OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — Beginning in about mid-December, Hurricane Ridge Road will be open daily, weather permitting, and public transportation options are under discussion to capitalize on the tourism opportunity.
The increased access to Hurricane Ridge, a popular tourist spot 17 miles from Port Angeles, is a change from past years when the road was closed Monday through Thursday from November through March, except for some holidays.
Mid-December target
This year, the road, which is open daily now, will revert to its usual winter schedule Nov. 21 — open only Friday through Sunday — but will be opened seven days a week, if storms don’t prompt closure, beginning in mid-December, when additional snowplow staff has been trained, said Barb Maynes, Olympic National Park spokeswoman.
The date could be earlier, said park Deputy Superintendent Todd Seuss, if workers are trained quicker than expected.
On Wednesday, a group of people met in Port Angeles to talk about how to get the word out about the change and how to get people up to the snow at Hurricane Ridge.
They made no decisions, and no one is set to provide the service.
Represented were the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce, Sequim Chamber of Commerce, the Port Angeles Downtown Association, Olympic National Park, All Points Charters and Tours, the city of Port Angeles and a few interested community members.
“We need scheduled and reliable transportation,” said Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Russ Veenema.
Willie Nelson, who owns All Points Charters and Tours, said he was interested in helping out but would need a guaranteed payment in order to block off the day to transport people up the mountain.
The city is working on a possible plan to have a bus up to the ridge a couple times a month, said Richard Bonine, deputy director of recreation.
Because of the many variables and permitting requirements involved in taking a scheduled bus up to the ridge, plans are tentative now, he said.
Not ready to announce
“We aren’t really at the point where we’re ready to announce anything,” said City Manager Kent Myers.
Nelson, who already gives tours of Hurricane Ridge for $40 per person, has the necessary permits and plans to renew those next year.
The city would have to obtain a permit to operate a public bus to the snowfields.
Bonine said Clallam Transit has not expressed interest in serving a route to Hurricane Ridge.
The park will keep the road open daily, except for avalanche control and weather closures, this winter thanks to more than $75,000 in donations raised on the North Olympic Peninsula.
The National Park Service will contribute $250,000 to cover the rest of the anticipated cost.
Both park and city representatives said they will work on creating signs to direct people to the road.
Park Superintendent Karen Gustin said she would look into putting up a sign near the road entrance to designate that the road was open every day.
Meyers suggested a sign near Civic Field on Race Street, the city street that turns into Hurricane Ridge Road.
Hiring staff
The park has hired a maintenance mechanic and two snowplow operators and has offered jobs to two law enforcement officers, Seuss said.
“As far as interpretative staff, we’re working on extending some of the seasonal contracts,” he said.
Until the new staff members are on board and trained, the park will adhere to its usual winter schedule, closing the road, which has been open daily during the summer, four days per week.
“Our main concern is safety,” Seuss said.
“So getting them trained to where we feel it is safe will determine when we open it.”
If all the workers can be quickly brought up to speed, the road could be opened earlier than mid-December, but Seuss said he built in training time to ensure the workers’ safety.
While there are always opportunities for snowshoeing, cross-country skiing and snowball fights at the top of the ridge during the winter, the rope tows and poma lift at Hurricane Ridge will remain closed except for weekends — but the club will add Friday as part of an extended weekend, said Greg Halberg, a member of the club.
The Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club said it doesn’t have the money or volunteers to expand ski lift operations beyond that schedule.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
