Snow clearing has begun

[the bartender]

I've been watching the WSDOT page daily for them to announce that the snow clearing has begun.

[herveyw]

Originally Posted by the bartender

I've been watching the WSDOT page daily for them to announce that the snow clearing has begun.

It's usually May, a few of us (bikes and cars) try to go over on opening day while there is still snow by the roadside. I'm in the UK until late April, fingers crossed they aren't early this year :-)

[the bartender]

Originally Posted by herveyw

It's usually May, a few of us (bikes and cars) try to go over on opening day while there is still snow by the roadside. I'm in the UK until late April, fingers crossed they aren't early this year :-)

Its usually first week of April they announce, and then a couple of weeks to clear. :)
I have some good pics of riding it on my Tuono when i deadended at a 4 foot snow wall across the road.

[herveyw]

Originally Posted by the bartender

Its usually first week of April they announce, and then a couple of weeks to clear. :)
I have some good pics of riding it on my Tuono when i deadended at a 4 foot snow wall across the road.

WSDOT site is down, but I just got email to say clearing has begun. Damn, it might open before I get back.

A couple of photos from the overlook at Washington Pass, in case you're wondering what The Bartender and I are rabbiting on about:

[Mab1067]

wow, looks like an amazing road to have on your doorstep.

[herveyw]

Originally Posted by Mab1067

wow, looks like an amazing road to have on your doorstep.

Quite probably the best road in Washington state. It takes about an hour from where I am to hit the real start, around Arlington, then past Oso, the site of a terrible landslide a few years ago in which quite a number of people were killed, and on to Marblemount, the last petrol station until Winthrop around 70miles later on the other side of the Cascade mountains. The west side is all fast twisties through the trees and climbs steadily up to Rainy Pass and then Washington pass over 5000ft up. Then it drops rapidly down into eastern Washington, where the landscape and vegetation completely change: usually there is a big temperature difference, with the east side much, much hotter. This section ends in Winthrop, which is rather like a small "cowboy town". From there, it is either back the way you came, or south along the Columbia River and on to Leavenworth, a town that almost died but reinvented itself as a mock Bavarian town, complete with OktoberFest. Then on to Stevens Pass on US2 (ski area), alongside a raging river when the snow is melting, and back into the wooded landscape of western Washington. Micro-brew beer at a stop close to home. The full loop is around 440miles and takes about 8 hours of riding time, plus stops for lunch and afternoon Bratwurst in Leavenworth. Spectacular scenery almost the whole ride: go once when SR20 opens in the spring, and again in the autumn just before it closes. Sadly, the road also sees quite a few motorcycle deaths, it is far too easy to overcook things (no police anywhere), going either off the edge or into oncoming traffic 

[the bartender]

For those of you who want to see how big of a task it is to clear this highway.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/albums/72177720297687450

[the bartender]

Originally Posted by herveyw

WSDOT site is down, but I just got email to say clearing has begun. Damn, it might open before I get back.

A couple of photos from the overlook at Washington Pass, in case you're wondering what The Bartender and I are rabbiting on about:

Road is clear, and they're working on repairs. Its expected to open this week. :)

edit, it opened yesterday, May 10th. yay.

[Corbel]

Originally Posted by herveyw

Quite probably the best road in Washington state. It takes about an hour from where I am to hit the real start, around Arlington, then past Oso, the site of a terrible landslide a few years ago in which quite a number of people were killed, and on to Marblemount, the last petrol station until Winthrop around 70miles later on the other side of the Cascade mountains. The west side is all fast twisties through the trees and climbs steadily up to Rainy Pass and then Washington pass over 5000ft up. Then it drops rapidly down into eastern Washington, where the landscape and vegetation completely change: usually there is a big temperature difference, with the east side much, much hotter. This section ends in Winthrop, which is rather like a small "cowboy town". From there, it is either back the way you came, or south along the Columbia River and on to Leavenworth, a town that almost died but reinvented itself as a mock Bavarian town, complete with OktoberFest. Then on to Stevens Pass on US2 (ski area), alongside a raging river when the snow is melting, and back into the wooded landscape of western Washington. Micro-brew beer at a stop close to home. The full loop is around 440miles and takes about 8 hours of riding time, plus stops for lunch and afternoon Bratwurst in Leavenworth. Spectacular scenery almost the whole ride: go once when SR20 opens in the spring, and again in the autumn just before it closes. Sadly, the road also sees quite a few motorcycle deaths, it is far too easy to overcook things (no police anywhere), going either off the edge or into oncoming traffic 

Can't argue that, but my favorite is NFD-25 down the east side of Mt St Helens, between Randle and Northwoods. Alot less traffic.

[MyzTied]

Originally Posted by the bartender

For those of you who want to see how big of a task it is to clear this highway.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wsdot/albums/72177720297687450

Looks just like the task of clearing Trail Ridge road in Colorado.......