Cascades Ski Areas Off To Better Start

Tue., Dec. 30, 1997

Associated Press

Washington state ski areas, hoping to avoid a repeat of last year’s holiday disaster, are more optimistic this year, and things already are looking up.

The ski areas count on the holiday week for up to 30 percent of their annual income. Last year, they got hammered during the holiday period by heavy snow, followed by heavy rains that led to avalanches and highway closures.

“Last year, we were shut down for three days,” said Kevin McCarthy, manager of the White Pass ski area.

Steady crowds of skiers and snow boarders have turned out since Dec. 25, building in size through Saturday, when ticket sales topped 5,700 at Snoqualmie.

“We had one of the most solid Christmas Day crowds we’ve seen in a long time,” said Lou Lenihan, marketing manager for the Snoqualmie Pass Ski areas.

Kelly Graham, marketing director at Crystal Mountain, southeast of Enumclaw, reported rain Sunday.

“Conditions are not optimal at the moment,” Graham said. “But there should be drier weather by Wednesday.”

A series of smaller storms this year has provided adequate snow cover for most slopes at Cascade ski areas.

McCarthy said the early Nov. 23 opening for White Pass will help the area absorb the losses due to rain.

At Stevens Pass, daily ticket sales had been running at 3,500 to 4,500 for the holiday period before dropping to about 1,200 Sunday, said area marketing chief Chet Marler.

xxxx FORECAST The National Weather Service forecast for the Cascades called for a chance of precipitation early in the week. The outlook for New Year’s Day in the mountains is mostly cloudy skies in the Cascades with snow likely and pass temperatures between 30 and 35 degrees.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.