Conditions & Operations updates details in the Snow Report

Snow Report

March 30, 2023

Last Updated 3:21 PM

CURRENT TEMPS

35°F 2°C

HEATHER MEADOWS

31°F -1°C

PAN DOME

OBSERVED CONDITIONS

Winds

Light

WEATHER

Snowing lightly

SLOPE CONDITIONS

Hard packed / machine groomed

SNOWFALL

0 0cm

NEW SNOW

0 0cm

24 HR

0 0cm

48 HR

SNOWBASE

HEATHER
MEADOWS

147 373cm

157 398cm

PAN
DOME

ELEVATIONS:

  • PAN DOME: 5,020 FT
  • HEATHER MEADOWS: 4,210 FT
  • WHITE SALMON: 3,630 FT

Well folks, winter ain’t over until it’s over! After a beautiful and sunny week, we are forecasted to move into a good winter weather system which will start moving in this evening and is expected to ramp up tomorrow, potentially bringing 12”-24” of fresh snow through Sunday evening! It is probably time for you to get a fresh hot wax in the ski shop to go along with the fresh snow in sight. Get in there and ask your repair tech to get you dialed in for the current conditions. While you get your equipment waxed check out the retail shop or grab some fries for the quick wait.  The Sticks Feature Zone will be closed tomorrow to pull the features for a rebuild. Stay tuned for the reopen date and the additional new feature.

Have you ever wondered what the origins of the names of our ski runs are? Keep it tuned here on our new series as we continue to tell you the story behind the trail map.  We're still on the Pan side and the runs near Chair 1, whose original name was Panorama Chair.  In fact, all of the early chairlifts were named by their geographical features, before they were switched to numbers for simpler identification, especially as more lifts were added. More on that to come.

Today's installment includes 2 trails that run off the "backside" of Chair 1.  The Canyon is an obvious one; it's a Canyon, with near vertical walls of 400-500 feet in places.  Gunner's Ridge gets its name from several decades prior, when there was a permanent recoilless gun, as well as a forest service powder storage facility, located on the ridge for shooting explosives on to Hemispheres for avalanche mitigation.  Though both of those are now long gone, the name remains!

Anticipated operations for Friday March 31, 2023

Daily Operations

White Salmon Base Area only · 9:00am-3:45pm

Lift Status

No reservations needed

White Salmon/Shuksan Side Status
Chair 5 Open
Chair 7 Open
Chair 8 Open
White Salmon
Handle Tow (HT-2)
Open
Heather Meadows/Pan Dome Status
Chair 1 Closed
Chair 2 Closed
Chair 3/4 Open
Chair 6 Open
Heather Meadows
Handle Tow (HT-1)
Closed

Parking & Lodge Operations

Facility Heather MeadowsBase Area White SalmonBase Area Raven HutMid-Mountain Lodge
Lodges Closed Open Open
Parking Lot Open once snow removal & other operations prep completed, closes 11pm Open once snow removal & other operations prep completed, closes 10pm Not Applicable
HWY Parking 542 Open 7am - 7pm Not Applicable
Overnight Parking Limited availability, reservations required Limited availability, reservations required Not Applicable

Advisories

SKI AREA CLOSED until Helicopter Avalanche Mitigation operations are completed

HELICOPTER AVALANCHE MITIGATION OPERATIONS will be underway on Shuksan Arm or Hemispheres during early morning daylight hours.

  • SKI AREA CLOSED
  • Do Not Enter Ski Area Boundary
  • Avoid Avalanche Terrain and Run Out Zones
  • Stay Clear of Heli Operations

Unusually Cold Temperatures

To reduce risk of frostbite or hypothermia, cover exposed skin, dress in protective clothing layers, take frequent warming breaks. Watch for signs of frostbite or hypothermia.

Deep Snow Advisory

Deep Snow & Tree Well Advisory

Snow suffocation hazard due to deep snow immersion and/or tree wells may exist

  • AVOID TREE WELLS and KEEP YOUR PARTNER IN SIGHT
  • NEED HELP? Contact Mt. Baker Ski Patrol
  • (360) 300-7070
  • Call on Personal Radio: Channel 9 Code 11
  • Be advised: Your transmission is affected by terrain
Icy Condtions Advisory

Icy Conditions Advisory

  • USE EXTRA CAUTION
  • ICY CONDITIONS
  • Icy Conditions Exist In Some Areas
  • SKI & RIDE WITH EXTRA CAUTION & CARE ON STEEP & SHADED AREAS

Helicopter Avalanche Mitigation Operations will be underway on Shuksan Arm or Hemispheres during early morning daylight hours Saturday March 18.

+

  • SKI AREA CLOSED until mitigation operations are complete.
  • DO NOT enter Ski Area Boundary.
  • Avoid avalanche terrain and run out zones.
  • Stay clear of heli operations.
Variable Snow Base Advisory

Variable Snow Base Advisory

  • USE EXTRA CAUTION
  • VARIABLE SNOW BASE
  • Possible creeks, rocks, sticks, sudden variations in terrain, snow, sub-terrain, steep dips and other hazards and obstacles
  • Snow base and conditions vary with elevation, terrain, aspect and usage.
  • SKI & RIDE WITH EXTRA CAUTION & AWARENESS
Advisory_Extreme

NWAC Extreme Avalanche Advisory

  • Mt. Baker Ski Patrol will NOT RESPOND for rescue
  • BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE DANGER RATING
  • 5 Extreme : AVOID ALL AVALANCHE TERRAIN
  • Avalanche danger rating levels are only GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE CASCADES BELOW 7,000 FEET
  • May vary hourly for Mt. Baker backcountry conditions
Advisory_High

NWAC High Avalanche Advisory

  • Mt. Baker Ski Patrol will NOT RESPOND for rescue
  • BACKCOUNTRY AVALANCHE DANGER RATING
  • 4 High : Very dangerous avalanche conditions. Travel in avalanche terrain NOT recommended.
  • Avalanche danger rating levels are only GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR THE CASCADES BELOW 7,000 FEET
  • May vary hourly for Mt. Baker backcountry conditions
  • Visit NWAC website for full information.
Treewell Hazard Advisory

Tree Well Hazard Advisory

  • Snow suffocation hazard due to tree wells may exist
  • AVOID TREE WELLS and KEEP YOUR PARTNER IN SIGHT
  • NEED HELP? Contact Mt. Baker Ski Patrol
  • (360) 300-7070
  • Call on Personal Radio: Channel 9 Code 11
  • Be advised: Your transmission is affected by terrain

During operation, there are days when one of the base areas may be closed, and lift ticket purchasing and indoor facilities will not be available at the closed base area.

GENERAL BASE AREA SCHEDULE*:
*This schedule is dependent on weather, conditions and other factors, and may change without notice. Be sure to check our Snow Report the day before arrival for the anticipated Base Area operations for the following day, and then check the morning of your visit for confirmation of the anticipated operation schedule.
White Salmon Base Area – Open 7 days/week
Heather Meadows Base Area – Open Sat-Sun through April 9, closed Mon-Fri. Also usually open on Holidays.