[Jeff]

[thunderhead]

Im pretty sure the winter/return trail to source lake is not included in the touring closure. Just dont skin up in the middle of the return trail. All the dogs wont like it

[Schroder]

I've always followed the Snow Lake trail and traversed low when it heads up the switchbacks. They used to enforce the ski boundary pretty rigidly in the past.

[gb]

Realize, I'm sure, that things will be deadly this week into Saturday. This should be the biggest avalanche cycle in 4-5 years or so. There will be mountains of debris.

[Randito]

If you start at the summer trailhead and stay on North side of the creek, you'll completely avoid the Special Use Permit boundary and more importantly will be outside of the blast zone for any snow control operations-- at least under conditions where it would not be insane to head up the Alpental valley. Under extreme conditions the Alpental ski patrol has bombarded the side of Snoqualmie Mtn with a howitzer. But this is very rare, e.g. 5 feet of snow in two days. FWIW: There was a report of breakable crust up and over Snow Lake divide from yesterday, so keep expectations in check. Also check what the NWAC has to say about the snow. https://www.nwac.us/avalanche-forecast/current/cascade-west-snoqualmie-pass/

[Randito]

Also Alpental's usual operation schedule is Tuesday through Saturday 8:30AM to 10:00PM Sunday 8:30AM to 5:00PM

[Bedivere]

Hmmm... I can't seem to find a good map that shows the Alpental permit boundary. Best I can find is this:

It shows the return trail, which is the winter trail to Source Lake, at the edge of the boundary. So is that trail technically inside the boundary and therefore subject to their uphill travel rules? It's been several years since I've done any touring up there but back when I was going up there regularly, all kinds of people used that trail all the time and I never saw anyone from the resort saying anything about it. We always parked in lot 4 and no one ever said anything about that, either. Have things changed that much in the last 4 years or so?

[Randito]

[cascadeclimber]

They have repeatedly increased their grabbiness of the SUP and surrounding areas over the years, until The Access Fund or other entity with some clout stepped in. A few years ago they announced that only people with lift passes could park in any of the lots in winter. This, combined with the Sahale Ski Club's stepped up grabbiness of the roadside near their property meant that there was no public parking anywhere north of I-90 in the winter. That didn't last long. I also don't suspect that any attempt to be dickish about who can park where and what side of the creek they can be on would last long either if they delved into heavy-handed enforcement.

[NBSAR]

The uphill travel policy is there, in part, because Patrol may trigger an avalanche that crosses the trail to Source Lake. As others said, there isn't a safe way into Source lake this week. Twin Lakes from Hyak might be a good alternative, if you avoid the open slopes above the lakes.

[Bedivere]

[Randito]

The Alpental ski patrol folks have always be friendly and helpful to me -- I usually pop my head in to ski patrol office before heading up. They often provide more detailed snowpack information than what is available from NWAC. It's located in the basement of building on climbers right after you cross the footbridge. FWIW: On busy weekend days, They request that non-ticket buyers park in the lower lot. https://goo.gl/maps/e975MuYj6SoatdA97 I've never observed any sort of "enforcement" of this request, but if I'm going to check in with ski patrol anyway -- it's not really a big inconvenience to park there and walk up vs parking in Lot 4 and walking down. Plus there are restrooms for disposing of processed coffee.

[Gil]

Stay safe, everyone.

2009 avalanche below Snow Lake, Washington

[cascadeclimber]

[Malachai Constant]

Went up there in the spring late 70’s when the two girls and their father were buried under 30’ of snow ice and rocks at the lake on the way to The Tooth. Never went back when snowy. Just too sad and there are so many great places to go.