Local Conditions

Conditions for June = Hot and Melting Fast!

We have had an unusually warm and dry spring which is melting the snow quickly.  Some high country trails are ready for the adventurous but some need more time.  Here are the details:

• Harts Pass Rd is still closed at the trailer turn around about 9 miles past Mazama and 10 miles before the Pass.  We still have no scheduled date for the USFS to clear the rock debris from the road but stay tuned...
• Blue Lake, Rainy Lake, and the Maple Pass loop are still snow covered and are not "hikeable".  People have certainly hiked them on snow but the trails are hard to follow and the snow is still around 25" deep and soft.
• Cutthroat Lake Trail still has snow but is the most "hikeable" as the trail is relatively easy to follow.  Expect snow after the first .5 miles.  For those continuing on to Cutthroat Pass, expect some patchy snow above the lake but deep snow towards the top.
• Goat Peak Trail is dry for the first 3/4 mile with nice flowers.  Snow starts when the trail goes into the trees and is still around 2' deep which makes following the trail difficult.  There is a small cornice of snow at the false summit and snow along the ridge to the lookout.  We recommend bringing trekking poles and a sense of adventure.
• Cedar Creek is dry and the logs have been cleared for 5 miles with snow before Abernathy Pass.
• Robinson Creek is snow free for several miles towards Hart's Pass but there are many downed trees.
• West Fork of the Methow is dry but the avalanche debris at mile 1.7 has still not been cleared.  Hikers can possibly get past the stacked logs but stock and bikers will want to avoid this trail.
• Driveway Butte trail is mostly snow free with nice flowers towards the top but expect many downed trees.
• Climbers on WA Pass and the Wine Spires will experience snowy approaches but dry routes.  
• The sport climbs at WA Pass is Spire Gully and Ice Box Corridor are coming into condition - just in time for this heat!  Climbers left side of the gully is still seeping.  Stop by for the Mazama Granite Miniguide for info on these routes.
• Snakes have cleared out of the Matrix (and gone to adjacent neighborhoods :))  Some great routes there with information in the Matrix & Europa Miniguide.
• Bike trails at Rendezvous Basin, Buck Mountain, and Sun Mountain are in great shape.  Check out the Woodpecker Trail at Sun Mountain!

As always - stop by or give us a call with any questions or tales of your adventures in the North Cascades.  And please remember us when thinking of your next gear or clothing purchase!

Spring is Here and It's Time to Play!

This is always a special time of year when the North Cascades Highway opens.  Skiers will flock to Washington Pass for easy access to some spectacular terrain, bikers can ride along 5' tall snowbanks, alpine climbing can be combined with ski descents,  and the local hiking and climbing in Mazama is ready.  Here are the latest conditions:

• Highway 20 will open Friday April 22 at 11am to both east and west bound traffic.
• Skiers will find lots of snow above 4000'.  No parking lots will be plowed yet so be prepared to line up along the snowbanks for the Birthday Tour.  Access to Silverstar from Silverstar Creek may include a bit of dirt but mostly skinable to the summit.
• Alpine climbers can find great ski access to the Early Winter Spires.  There is nothing better than skiing back to your car after climbing the South Arete on South Early Winter Spire!
• Mazama crags like Fun Rock, The Matrix, Goat Wall are mostly dry and  ready for climbers.  Prospector crag has a few seeps and Restless Natives will stay wet for a while longer.
• Hikers will need to stay low but they will be rewarded with Spring Beauties and Balsam Root flowers.  Dry hikes include Cedar Creek to the falls, Monument Creek, West Fork of Methow (for first couple miles), Spokane Gulch, Community Trail, and, of course, trails down valley like Pipestone Canyon, Lewis Butte, Patterson Mountain, etc...  Hikes that are NOT accessible include Goat Peak, PCT, Maple Pass, Cutthroat, and other trails above 4000'.
• Mountain Bikers will find dry single track at Riser Lake, Sun Mountain, and most of Rendezvous Basin.  Buck Mountain is too wet to ride.
• Hart's Pass is has 87" of snow according to the Snotel Site.  The gate to Harts Pass is closed at the trailer turn-around 10 miles below the pass.  However campers will find dry spots at River Bend and Ballard campgrounds.

The Goat's Beard will be open daily from 9-5 and we have a great selection of new gear, footwear, and clothing for Spring.  Stop by for any questions or just to visit after the long winter away!

Spring Is Coming But It's Still Winter Up High

• Highway 20 is still closed at the Early Winters Gate.  A snowmobile is still required to get up the highway.  Snow on the highway is still deep from the bottom but is pretty bumpy.  Slide paths above Cutthroat are negotiable without too much difficulty including those below the Spires.
• Skiers will want to get above 5,500' to find quality snow conditions.  Below that point you will find a mix of sun and rain crusts or glonch.
• WSDOT has said they will begin snow removal from the highway on March 22.  If that comes to pass, skiers will no longer be able to sled up the highway although it will provide quick access to skiing from Silver Star gate and below.
• Goat Creek Road is melting fast but you can still sled up towards Goat Peak and points north.
• Harts Pass Road is still snow covered from the Lost River bridge and very "whooped"
• I think we can safely say that lowland/front country skiing is done for the year - too much rain and sun to find quality skiing down low.
• Methow Trails will continue to groom the Nordic trails through the end of March.  Coverage is good and conditions are fast for skating on mornings when it is below freezing and classic skiing is recommended after things warm up.
• Crags on the valley floor are melting quickly and I think climbers will find sunny and dry rock at the Matrix and other south facing aspects later this week with temps in the 40's-50's!  Might be time for that "winter" ascent of Prime Rib!

As always, give us a call or stop by the Goat's Beard and we can help you find your next adventure.  We will shorten hours to 9-5 Thursday-Monday and will be closed Tuesday-Wednesday starting March 22.  We will return to normal hours when Hwy 20 is opened for the season!

Winter is not over yet!

A new year but same great snow!

The holiday's have come and gone and a new year has started.  But some things haven't changed - the skiing has remained fantastic in the Methow Valley and the North Cascades!  Here are the details:

• Nordic conditions are exceptional on all trails.  We have had consistent snow to keep things white (as opposed to those pesky brown needles) and the platform is firm and fast.  Methow Trails has been doing an amazing job with grooming and it certainly looks to be a long ski season!
• Hwy 20 is still closed at the Early Winter's Gate 3 miles west of Mazama.  Road is in decent shape for snowmobiling but expect debris piles under the Early Winter Spires.
• Hart's Pass Rd. was supposed to be groomed for the first 3 miles on the 14th but I didn't get confirmation it was done.  Otherwise - expected a very bumpy ride!
• Front Country/Lowland skiing on Sandy Butte, Rendezvous, Couger Mtn, Aspen Lake, etc... has remained good.  We had almost a foot of snow on Wednesday the 11th all the way to Twisp.  We had a subsequent warming but all reports came in with glowing reviews.  Forecast is for more snow today, Jan. 16, but could get warm...
• WA Pass telemetry is out so don't know the current depth but expect it to be around 80" with great surface conditions.  We have had consistent snow with good cold temperatures.  A couple days last week had some sun on south slopes that warmed and caused some settling and some slides.  A snowmobile was caught in a slide under the Early Winter Spires and another couple groups backed off Delancy Ridge when they observed significant settling.  Stick to the trees and safe zones and you will find fantastic powder skiing.  As always, read the NWAC site for the latest Avi situation.
• At 6000' we have received approximately 300" of snow so far this season which has created a fantastic base and people have been skiing all over the valley in places we haven't seen for the last couple years!  Let's hope the promises of El Nino continue to be broken!

We are frequently asked about how to access the backcountry without a snowmobile.  The simplest answer is to contact North Cascades Mountain Guides.  They charge a reasonable fee to take you and your crew up on WA Pass with snowmobiles and have an awesome day of skiing tailored to your needs.  www.ncmountainguides.com  Another option for the dirt bags is to try to hitch a ride with other skiers.  I generally suggest bringing a 60' rope and at least a 6 pack of beer to the end of Hwy 20 at 8am and start begging.  Don't expect a guided tour or to get a ride back at the end of the day.

Have fun, be safe, and please remember the Goat's Beard when you need to buy some stuff!

As Good as it Gets? Conditions 12-18-15

Conditions for all winter activities around Mazama are fantastic and only seem to be improving!  We have received another foot of snow on the valley floor this week and more than that on WA Pass.  Here are the details:

Highway 20 closed at Early Winters Gate 1 mile west of Mazama

All Nordic trails are groomed and in great shape with level platforms and firm bases after some colder temps.

WA Pass settled snow depth 90" with over a foot of fresh snow in the past 4 days so surface conditions are deep powder.  Reports of some wind stiffening on north aspects but generally fantastic backcountry conditions.  As always, be cautious in avalanche terrain and check with NWAC for current avalanche forecasts.

Highway 20 is smooth to the Silverstar Gate but gets very bumpy above that point.

Last report is that there are still trees across the Hart's Pass road but snowmobiles seem to be getting past (anyone want to take a saw up there?).

Forecast is for another foot of snow coming in smaller increments this week but should keep things fresh.  Temperatures remain in the 20's all week - perfect!

Need backcountry equipment?  Save $50 on binding mounts when you purchase from us and we will match online prices for identical products.

Post Apocolypse Conditions

It has been a crazy week on the east side of the North Cascades!  We've had a ton of snow, rain, and snow!  All the moisture is great news on all fronts but no one likes the rain in winter!  Good news is that we are cooling off again and have more cold snow in the forecast!  Here are the details:

• Nordic conditions should improve dramatically by Thursday.  We have had almost 2 feet of snow fall on the valley floor before it turned to rain on Tuesday.  Cooling temperatures should reveal near perfect Nordic skiing before the weekend.
• Highway 20 is now closed at the Early Winters Gate just 1 mile west of Mazama.  The snow is wet and deep near the valley floor and I would anticipate large debris piles above Cutthroat.
• WA Pass and Harts Pass both received over 6" of water equivalency in the past week.  The base depth at Washington Pass (5,450 feet) went from 43" to 85".  It rained for several hours on Tuesday up to Pass levels but turned to snow again and at least 16" of snow fell after the rain.
• We have a forecast for an additional 1-2 feet of snow above 5,000' with colder temps over the next several days.  With some time to settle, the ski conditions should be fantastic for the weekend!
• This is a huge load on the early season base that was built of facets and crust layers.  Use caution in avalanche terrain.  The good news is that there is plenty of snow to ski in the trees now!

As always, give us a call with questions or observations.

And if you want the Goat's Beard to remain in business, shop local for things you need.  We will match prices for identical size/model to encourage you to NOT shop online!