OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — A white blanket of snow coats the upper reaches of Hurricane Ridge Road.
The silence of the cool, crisp morning is a testament to the powder untouched by cars, skiers and snowboarders.
But not for long.
The hum of diesel-powered machinery breaks the silence.
Olympic National Park crews are preparing to take the wintry edge off the windy road to Hurricane Ridge.
A rotary plow digs deep into the drifts and its snow cannon launches the winter precipitation into the air, clearing the road.
“This is a great morning. It is clear,” road crew leader Jim Crain said Thursday.
“Sometimes, the wind is blowing and you can’t see what is right in front of you.”
Weather permitting, the 13-mile winding stretch of road to Hurricane Ridge should be open through the weekend.
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