ALL THAT POWDER, and nobody’s dropped in yet at Hurricane Ridge.
A compacted winter sports season is set to begin at the ridge this weekend and skiers, snowboarders and sledders need to head up the mountain and support its operations.
The Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club’s Executive Committee met Monday night and decided to open its season beginning Saturday, according to club secretary Roger Oakes.
The federal government shutdown forced Olympic National Park to shutter plowing plans for the ridge road and closed the visitor center at the ridge, leaving the club out in the cold as snow piled up.
Hurricane Ridge will be open weekends and Presidents Day, Feb. 18, through March.
“We now have two snowcats and our Mountain Operations Center in place at the Ridge and ready to go,” Oakes said. “The snow is looking good and the National Park should have the road open Friday. Our operations team has been up there readying our lifts and they are ready to operate.”
Rope tows will be running and the tubing area will be in operation this coming weekend, Oakes said. The Poma lift has a good snow cover, but will take some cat work to prepare for its opening.
“Our ski school is ready to operate,” Oakes said. “We have instructors standing by and available for lesson sign ups this weekend. Our ski patrol has undergone training and is ready to serve,” Oakes said.
The club is considering pre-selling season passes for next year that will be available for March spring skiing as well.
“We encourage all who love the Ridge to support us in this truncated season. We fully expect to have a great year albeit shortened, and we fully expect our future will be great at the Ridge for years to come,” Oakes said.
Razor clam digs
A three-day razor clam dig opening will run Friday through Sunday after state shellfish managers with the Department of Fish and Wildlife approved the dig on evening low tides after marine toxin tests showed the clams are safe to eat.
No digging will be allowed on any beach before noon.
The upcoming dig is approved on the following beaches, dates, and evening low tides:
• Friday: 4:48 p.m.; 0.2 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis
• Saturday: 5:28 p.m.; 0.0 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
• Sunday: 6:04 p.m.; -0.1 feet; Twin Harbors, Copalis.
Another batch of digs has been proposed for Feb. 15-21, including a three-day run at Kalaloch south of Forks from Feb. 16-18.
Scheduled digs at Kalaloch earlier this month were canceled by co-manager Olympic National Park as a result of low staffing levels due to the federal government shutdown.
This proposed February dig may be imperiled yet again by a federal government shutdown as the current spending bills are scheduled to end Feb. 15.
Fly-tying out west
Rod Erickson will demonstrate how to tie flies for salmon fishing as well as provide a supply list for those who want to tie flies at home during demonstrations at West End libraries next month.
Erickson has been tying flies for more than 50 years.
Demonstrations will be held at the Forks Branch Library on Saturday, Feb. 9 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and again at the Clallam Bay Branch Library on Monday, Feb. 11 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
