OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — A weekend snowstorm added about a foot of snow to the growing snowpack at Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area, plenty for snowshoe hikes, cross-country skiing as well as backcountry skiing and snowboarding, but not yet enough for downhill skiing or snowboarding.
As of 4 p.m. Wednesday, 22 inches of snow blanketed the mountaintop at the sensor location.
That’s at least a foot short of what is needed for downhill skiing, according to the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club, which operates the ski area.
It’s not enough snow, and too light and fluffy to open the lifts, said Frank Crippen, ski school director for the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Education Foundation and owner of North by Northwest Surf Co., in Port Angeles.
However, Crippen said the conditions can change very quickly.
“All it takes is one big storm or a few smaller ones,” Crippen said.
While the ski area isn’t ready, the back-country skiing and snowboarding terrain is “pretty good,” he said.
The next chance of snowfall on Hurricane Ridge will be on Friday, according to the National Weather Service’s forecast on Wednesday.
Families determined to enjoy the snow didn’t let the ski area’s continued closure stop their winter fun.
“There were lots of happy children with sleds and snowballs,” said U.S. Park Ranger Sanny Lustig, who spent Monday afternoon on the Ridge.
At 3 p.m. Monday, the parking lot was still about half-full of visitors enjoying the fresh snow, Lustig said.
“It was beautiful up there,”she said.
However, while there is plenty of snow for play, the ski area’s lifts remain at a standstill.
Operators of the Hurricane Ridge ski area need well-compacted snowpack of about 3 feet to groom the slope for skiing and to operate the rope tows, Crippen said.
Six feet are required to open the poma lift, he said.
Crippen said that because of blowing snow and snow falling from different directions the amount of snow on each side of the ski area can vary by several feet.
Opening day for the ski area is dependent on the amount of snow on the ground at Hurricane Ridge.
Historically, opening day has been as early as Thanksgiving weekend or as late as mid-February.
According to the Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area Facebook page, for the last five years the opening date for the ski season was Dec. 19 for the 2009-10 season, Dec. 26 for 2010-11; Jan. 15 for 2011-12, Dec. 21 for 2012-13, and Feb. 15 for 2013-14.
The ski area’s supervised snow tubing area also is closed now, but unsupervised sledding is allowed on the ski area’s intermediate run until the area opens for the season.
A special New Year’s Day snowshoe hike is scheduled for 2 p.m. today, weather permitting.
The cost of the snowshoe hike is a suggested $5 donation.
Group size is limited to 25 hikers. Registration begins at the Hurricane Ridge information desk at 1:30 p.m.
The visitor center has restrooms, exhibits, movie and warming area, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends and holiday Mondays through March 29.
Food sales and ski/snowshoe rentals are available 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends and holiday Mondays, as well as daily this week through Sunday, weather permitting.
The road was open Wednesday, and clear weather was expected through today, according to the forecast.
Road status and the ski area’s lift daily status is posted on the Hurricane Ridge road automated report at 360-565-3131.
All vehicles above the Heart O’ the Hills Ranger Station must carry tire chains.
Hurricane Ridge is the westernmost ski area in the contiguous U.S. and one of only three ski areas located in a national park.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arice@peninsuladailynews.com.
