Posted on November 16th, 2011 by Lisa for Enumclaw Ski & Mountain Sports
Chinook Pass/Crystal Mountain: The closest hill to our store! Rent skis and snowboards for the whole family via our online form.
Paul’s Peak: A great snowshoe trail just on the Carbonado side of Mowich Lake. Or ski un-tracked snow on our new rental cross country skis and enjoy the road into the lake.You can also use this info. to get an idea of how far up you might drive your rig.
Sun Top: Continue past Greenwater to USFS Road 73 and head south for 1.4 miles. Sno-Park Permit required during the season.
Remember to practice back-country safety, including notifying a third party about your location and expected return time. The Snoqualmie Ranger District station in Enumclaw can be reached at (360) 825-6585 for further information. Check back to our site often for trail reviews as the winter progresses. Stay safe and have fun!
Posted on November 15th, 2011 by Lisa for Enumclaw Ski & Mountain Sports
Down in Enumclaw we are whipped by wind and precipitation that feels as cold as snow but usually just falls as plain old rain this time of the year. But just 40 miles up the highway, Crystal Mountain Resort has been taking advantage of these cold conditions to create the white stuff which is a new capability just this year. Focusing on the Green Valley bowl, snow making system is in full force now, creating a base to enhance early season skiing. Kim Kircher, Crystal Mountain ski patroller and local author, writes in her blog from November 7, “the snow-making system has already started pasting glorious base-building snow across the top of Green Valley. In the evenings… my husband and I rode the gondola to check out the progress. After only ten hours of “blowing snow” the top of Greenback is already pasted with two feet of bullet proof base.” Visit with Kim for her book signing of “The Next 15 Minutes” to be held Saturday, December 17 in the Day Lodge at Crystal Mountain. Not only does the extra cushion help out in high traffic areas but it can also keep us all skiing longer at the end of the season. So go Crystal!
Posted on November 20th, 2011 by Lisa for Enumclaw Ski & Mountain Sports
Just providing a short synopsis of our recent attempt to get to Mowich Lake by snowshoe. Read on for info. about traveling conditions and enjoy the snapshots! Jaunt south off of Hwy 410 right onto SR 165 at Buckley and break for a pre-hike coffee at Buono in Wilkeson. Once you leave this “last-gas” town the road climbs to Carbonado which is at about 1,000 feet. Thanks to “Ms. Nina”, this year that means you may already hit snow, at least the weekend we went up. Veer right after the Fairfax bridge (you can’t miss it’s terrifying heights… oh and if it doesn’t freak you out, get out and stand on it while cars go by). The pavement quickly ends but if there’s snow it usually packs down and easily drivable. View Full Article…
Posted on November 15th, 2011 by Lisa for Enumclaw Ski & Mountain Sports
Waking up on a crisp cool morning in late October, my husband I were lazing around the house with nothing but a second cup of coffee on our minds. Luckily for us, some more enterprising friends rousted us out of the house to enjoy what was likely one of the last really beautiful days of fall. We traded in our slippers for lightweight gear and drove out 410 hoping to sneak into “the Park” (Mt. Rainier National Park) through Lake Elinor.
We’re now carrying OR at ESMS so I stuffed my new Gore-Tex shell in my bag along with my well traveled OR gaiters, which I didn’t use, and a wool hat, which I definitely did. Unfortunately it turns out there’s a gate not too far past Ranger Creek which is apparently closed for the winter. Now what? The couch was calling so we needed an accessible Plan B. The other couple made it simple for us and we busted up the hill to Crystal and braved a slick incline in four-wheel drive up Gold Hills Road, a small unpaved section that provides access to the cabins in the summer. Just so you know, this road is now inaccessible to trucks now also. So why blog? View Full Article…
