Dude. We're totally stoked.
Thanks to a prewinter blast Monday that delivered nearly a foot and a half of snow, the Mount Baker Ski Area [1] will open Thursday. Chairs 3 through 8 in the White Salmon Base Area will run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
At Crystal Mountain [2], fingers are crossed for another storm Thursday and Friday. If enough snow falls, the ski area may open with limited operations this weekend. No opening date has been set at Snoqualmie, Stevens or White passes, but more snow is expected at all three ski areas in the next couple of days.
With luck, all of our local ski areas could be open for business by the time Hanukkah begins. (Dec. 4, in case you aren't keeping track.) If not by Hanukkah, then surely they'll be up and running by Festivus [3], and the parka-clad rest of us can perform our feats of strength on the slopes.
In light of the subpar ski seasons of recent years (2004-2005 was the worst year on record for local ski areas), that would be a Festivus miracle worth celebrating.
For more information about local ski areas and other winter pursuits, visit our snow sports page.
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