HURRICANE RIDGE — Better late than never. The ski and snowboard season has finally arrived at Hurricane Ridge.
The Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club plans to open its rope tows and tubing area just in time for Presidents Day weekend.
The bunny and intermediate slopes — and second-year tubing operation — are scheduled to be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
But as always, access to the mile-high snowplay area 17 miles south of Port Angeles will depend on the weather.
Hurricane Ridge Road is subject to close on short notice if conditions become too dangerous.
Check the Olympic National Park hotline at 360-565-3131 or on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HRWinterAccess for current road and weather conditions.
If the road remains open, the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club will offer all-day intermediate and bunny lift tickets for $24. Half-day tickets are $22 after 1 p.m.
Bunny-lift-only tickets cost $12 for the day.
Olympic National Park reported 43 inches of snow at Hurricane Ridge on Thursday, with an additional 6 to 11 inches expected between midnight and 6 p.m. today.
More snow is forecast for the mountains this weekend.
While there’s plenty of snow on the ground for rope-tow skiing and snowboarding, club Mountain Manager John Fox said the ridge needs between 8 to 10 feet of snow for the Poma lift to open.
Fox is holding out hope that the Poma lift will open later this season, which started out unusually dry.
“It’s not out of the picture,” he said.
Instructors will be on hand to offer private and semi-private lessons on the bunny and intermediate slopes this weekend, the club announced. Ask the person at the ticket trailer about prices and availability.
Fox said he hopes the fresh snow will bring the crowds back to the club’s dedicated tubing area, which is located near the rope tows across the parking lot from the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.
“It went really well last year,” Fox said.
“It seems to be quite a hit.”
Tubes are provided by the club. They cost $8 for one hour and $10 for two hours.
For those who don’t want to drive, Willie Nelson of All Points Charters & Tours will provide shuttle service to the ridge Sunday and Monday if the road is open.
The charter will leave The Landing mall on the Port Angeles waterfront at 9 a.m. and stop at the Vern Burton Community Center at 9:05 a.m.
The shuttle leaves Hurricane Ridge at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
The cost is $20 per person. Reservations are required.
To make a reservation, phone All Points Charters at 360-460-7131.
All vehicles traveling to the Ridge must carry chains.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
