Crews aim to reach Washington Pass Summit next week
information released
Hello fellow North Cascades enthusiasts: Week two of the 2024 North Cascades spring clearing work was a productive one.
Eastside clearing crews at Liberty Bell avalanche paths
The eastside crew started the week in the Cutthroat paths (milepost 165) and the D8 dozer, excavator and blower pushed west through nearly all the Liberty Bell avalanche paths this week. The crew is aiming to reach the summit of Washington Pass next week.
The westside has now cleared to milepost 150, near the Easy Pass trailhead. That crew is finding a lot of debris and mud on the west side of the work, a good reminder than it’s more than just clearing snow to get the road reopened. While the crews are generally making significant progress, each season brings its own challenges and like every year, there will be additional repairs and maintenance needed to the road after snow and ice are removed before the road can be reopened.
Next week, the eastside crew will also close the road between Silver Star gate (milepost 171) and Early Winters gate (milepost 178) Monday through Thursday to get some crack sealing and hazard tree removal done on that stretch of road. Closing the road allows the crew to expedite that work.
Planning for SR 20 travel in 2024
Even with more to do and the reopening date not yet scheduled, many travelers are looking ahead to traveling the North Cross. This newsletter is the best place to get updates about the clearing work and where the opening date will be announced once we’ve scheduled it. And don’t forget to sign up for travel advisories, check our real time travel map and our mountain pass page to stay in the loop.
Until the North Cascades opens
Remember that during the week, the road behind the closure points is a work zone. For the safety of you and our crew, please stay out of the area during working hours.
The road is otherwise closed and unmaintained between milepost 134 and 171, and there is no cell service on the passes. If you choose to visit the back country on the weekends, please check in on conditions with the Northwest Avalanche Center.
The myth of “bike day”
Oh yea, what about biking up there? We’ve shared before that it is a persistent urban myth that North Cascades Highway is “open” to bikes prior to opening for motor vehicles. We know many of you look forward to the opportunity to bike the passes. Some years, the clearing has been complete a day or two prior to the announced opening and bicycles have been able to ride the road before the gates open, but the fact is, this route is essential for freight and residents, so when the highway is ready to open, we open it for all users.
If and when the timing works out to give bike riders a short heads up that the road is clear but the gates are still closed, we will share that information through this newsletter and on social media.
In the meantime, please take a moment to enjoy the year’s Flickr album with pics and video of our clearing crew working in one of the prettiest work zones in the world.
Safe travels.
