PACIFIC NORTHWEST DIVISION, NATIONAL SKI PATROL VOLUME 46 ISSUE 3 MARCH 2008 Winter Wallop ‟08 Creates Too Much Snow & “Impassable” Cascade Mountain Crossings Patt Kelly-Pollet Division were effected by the closing of Nor’wester Editor mountain passes including I-90 Snoqualmie Pass, US 12 White Pass and US 2 Stevens Who would have ever thought there could Pass in early February. This is the first time be too much snow? And yet, courtesy of in a decade that all three Passes have been the weather system known as “La Nina” closed at the same time. we are closing on record snowfall and Aggressive work by the WSDOT allowed Pass closures. As forecaster‟s struggled to eastbound and westbound Interstate 90 put out the latest information for travelers across Snoqualmie Pass to open to traffic and snow enthusiasts, one of our division about 12:15 a.m. Sunday, February 10, patroller‟s email signature sums it up nicely : “I wonder if it will snow tonight” after being closed since Thursday due to Snoopy heavy wet snow on the roadway brought The Stevens Pass closure began with a down by avalanche control work. Crews Ski Areas all over the Pacific Northwest on Snoqualmie Pass cleared massive snow slide about ten miles east of the sum- amounts of snow during nearly 20 hours mit in an avalanche zone that hasn ’ t been of avalanche control work between Friday active since the 1970 ’ s. Pictured is one morning and Saturday morning. Work that hit near Tunnel Creek. continued throughout Saturday to remove snow from the roadway and uncover It isn‟t only skiers and riders that are hav- drains to allow standing water to drain. ing issues getting across the Passes. White Pass, closed to the public, saw this trucker The Summit opened for business Sunday experience a candidate for “Worst Work morning. Day Ever”. He got out of his truck to chain So far this winter, Snoqualmie Pass has up and had a snow-laden tree crush his rig. received 378 inches of snow – 72 inches just this month, and if it continues to snow, the number will exceed last year‟s total of 389 inches. Steven‟s Pass has faired similarly with 432” thus far and 140” base like Snoqual- mie‟s. The backside has been closed until further notice due to the high level of dangerous of avalanche conditions. Mount Baker Highway reopened around 6:30 a.m. Sunday. Avalanche danger had closed the road east of Glacier on Friday A worker at Snoqualmie Pass prepares demo- I do indeed “wonder if it will snow tonight.” night. lition for avalanche control. Page 1 Nor’wester Tidbits from the PNWD By Dolores LaLiberte, Division Director [email protected] (208) 687-1032 Winter may have had a late start in the Pacific working on communication and strategic There are two exciting events that I am Northwest Division, but Oh My! There were planning. The national office has a com- aware of happening in the PNWD this ski few areas open before Thanksgiving much to mittee looking into what is needed for new season. the chagrin of the area operators and anxious software to upgrade the computer system. February 25 - 28, 2008 Bogus Basin and ski patrollers. However, it is my opinion they The new Avalanche Supervisor Mike Tamarack are hosting the Special Olympics are all ecstatic now. Laney and Transportation Supervisor Rand Invitational Games. Bogus Basin is hosting As I am writing, the snow is falling. We have McNeil took a few minutes to talk to the the alpine event only. had about 9 inches so far today. It is abso- Board about their ideas and concerns lutely beautiful looking out over the lake and within their positions. Each is eager to the mountains. hear from the Division Advisors in their respective disciplines. All was fairly quiet until the first of the year. Brian Lowe, the Chairman of the The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Board for the Canadian Ski Patrol, Games will be in Boise, Idaho February 2 - “Through the hush’d air the whitening Shower was at the meeting. What a super 13, 2009. If you are interest in volunteering “ gentleman. He gave an informative at this event visit www. specialolym- descends, presentation about the Canadian Ski pics.org. Patrol. Wish you all could have At first thin wavering; till at last the Flakes Additionally, McCall, Idaho, aka “Ski been there to hear him talk. He Fall broad, and wide, Town USA” is hosting the World Masters invited all patrollers to the national And fast, dimming the day with a continual annual conference at Sun Peaks, Cup 2008. flow.” Thomson BC. July 11-13, 2008. If anyone is interested in learning more about the CSPS or the conference visit Since then the emails are coming in with www.csps.ca events happening all around the Division. The The National Ski Patrol, in partnership advisors will be writing articles about their with Patagonia, has revived the historic respective events. NSP Safety Team. They are being touted I attended the NSP mid-winter Board meeting as “The Magnificent Seven: Official NSP The dates are February 28 - March 7. Feb- in Denver the second week of the month. Safety Team.” The team members are: ruary 28th is arrival and check in and March Most Division Directors attended and most Paul Baugher (Crystal Mountain, WA), 7th is the Awards Cere- had comments and mony, Banquet and concerns. Closing Ceremony. The newly elected Volunteers are needed Board members went to make this event a through an orientation success. Find out more session on Thursday. at www.mwc2008.com They are: Bill Kirksey, and download a volun- Larry Stone, Jim teer application. Decker and Lisa Ad- When I started this arti- ams. If you would like cle it was snowing. It is to contact any of the no longer snowing, but NSP Board members, looks threatening to the their names and email west. Another storm is addresses are on the on the way, promising website www.nsp.org. “See, Winter comes,--------Vapors, and Clouds, and Storms.” Thomson Twin lakes, Idaho 4 to 6 more inches of The Board meeting snow this evening. was long, but I felt it accomplished much. Dennis McMahan (Apple Mountain, ME), Remember how beautiful I said it was? Many topics were discussed and decisions Jim Phillipe (Aspin, CO), Craig Simson Well after several hours of shoveling and made. The Governance Committee is working (Keystone, CO), Ed Strapp (Sugarloaf, running a snow blower it is not so great. on updating the national bylaws and policies MA), Jean Webb,(Sugar Mountain, NC) If anyone has questions or concerns, please and procedures. The Finance Committee, of and Lonny Whitcomb (Liberty Mountain, feel free to contact me or the appropriate which I am now a member, is looking into PA). For more information on these indi- different fundraising ideas and creating an viduals see their biographies at PNWD Advisor. Happy Patrolling! Audit Committee. The Planning Committee is www.nsp.org. Volume 46 Issue 2 Page 2 Updated Budget By Rick DeBenedetto, Comptroller [email protected] (509) 328-7751 Page 3 Nor’wester Never to Early to Plan By Jack Melill, Ski Flight [email protected] Ski Flight 2009 Set for Courmayer, Italy 43rd ANNUAL PNWD SKI TOUR TO EUROPE This will be the forty-third continuous ski symposium that has been conducted by the Pacific Northwest Davison. Over 1,600 patrollers, family and friends have attended these symposiums gaining in- valuable technical information and a fun ski vacation. Although final details are still being worked out, we will fly either Northwest or Lufthansa Airlines, stay in a superior tourist class hotel with private bath, breakfast and dinners included. For budget minded , pensions with breakfast will also be offered. Negotiations are still being done regarding meetings and ski passes. The all-inclusive trip will be priced under $2,000 and the pension for even less. SKI CHAMONIX, MT. BLANC AND THE MATTER- Courmayer, Italy a picturesque village at the base of Mont Blanc with ability to ski HORN Chamonix, Aosta and Zermatt is Ski Flights Ski Symposium to Europe’s choice for 2009. Photo courtesy Jack Melill. From our base in Courmayer we can access Chamonix or on the all area Val di Aosta ski pass ski: Mount Blanc ITALIAN OR FRENCH PA- TROLS CONFAB This world famous region has skiing to from Aosta and The Matterhorn and 12,000 feet and 140 miles of ski routes. Zermatt from Cervina. A charming medieval ski village, still Our meeting with the Euro patrols will intact, will be combined with an invalu- cover common problems, new medical Plans are to fly over the North Polar able meeting with Italian and or the techniques and rescue equipment and meth- Route from Seattle or other gateway French Ski Patrol, this will provide a ods. cities landing in Geneva, Switzerland fabulous destination for 2009. and then by private motor coach to Cour- mayer via the Mont Blanc Tunnel. Ski Flight 2009 Courmayer, Italy Information Request Yes! Send me information for Ski Flight Courmayer 2009. Mail coupon to: Ski Flight at 25406 SE 138th Issaquah, WA 98027 or Email: [email protected] Name (as it appears on passport)________________________________________________________________________________ Address:___________________________________________________________________________________________________ Email:___________________________________________________Patrol:____________________________________________ Signed:_______________________________________________________________Date:_________________________________ Ski Flight is the official fundraiser for the Pacific Northwest Division Volume 46 Issue 2 Page 4 Registration 2007-08 Update By Lynn Coffey, Registrar, [email protected] (425) 483-4091 The Division sincerely thanks all patrols for Returning Transfers Candidates Totals their 2007-08 Registration.