Pacific NW/AK/BC 2020/2021 PNW news, weather, conditions, stoke.

[David Chaus]

Can Intermediate recreational skiers attend?

You mean, people from Colorado? I’ll have to think about that.

 

[slowrider]

The Cascade Concrete......

 

[RJS]

I don't know much about skiing in Alaska, but the owners of Revelstoke Mountain Resort (RMR) also own Selkirk-Tangiers Heliskiing and they offer full and part day skiing wherein the chopper picks you up right at RMR's base just a few hundred feet from the lower gondola. So traveling all the way to Alaska may not be needed.

Edit: @RJS, as good as the skiing may be in Alaska, there is no disputing (at least in my mind) that the unofficial capital of Heli and Cat skiing is B.C.

I am sure that you are correct as far as BC having better and more plentiful heliskiing options than Juneau. A couple of family members did some heliskiing a couple of years ago not far from Golden and they raved about it. More than anything else, I am just interested in visiting Juneau - if I drive to SeaTac there are round-trip flights for $199, Eaglecrest is on the Powder Alliance, plus I've never visited Alaska before. The heliskiing would be more of a bonus. I also have this weird life goal of visiting all 50 US state capitol buildings.

The problem with most of the Cascade ski areas is that there is little to no close-in lodging. These are not destination resorts (even though Vail seems to think they are) but ski areas catering to the hordes from the coastal lowlands (mostly).

Oh, and once more it's STEVENS Pass NOT Steven's. A guy with the last name Stevens discovered it (the local natives didn't even know it existed) and named it after himself, not some guy named Steve. (His name was John, he discovered it in 1890.)

I don't know who (if anyone) this was in response to, but seeing this I realize that I have definitely been spelling it incorrectly!

 

[Posaune]

I don't know who (if anyone) this was in response to, but seeing this I realize that I have definitely been spelling it incorrectly!

I wasn't responding to anyone in particular. It is a widespread misspelling. I'd just read it in an earlier post and I guess I reached a critical mass. It's the former teacher in me.

 

[Tom Co.]

Can Intermediate recreational skiers attend?

Only if they can straight-line Marshmallow

 

[Tom Co.]

If one is staying in Coeur d'Alene it is 60 miles to Lookout Pass ski area, 37 miles to Silver mountain and 58 miles to Schweitzer. It might be easier to stay in Kellogg, ski Silver and Lookout and then move to either Sandpoint or on the mountain at Schweitzer.

 

[slowrider]

Only if they can straight-line Marshmallow

I've heard Home Run is the precursor.

 

[RJS]

Skibowl had mixed conditions today. There was really nice wind-buffed powder patches in between the huge sheets of ice. Having a good run was all about picking the right line down the mountain. I'm not complaining though, Meadows closed today due to wind, and fresh snow in April at Skibowl calls for celebration. This could be the last weekend of skiing for Skibowl, I don't think they have made a determination yet about next weekend, but next weekend's forecast is for rain and temps in the mid-50s.

 

[Delicious]

If one is staying in Coeur d'Alene it is 60 miles to Lookout Pass ski area, 37 miles to Silver mountain and 58 miles to Schweitzer. It might be easier to stay in Kellogg, ski Silver and Lookout and then move to either Sandpoint or on the mountain at Schweitzer.

I can't imagine skipping 49 degrees?

 

[Delicious]

We have been skiing Whitefish for the las

so to be clear I knew what we were signing up for as I have some great childhood memories of Spring skiing in Whitefish. Back in the 80’s there was a time when Whitefish took Canadian $$ at par, this made for an affordable ski vacation compared with going to Jasper or Banff and was a nice change of scenery.
View attachment 130844
In addition to the great weather, I also remember sneaking into a bar with some of the other kids and loosing some money at a casino.
View attachment 130845
found these pictures complete with annotations in one of my mom’s family albums. Damn I looked good back then

And for the record we are having a great time this trip so no complaints. My kids want to come back next year

You're lucky to have these pics! Bet you wish you still had those gloves!

 

[noncrazycanuck]

if anyone wants to know which flee bag hotel is better avoided at most of these destinations apply here.

 

[DanoT]

if anyone wants to know which flee bag hotel is better avoided at most of these destinations apply here

^^^This is why I travel in a winter capable truck camper. My current plan (subject to modification) is to get an Indy Pass for the 2022-23 season. The the following season I will be old enough to qualify for the Red Mtn $25 Master Pass, Whitewater Free Pass, RCR (Fernie, Kicking Horse, Kimberly) $99 Pass.

 

[CascadeConcrete]

Alpental was simply epic today. Late season pow, and somehow it wasn't concrete either. Days like these remind me why I ski in the first place.

 

[dovski]

Alpental was simply epic today. Late season pow, and somehow it wasn't concrete either. Days like these remind me why I ski in the first place.

You are making me jealous as we had an 8 hour drive home from Whitefish today and saw the remanence of all that POW as we drove over the pass. Alpental has had the most amazing snow this year and somehow has been able to maintain and grow its base into the spring, 11.5 feet lower mountain and 20.5 feet at the top - sorry folks we have had to stop counting snow in inches given the bumper crop we have this year

With this kind of base it looks like we will be skiing into May this season

Typically they try to keep Alpental open the May 5th for a big closing party, but I am cautiously optimistic that they may find a way to stay open even later this year. My understanding is that unlike the other hills at Snoqualmie, Alpental is on private land, in which case it is Boyne's call on extending the season. Anyone have any insight into this?

 

[RJS]

You are making me jealous as we had an 8 hour drive home from Whitefish today and saw the remanence of all that POW as we drove over the pass. Alpental has had the most amazing snow this year and somehow has been able to maintain and grow its base into the spring, 11.5 feet lower mountain and 20.5 feet at the top - sorry folks we have had to stop counting snow in inches given the bumper crop we have this year

With this kind of base it looks like we will be skiing into May this season

Typically they try to keep Alpental open the May 5th for a big closing party, but I am cautiously optimistic that they may find a way to stay open even later this year. My understanding is that unlike the other hills at Snoqualmie, Alpental is on private land, in which case it is Boyne's call on extending the season. Anyone have any insight into this?

With the base that Alpental has they could easily stretch things into May or later. Even though the economics of staying open don't always look great, staying open is a fantastic way to create goodwill between the ski area and their loyal customers.

 

[David Chaus]

That all may be true, but they still show April 25 as the last day on the calendar.

 

[slowrider]

This ski season is winding down too fast. With a generous snowpack at Tline this year Palmer will be in the future.

 

[RJS]

This ski season is winding down too fast. With a generous snowpack at Tline this year Palmer will be in the future.

Is Hoodoo getting close to calling it for the season?

Palmer is listed as "coming soon" on the Tline conditions page, so it won't be long. I am hoping to do another weekend trip to Bachelor sometime at the end of this month or the beginning of the next.

 

[slowrider]

4.18 is the last day for hoodoo. Bachelor still has a good snowpack.
I usually hit Palmer 1st week of June and hike above a short distance then traverse for a longer run. You can really open it up.

 

[tomahawkins]

No new, but nice snow from a couple days back. Felt like a typical mid winter day at Baker, except for the sun and no crowds. Base around 200+.

Timelapse of Shuksan rising on 3: