistler Mtn. avalanche zone (MP 161) yesterday. The east side crew got to do some work after all - but it was mostly clean up due to avalanches in places they'd already cleared. The warm temperatures brought down a slide back at Cutthroat Ridge #8 ( 6-feet deep/30-feet wide) and a big slide at Liberty Bell #1 that filled up the slot they'd created, just above the roadway, for exactly this purpose - so the D-8 Caterpillar is busy today... They got one of the Kodiak snow blowers through LB 1 and LB 2 and LB 3 and 4 were shallow enough that the blower was able to get all the way up to the Washington Pass summit and back, so there's still a lot clearing and widening to do - but the crew was greatly encouraged that despite the hold ups over the last few days - they're still optimistic for a May 1st opening - and maybe sooner if everything goes perfectly from here on in. (NO PROMISES-But...!) Another note - Several bicyclists have asked about riding up there before it's open. WSDOT can only close the road to licensed motor vehicles - bikes, just like snowmobiles, skis or snowshoes are legal all the time. The question remains, as always: is is wise? You wouldn't have wanted to be below CR 8 when it came in about ten o'clock yesterday morning, and riding up there Monday-Thursday while crews are working is probably not real appealing either - so, check the avalanche forecasts and plan your ride on Friday, Saturday or Sunday when you won't encounter a hungry Kodiak (snow blower!)

[dwgdriver]

Opening on Friday, April 24th at 8:00 pm. 1 week early, in time for fishing season! (via WSDOT twitter).

[Tom_Sjolseth]

Yeah buddy!

[Randy]

Wow. Time to start planning ski tours and climbs.

[DIYSteve]

Yeee hawwww!

[GeoTom]

Best news I've heard in the last hour.

[Layback]

[dicey]

[BeyondLost]

[aywolfpac]

Nice. I was trying to figure out what to do on Sunday. Now I know.

[jd_hiker]

Here is the message: You're not going to believe this! The North Cascades Highway is reopening tomorrow at 8 p.m. (depending on how the final clean and sweeping goes, it could even happen a couple hours earlier than that - so watch the pass report page and 5-1-1.) This is great news for all the fisher-folks who are heading one way or the other for the opening weekend. Two days ago, no one was predicting this could happen, but a combination of fortunate events are producing this faster-than-expected opening. First, the warm temperatures that held up work and caused more snowslides on Monday and Tuesday also melted so much snow that the snow blowers could handle the work without the assistance of the caterpillars and excavators. On top of that, the two snow blowers that the west side crew have been using were available all week. )They were expected to be reassigned since the work to reopen Chinook, Cayuse, Mt. Baker and Mt. St. Helens are all starting.) Getting to keep them meant 4 blowers were working yesterday (and today) and the amount of snow that got moved in a single day on Wednesday, far exceeded what anyone imagined. Oh, there's another neat thing happening tomorrow. Early tomorrow morning, while the final sweeping and clearing is going on, a Discovery Channel crew will be filming a re-creation of a truck accident that originally happened on the ALCAN Highway. It's for an upcoming episode of "Ice Road Truckers" - so when we get the air-date, I'll send an e mail so you don't miss seeing it. I'll likely send out at least one more of these e mails to let you know when there are new pictures of the opening available on flickr and a movie of the clearing of Liberty Bell #1 on Youtube that Mike Stanford from the avalanche crew is putting together.

[Toni]

Out of the loop here, what's this about the 'Cinnamon Roll ' lady?

[BeyondLost]

That would be Tootsie.

[Toni]

Thanks! BeyondLost for that neat little story, I'm going to make sure I get up there now real soon! I have eaten there in years past but did not know of 'Tootsie.' Will make a point to say, "HI." Wonder if she is in line already??? to go across, it's a beautiful day here so far.....guess I better watch the news later......

[Layback]

Tootsie is the bomb. You need to ask her about her one-day traverse from Cascade Pass to Stehekin when she was much younger. That lady rocks.