The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) said Monday (Nov. 24) that the North Cascades Highway is closed for the winter. WSDOT temporarily closed Highway 20 at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday (Nov. 23) due to heavy snowfall and a snow slide in the Liberty Bell zone east of Washington Pass. After Monday’s assessment by maintenance […]
North Cascades Highway
Highway 20 part of national bike route system
More than 400 miles of state Highway 20, including the North Cascades Scenic Highway portion, have been designated as Washington’s first interstate bike route that will be part of the U.S. Bicycle Route System. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials approved official recognition, which will be included in future updates of the […]
North Cascades snow conditions are hazardous
Officials at the North Cascades National Park Service Complex are recommending that, because of hazardous snow conditions in the North Cascades, potential backcountry visitors should approach spring climbing routes with heightened awareness and training during the next several weeks. In a press release, park managers suggested that the backcountry users contact the Wilderness Information Center […]
2014 North Cascades Pass opening
On schedule – actually, a few minutes ahead of schedule – the Silver Star gate on Highway 20 west of Mazama swung open just before noon Thursday (May 8) and westbound motorists began driving over Washington Pass. Meanwhile, valley-bound traffic headed over from the west side, led by a contingent of motorcyclists. A few hardy bicyclists also pedaled up to the pass to celebrate the seasonal opening of the North Cascades Highway.
North Cascades Highway set to open this week
By Don Nelson In time for the ’49er Days celebration in Winthrop this weekend, the North Cascades Highway was scheduled to be open for traffic starting at noon on Thursday (May 8), according to the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The Silver Star gate on Highway 20 (milepost 171) will swing open Thursday and, […]
News briefs: April 30, 2014
This week: Cove’s food drive coming soon to a post office or mailbox near you, you can Help out Room One by donating on GiveBIG day, Volunteer at Shafer Museum on May 6 or read about how Snow clearing makes progress
Bashing through the snow
By Ann McCreary
Down on the valley floor the hills are green, balsamroot sunflowers are blooming, birds are singing. It’s spring. But a few miles away in the North Cascades Mountains, it’s still a world of snow. Lots of snow.
For the past 18 years …
Prescribed burn planned west of Winthrop
The U.S. Forest Service plans to do a prescribed burn on 20 acres near Edelweiss on Thursday (April 17), conditions permitting. The burn will be on the Lucky 2 Timber Sale unit, about 10 miles west of Winthrop and about one-fourth of a mile from Edelweiss. The Forest Service said that other burn units in […]
WSDOT makes progress on clearing Highway 20
Avalanche supervisor Mike Stanford said the snow is soft and the clearing is going quickly, according to the press release. At the Washington Pass summit, the snowpack had melted from 10 feet down to a little over 7 feet, WSDOT said. Clearing on Monday progressed to milepost 168 near Lone Fir Campground, WSDOT said.
North Cascades Highway clearing has started west of Winthrop
As scheduled, crews from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) began clearing deep snow off of Highway 20 on Monday (March 31) in hopes of opening the North Cascades Highway in four to six weeks. Crews from the Methow Valley side began clearing work at the Early Winters Information Center (milepost 178), where the winter closure […]
