Stevens Pass and Mission Ridge are following the lead of the Summit at Snoqualmie this season and will require safety training before using their terrain parks.

To get a season pass to the terrain park you will have to:

– Watch a safety video.

– Sign a waiver or, for youth, get a waiver signed by your parent or guardian.

– Pay a $5 per season for your season terrain park pass.



Click here for more details and to download a copy of the waiver.

If you’re looking for a reason to get out, consider stopping in for "Green Drinks" on Dec. 4, sponsored this month by the Tahoma Audubon Society.

Each month, members of the local environmental community get together to have a few drinks and meet new people.

"We don’t try to solve any problems, sign you up to testify for anything or ask you for money," said Bryan Flint, executive director for the Tahoma Audubon Society, in an e-mail announcing the event. "Just fun, like-minded people enjoying holiday cheer."

The December event will take place from 5:30 to

Read more »

Crews are now using hydraulic jaws mounted on an excavator to chew away at the old visitor center at Mount Rainier National Park.

Eric Walkinshaw/Mount Rainier National Park

Cews continue to tear down the old visitor center at Paradise at Mount Rainier National Park. The demolition is expected to be completed by late next week.

Work with the 4,500-pound wrecking ball was finished on Friday. Eric Walkinshaw, project manager for the park, said the contractor was able to collapse the top of the building.

Now they are using the jaws

Read more »

There might not be much snow in the Washington cascades right now, but they are skiing nearby in British Columbia.

Today is opening day at Whistler. Blackcomb opens tomorrow.

As for us in Washington, keep doing those snow dances or prayers or whatever it is that works for you.

Crystal Mountain has just five inches at the summit and three inches at the base.

This morning’s 9:30 webcam pic:

After a busy construction season, Jean Takekawa and her staff at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge finally have some time to catch their breath.

The refuge has completed the first year of work on the major estuary restoration project. When completed in two years, if things stay on track, the $12 million to $13 million project will restore more than 760 acres of the Nisqually River estuary.

Crews this year built the new exterior dike.

"It needs to settle and firm up over this winter so it can withstand the tides," Takekawa said.

Next year, crews

Read more »

There’s only one good thing about the late arrival of ski season this winter. There’s more time to get in shape for hitting the slopes.

As promised in this morning’s fourth annual Snow Ride Guide here are more exercises for getting fit for ski season.

1. WALL SQUAT
Squat against the wall as if you are sitting in an invisible chair. Keep your knees at a 90-degree angle. Keep your back flat against the wall and your knees together. For tougher challenges lift your toes or one foot off the ground. This will strengthen your shins, hips, glutes and abs. Hold the position for at least 30 seconds three to five times.

Read more »

With the Nisqually Road now reopen, visitors to Paradise at Mount Rainier National Park will be able to check out the progress made on the demolition of the old visitor center.

Eric Walkinshaw/Mount Rainier National Park

This is what the old visitor center at Paradise looked like Friday afternoon, five days after the demolition began.

Crews have been using a 4,500-pound wrecking since Monday to knock the building down. Rain and snow have slowed the work, which the contractor thought might take a week.

While there are no plans for

Read more »

The path has been cleared for improvements at the Summit at Snoqualmie, according to a statement released recently by the ski area.

The U.S. Forest Service announced the approval of the ski area’s Master Development Plan Nov. 13.

“Our goal has always been to continue to improve our resort while striking a balance between what best benefits both people and the alpine environment,” said Trevor Kostanich, director of planning and development for The Summit, in a prepared statement.

“Ten years and countless hours of collaboration and hard work by the Forest Service, consultants, local conservation groups and

Read more »