Conditions & Weather

January 27, 2022

Today is looking like once again another beautiful day in the mountains. We will be seeing some clouds this morning but they will give way to generally sunny blue skies for the afternoon, showing off the excellent views Snoqualmie has to offer. But it looks like we are in the final stretch of this sunny weather. We should be seeing Mother Nature flip the switch this weekend and turn her snow guns back on for Sunday. You better get up and enjoy these Juneuary conditions while it lasts!

Sticking to the groomers today will still be your best bet for the smoothest and most enjoyable ride. They will be fast and very carvable. Off-piste conditions remain variable…You will find travel to be extremely difficult and unforgiving. Try and avoid the steeper runs they are extra challenging due to the icy conditions. Make sure you have given your planned run some thought before sending it down terrain that is to advanced. Expect the snow today to soften, primarily on south facing slopes, but not by too much. Colder temps and some moderate winds will keep the snow more firm throughout the course of the day. There will be a high of 35 degrees falling to 29 by the afternoon. Wind chill will feel as low as 20 degrees at times with gusts up to 20mph. Even though the sun will be out, it’s going to be a facemask kind of day. If your needing extra layers for today’s ride. Visit one of our three stores on mountain and shop the latest gear and outerwear. Our mountain shops exclusively carry Summit and Alpental brand apparel, and unique gifts you'll find nowhere else.

Today we will be operating Summit Central from 9am-10pm as well as Silver Fir and Alpental from 9am-9pm. Summit West will open for night riding only starting at 4pm and will run until 10pm closing time. Summit West will be great for night riding today if you’re wanting some evening fresh cords. Hope everyone has a chance to make it up for some mid-week shredding. Hope to see you all soon, drive safe!

Extra Challenging Conditions at Alpental: Conditions on upper mountain at Alpental have been quite challenging this week due to the freeze-thaw cycle associated with these spring-like temperature swings. Like always, our goal is to open as much terrain as possible given the conditions. However, we expect to have delayed openings or extended holds on Chair 2 until the weather changes, it's just too hard, icy, and challenging in the morning. Not only are these conditions hazardous, with hard impacts and long slides possible if you fall, but it also exposes our patrol team to the hazard when running routes or performing rescues. Recently we have been closing Triple60 early at night due to this same hazard.

If the sun softens up the surface snow, skiing on the chair side of the mountain can be enjoyable for expert skiers/riders. However, these conditions are still variable with extremely hard snow/ice in shaded areas, and only amplify the technical and challenging terrain on the upper half of Alpental. Please take the "Experts Only" warnings very seriously before considering going up Chair 2. That warning applies now more than ever, and now is not the time for a progressing skier or rider to take on the new challenge of riding Chair 2.

We know the view at the top is enticing, but if you're not ready for extremely difficult conditions/terrain - skip taking that step in your progression until the snow returns. For the hardcore folks out there that can hold an edge and want to make some turns from the top... ride with a buddy, take it easy, and enjoy the challenge.

If you're an intermediate level skier/rider, lower mountain at Alpental is challenging as well and a better experience will likely be had at Summit Central or Summit West. The Cascade Traverse is especially challenging right now, with icy areas and plenty of bumps. Watch and pay attention to signage on the mountain, it's there to provide awareness. Take it slow, look ahead and find the easiest path of travel.

For night skiing - Summit West often has the best conditions during freeze-thaw cycles because it is groomed during the day.