It's been a strange spring - more snow now at Snoqualmie Pass than in February. Good for us, since we hadn't yet used our skis this year!
After a check of snow conditions on the Internet (I-90 Travelers Report, WA state traffic cams) I decided it would be perfect at Blewett Pass - lots of new snow and high enough to stay cold. C.J. was agreeable so we were on our way by 1000. By the time we were over the pass and driving along Keechelus Lake, the idea of a shorter drive overtook our plans. Surprisingly there were a dozen cars in the
(practically snowfree) Cabin Creek SnoPark lot. Once we had walked across the overpass there was enough snow on the FS road to put our skis on. At the sign "Amabalis Mtn 12 km" we turned uphill on a skim of snow that became steadily deeper, thankfully following the tracks of skiers ahead of us. Before we reached the trail fork (~2.5 mi), we traded leads with another couple several times. Beyond the fork the wind picked up and we began getting blowing snow and stinging ice crystals.Another mile and we decided to call it a day and head down before we found ourselves skiing in rain as we descended. We left the other couple to continue breaking trail on the loop trail over
the summit, and skied down far enough to get out of the wind. A steep bank gave us a place to stomp a seat for a lunch break, but we had to consider the chance that a snowball-avalanche might roll down on us from above (didn't happen). The rest of the trip was an easy glide down to the base and a short walk back to the car. We were much less fatigued after seven miles of skiing today, than five miles of snow-hiking/snowshoeing earlier in the week.We weren't sure whether SnoPark permits were required after 1 April, but the SnoPark parking lot had no need of plowing, so probably not. In any case, we didn't have the "groomed trail" pass, not that any of the trails had been groomed lately either.
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