This winter's forecast of a “strong” El Niño doesn't necessarily mean skiers and snowboarders should expect a disappointing season.
Generally speaking, an El Niño — a weather cycle caused when trade winds weaken, pushing warm water east toward America's west coast — can be expected to bring warmer, drier weather to the Pacific Northwest. White Pass Ski Area director of skier services Kathleen Goyette said that doesn't always hold true and noted that won't be as much of a concern with snowmaking improvements that she estimated are about five times better than what they were during the drought of 2014-15.
"It's a little variable," said Goyette, the area's former marketing director until Andy Mahre took over that position this year. "We're prepared for the weather however it comes."
So far that's meant a lot of snowmaking for Justin Tornow and Kendal Willis, who began those efforts when temperatures dipped into the 20s in October. Goyette said enhanced snowmaking enabled White Pass to complete its lower area loop so Cascade and Holiday could open to the public last Saturday, and even provided an exclusive opening day one week earlier for season passholders.
A pair of winter storms brought significant snow to the Cascades and allowed most ski areas in Washington to schedule opening day either this week or last week, although only Meadows has opened on Mount Hood. It closed again following warmer temperatures and rain earlier this week, joining others in waiting for more snow.
Meanwhile, Mission Ridge opened limited terrain on Thanksgiving weekend for the 11th time in 12 years. The ski area in the east Cascades near Wenatchee receives less natural snow annually than any other and has built up a top-to-bottom snowmaking system.
Goyette said strong season pass sales in recent winters contributed to White Pass's ability to add more snowmakers and personnel, a key element of the area's long-term plan. The crews also spent a lot of time on slope maintenance during the offseason, cutting brush and doing other work to open up runs both on the downhill side and the cross-country ski trails north of Highway 12.
Mahre said the snowmaking's especially important in providing adequate snow depth below 5,000 feet, ensuring White Pass will be able to operate and giving it what Goyette termed a "security blanket of snow." That also means a better base late in the season, when warmer temperatures begin to melt away top layers of snow.
"We can close that gap between where snow is good and the chairlift, then that takes some of the worries away," Mahre said.
Of course, he's still hoping for a lot more natural snow as the season progresses. Some might be on the way later this week, at least at higher elevations with relatively warm temperatures persisting at the base.
The 2021-22 season provided the latest reminder that a slow start can often turn into a snowy winter at White Pass. After opening on Dec. 16, unusually large storms in January and April created ideal conditions for skiers and snowboarders well into spring.
Pacific Northwest Ski Areas Association president Jordan Elliott said it's far too early to tell what weather will look like this season and said the region still makes far less snow relative to its counterparts across the country. A report from the National Ski Areas Association said an average of 17% of total skiable acres in the U.S. are covered by snowmaking, but that number drops to 2% in the PNW.
Regardless of how much snow falls from the sky, Mahre and Goyette are confident this winter will be a good one at White Pass. Season passes once again sold well and the area plans to hold night skiing on four different days — New Year's Eve, Jan. 20, Feb. 3 and March 2 during Winter Carnival weekend.
Preparation for a day at the mountain will look a little different for visitors buying lift tickets this year with the introduction of RFID cards. After purchasing a $5 card online that can be picked up at the machines outside the ticket booth, anyone can go online and reload their cards quickly for their next trip to the mountain.
Learn more about White Pass Ski Area at https://skiwhitepass.com/.
