A number of state parks will be shutting down for the winter, while others will be reducing operations.
Locally, the biggest change is the shutdown of the Dash Point State Park campground on Oct. 1.
The October issue of Skiing Magazine features the magazine’s first ever “Resort Awards.” To the surprise of nobody Whistler Blackcomb topped the list of best resorts, but some Washington resorts also got some love.
Here are the higlights:
BEST BACKCOUNTRY ACCESS
1. Jay Peak, Vermont. 6. Mt. Baker. 9. Crystal Mountain.
BEST POWDER
1. Wolf Creek, Colo. 8. Mt. Baker
BEST WEEK-AFTER-A-STORM SKIING
WINNER: Solitude, Utah. HONORABLE MENTION: White Pass
BEST LEGAL CAR CAMPING
WINNER: Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico. HONORABLE MENTION: Mt. Baker
This just in from Whistler Blackcomb:
Whistler Blackcomb received over 5 centimetres of snow in the alpine overnight making Whistlerites wonder if Mother Nature forgot a season. The first day of fall, Whistler Blackcomb mountain tops are covered with at least six centimetres of snow. With 65 days until the winter ski season and 79 days until the opening of the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola on December 12, the countdown is on.
People will have the chance to meet Karen Gustin, the superintendent at Olympic National Park at an open house Sept. 30. Gustin took over the top spot at the park in April.
The event will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Sequim Visitor Information Center, 1192 E. Washington St., Sequim.
"I’m very eager to meet people from the Sequim area and am grateful to the Sequim Chamber and the Friends of Olympic National Park for hosting this event with us," Gustin said in a news release.
Open houses
…Olympic and Mount Rainier National Park will waive their $15 per vehicle entrance fee Sept. 27 in recognition of National Public Lands Day.
Olympic National Park will also allow free admission Sept. 28 in honor of our newly naturalized U.S. Citizens.
"We invite our neighbors and visitors – and especially any of our newest citizens – to enjoy Olympic during this special weekend," Superintendent Karen Gustin said in a prepared statement. "We hope these two days will create lasting memories for our visitors, and the inspiration to enjoy Olympic and other national parks, again and again."
Newly
…Our last day as OPNs started with some hiking in the Hoh Rain Forest. (PDF warning)
The entrance road is only a few miles south of Forks off of 101, but it’s another 12 miles or so to the ranger shack (where you purchase your $15 permit) and then six more winding miles to the visitor center and various trailheads. Along the way there are several turnouts for viewing the Hoh River, buying some snacks or just looking at big trees – really big trees, like the aptly named Big Spruce
…Mount Rainier’s summer of speed continued Wednesday morning when the record for the fastest climb was unofficially set for the third time since July.
An e-mail circulating in the mountaineering community claims that Argentina-born Willie Benegas climbed from Paradise to the 14,411-foot summit and back in 4 hours, 40 minutes and 59 seconds.
Benegas guides in South America and on Mount Everest for Seattle’s Mountain Madness.
Like most of the other unofficial speed climbing records on Rainier, Benegas kept track of the time on his own.
Benegas was unavailable for comment Thursday morning.
I went hiking with some buddies over the weekend and finally found some Governors that, unlike Gregoire and Rossi, I could look at for more than 10 seconds without getting sick. As we climbed to the top of Mount Tamanos at about 7:30 p.m. we watch the moon rise over the Governors ridge on the north side of Mount Rainier. Unfortunately I forgot my camera, so you’ll have to settle for this pic I snapped on my camera phone. So, sorry about the poor quality, but trust me, the view was insane.
