US 2 opened around 10am today, and Stevens opened as well. I got there around 11:15 and parked at lot 4. Maybe only a dozen vehicles at that lot.
First of all, WSDOT has done a great job clearing the highway. There were just a few patches of compact snow on the roadway, otherwise, bare and wet and easy driving. As noted the parking lots at Stevens were pretty empty and the slopes were pretty quiet the whole time I was there. They ran Brooks as there were apparently problems with Skyline, as well as Hogsback, Daisy and (surprise!) Tye Mill. It was pretty much ski right to the lift each run.
Groomers were actually good, off piste was horrible, could barely turn, and it was easy to get stuck. All that light snow absorbed all the rain for the last several days like a sponge and it’s like breakable cement. You start to ski and it’s hard to turn, and if you stop moving you sink about 6-8 inches. I was talking to a patroller and she said it was not a good day to click out of a ski. I witnessed a few boarders who of course have to try to ride off-piste, got stuck and were post-holing their way out of flats and hollows with some difficulty.
Hopefully they can get enough staff hired to open the backside some time this season.
I’m at Summit Central for clinics tomorrow, our group was supposed to meet at Alpental but it was moved to Central due to conditions on the snow. It’s going to be weird until off-piste gets groomed, or covered with sufficient new snow.