Blue skies and deep snow greeting Washington State Department of Transportation crews in their first week of clearing the North Cascades Scenic Highway.
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) crews made progress working from the east and west side in their first week of clearing the North Cascades Scenic Highway for vehicle traffic.
According to WSDOT, the east side (Methow Valley) crew made it past Varden Creek (milepost 173) their first week of work (March 27-30). “The snow on the roadway was 15 to 20 inches deep and compact, which, according to the crew, is tough for our blowers to process and makes the blower box ride up,” WSDOT said in a press release. “They are looking forward to softer, deeper snow that the blower can make good work of as they push west and gain altitude. The second blower and a grader are following, scraping ice off the road and opening up shoulders. Report from the west side was that this week was slow going and … ‘still messy ahead.’”
WSDOT is always conservative with its estimates of when the highway might be ready for vehicles, but it typically takes six to eight weeks to not only clear the road but also make necessary repairs and ensure that the avalanche chutes at Washington Pass are safe.
The highway was closed to traffic for the season on Nov. 8, 2022, between milepost 134 and 178 (Ross Dam Trailhead to Early Winters gate). In 2022, highway clearing began March 28 and the road opened on May 10.
The clearing crews will be working Monday through Thursday, and WSDOT asks that recreationists wait until the weekend to use the cleared portions of the highway. If you do plan to head into back country, check on avalanche conditions with the Northwest Avalanche Center, WSDOT advised.
WSDOT posts updates on Flickr, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
