There is a lot going on the State Park to get ready for the winter ski season.  Ranger Rick, team and volunteers have been prep’ing new equipment, marking the snow shoe trails, clearing brush and hiring new snow cat operators.  Here is the rundown from:

  • Two new PB100 snowcats!  At long last we have all-new equipment.  Identical machines as well, which will make maintenance and repair much simpler.  These new machines offer significant improvements in their ability to deliver high quality groomed surfaces.  Look forward to improved trails, greater reliability, and happier operators.  Your support through purchase of Sno-Park permits is much appreciated!
  • Two brand new snowcat operators!  This isn’t the happiest news, we are sorry to have lost our long-standing pros – William and Adrianna.  The hardships of working graveyard shifts finally caught up with them, it was time for them to move on.   Please be patient early in the season as the new folks get their bearings on these sophisticated machines.
  • New this year, we are training up a couple permanent park staff to be able to proficiently groom, in addition to the dedicated seasonal operators.  This is a result of experiencing the simultaneous loss of both of our veteran operators this fall.   By having a couple additional employees with the ability to groom, you and all our customers will be assured grooming will never be reduced or suspended due to circumstances with our primary operators.
  • Additional day of grooming!  To facilitate the training of those additional operators without negatively impacting our grooming schedule, Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays this year will be our ‘training day”.  Historically we have not groomed these days, but this season, most weeks, we will have a trainee out there improving trails and their skills.
  • New, higher fees!  Well, this isn’t good news, but a necessary change.  $120 for a Snow Park Permit with a Grooming Endorsement.  Permit costs have remained unchanged since 2009.  You may purchase a permit here:

https://epermits.parks.wa.gov/Store/SNO/SnoChoice.aspx

  • Park Staff and volunteers have been hard at work since last season improving trails.  Our volunteers have already cleared and marked all 10+ miles of snowshoe trails.  Park staff have been widening trails and opening up the canopy at See & Ski and connecting trails between Kahler Glen and the South Park. We’ve completed drainage  and side-slope improvements in troublesome areas, graded the entire reach of Lower Nason to improve drainage and the road surface, and cleared routes of potentially hazardous trees.

Much thanks to all our volunteers who maintain the miles of snowshoe trails, and much thanks to Kahler Glen for their partnership and support.  Also like to thank Western River Conservancy for access to Nason Ridge.