OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Snow is the happy foundation for winter sports at Hurricane Ridge — and the first big snow, about 18 inches, fell on Monday.
From 60 to 100 inches more of the white stuff is expected by January.
Olympic National Park has released its winter schedule for the popular skiing, sliding and snowshoeing ridge in the mountains above Port Angeles.
Downhill skiing will begin Dec. 12, with downhill ski tows operating from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through March 28.
Beginning Nov. 20, Hurricane Ridge Road — which is now open daily unless bad weather prompts closure — will be open from 9 a.m. to dusk Friday through Sunday, and on certain holidays until March 28, when it will be open daily for spring and summer.
That’s if winter storms do not prompt closures of the 17-mile road that winds from Port Angeles to 5,240 feet.
Park officials often close the road when it becomes dangerous or impassable because of snow, wind or avalanche potential.
The road may also be closed temporarily if the parking lot becomes completely full.
All vehicles must park within the Hurricane Ridge parking lot.
To make best use of the available parking spaces, park staff urges Ridge visitors to carpool whenever possible and pay extra attention to making the best use of parking spaces.
It’s always wise to check on road and weather conditions the day a visit is planned.
To check, phone the park’s road and weather hot line at 360-565-3131, or click on www.nps.gov/olym.
Holidays
The park will open the road for additional days during specified holidays, to allow visitors to enjoy winter recreation.
During the Christmas and New Year’s holiday season, the road is scheduled to be open daily from Friday, Dec. 18, through Sunday, Jan. 3, except for Christmas Day.
The road also is scheduled to be open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day — which is Monday, Jan. 18 — and Presidents Day on Monday, Feb. 15.
The ski tows also will be open Friday, Jan. 1, and Monday holidays. For more information, phone 360-457-2879 or see www.hurricaneridge.com.
Entrance fees are collected at the Heart o’ the Hills entrance station whenever the road is open.
The park’s seven-day entrance pass, which allows a private vehicle to enter any of the park’s roadways, costs $15.
The park’s annual pass, which is good for one year after the purchase date, costs $30.
Tubing and sliding
One of the major changes in recreational opportunities this winter at the Ridge is the closure of the Sunrise Family Snowplay Area, about one mile north of the Ridge visitor center, where children older than 8 and their families could slide on the snow on tubes or plastic discs.
Remaining open this season will be the Small Children’s Snowplay Area, a site west of the visitor center that allows tubing and sliding for children 8 years old and younger.
The decision to close the area was prompted by concerns about parking hazards.
Tire chains
All vehicles are required to carry chains when traveling above the Heart o’ the Hills entrance station on the Hurricane Ridge Road between Nov. 20 and March 28.
This requirement applies to all vehicles — including four-wheel drive — regardless of tire type, and applies to all road and weather conditions.
Additional requirements, such as traction tires or chains on vehicles may also be enacted when conditions warrant.
Visitor centers
The Olympic National Park Visitor Center at 3002 Mount Angeles Road — at the base of Hurricane Ridge Road in Port Angeles — is open daily throughout the winter from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
It will be closed Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
The Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center will be open with restrooms and a warm seating area whenever the road is open.
Beginning Dec. 19, the information desk will be staffed from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through March 28. The desk will be staffed on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Presidents Day, as well.
The snack bar and ski shop, with ski and snowshoe rentals, will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from Dec. 12 through March 28, along with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents Day and during the holiday period from Dec. 28 through Jan. 3.
Snowshoe Walks
Snowshoe walks will be offered at 2 p.m. on Saturdays, Sundays and Monday holidays, from Dec. 19 through March 28. Walks also will be offered at 2 p.m. Jan. 1.
The walks last 90 minutes and are less than one mile in length. Space is limited, so people should register at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center information desk 30 minutes before the scheduled walk.
A $5 donation from each snowshoe walk participant helps the park provide snowshoe walks and repair and replace snowshoes.
Organized groups such as youth or school groups must make advance reservations for snowshoe walks, which are at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, by phoning 360-565-3136.
Overnight wilderness camping
Overnight camping is permitted in the Hurricane Ridge area on Friday and Saturday nights, and on Sunday nights before a Monday holiday.
Winter camps must be at least one mile from the Hurricane Ridge parking area. Overnight parking is not permitted at Hurricane Ridge.
Anyone planning a winter camping trip on Hurricane Ridge must first register at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center to obtain a wilderness camping permit, and must also check in and out with a ranger at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.
Avalanche Information
Updated information about weather and avalanche risk is available from the Northwest Avalanche Center at www.nwac.noaa.gov/ or by phoning 206-526-6677. Anyone planning to venture beyond the maintained downhill ski area or the immediate Hurricane Ridge area should check with the Northwest Avalanche Center or a ranger for current weather and snow conditions.
