Tucker Taffe, the skier who died Tuesday after falling into a crevasse on Mount Rainier, was a strong and experienced back country skier and the heart of Utah’s Alta Lodge, his former boss said this morning.

“He was the best of us,” said Cliff Curry, general manager of the lodge at Alta Ski Area. “He was a warm, kind, gentle spirit.”

Curry described Tucker as having a skinny but athletic 6-foot-4 build and an unfettered passion for backcountry skiing.

“We’re all here for the skiing,” Curry said. “But he was out there more than all of us. He was out …

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We should have counted on this happening. The days after organized winter operations begin to shut down at Paradise, some of the heaviest snowfall occurs.

As of 7 this morning, 25 inches of snow have fallen at Paradise. That has pushed the snowpack total to 154 inches, one of the highest levels of the winter.

Grooming of the snowplay area and manning the area with rangers came to an end on Sunday. Ranger-led snowshoe trips also ended on Sunday.

It wasn’t because of a lack of snow, but because of budgetary issues.

That doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of …

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Thanks to 7 inches of new snow that fell earlier today, The Summit at Snoqualmie has just announced it will be open with limited operations Saturday and Sunday.

The Summit West base area will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.

“We are ecstatic for this early season opening, especially with the promise of more snow predicted next week,” said Dan Brewster, general manager, in a news release.

Brewster said the area will be closed Monday and Tuesday, and the staff is planning to reopen Wednesday, if conditions permit.

Head to The Summit’s Web site for …

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If you don’t have plans for Veterans Day, considering digging out your snow ride gear.

The 2009-2010 ski and snowboard season in the South Sound will officially open on Wednesday when Crystal Mountain begins operations, albeit on a limited basis.

The ski area announced this morning it will open the lower mountain by running the Discovery, Chinook Express, Quicksilver and Forest Queen lifts. The ski area will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The ski school, rental shop, plus food and beverages areas will be open as well.

There are two feet of snow on the ground now, …

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