The start of September has brought us a taste of the colder weather to come here on the mountain! I got up to the mountain this morning and it was cold…like properly chilly, in a way it hasn’t been since spring. In the predawn hours last night, temperatures dipped just below freezing, hovering right on 32, for the first time in months.
Throughout the day today, we enjoyed a mix of rain showers and filtered sun with temps rising into the 40s. For a few brief moments, some small hail fell in the Base Area.
As evening started to fall with spotty precipitation in the area, I had a bit of an inkling in my gut and decided to make the climb to the summit and take a firsthand look at what was going on up there.
Along the edges of Sunspot, I found small patches of frozen stuff sitting in the low, sheltered spots where the wind couldn’t reach. Light, cold rain was falling. As I kept climbing, the rain became more like sleet, and finally, as I huffed and puffed my way up the last pitch, a gust of wind blew in and I was suddenly on the Boundary Road, surrounded by fat wet flakes swirling all about.
I was wearing a t-shirt and running shorts and was absolutely freezing, but I was elated – the first flakes of 26/27 were in the air! Far below, the sun shone over the bluffs above East Wenatchee and up the Columbia to the north, and it felt like standing on a small island of a different season, half-enshrouded in dark cloud and blowing flakes. I enjoyed the taste of winter for a few minutes before making a hasty descent toward a warm lodge and dry clothes.
Of course, there’s still some warm days ahead of us before we’re done with summer, but this is a big reminder that winter is not quite so far away as it might feel. The stoke is building. If you come explore the mountain, make sure you check the forecast and pack for dynamic mountain conditions, especially as the seasons begin to change!
Winter isn’t here yet, nor is fall, but it’s a little closer than it was yesterday. We’ll see you on the mountain.
Summit Forecast
Friday 9/4: A slight chance of rain and snow showers before 11am, then showers and thunderstorms likely. High near 41, dropping to a low around 38 overnight.
Saturday 9/5: A chance of rain showers, with a high near 42 in the afternoon and an overnight low around 39.
Sunday 9/6: A chance of rain showers after 5pm; otherwise partly sunny, with a high near 47.
Chair 5 Pub Schedule
Friday 9/4: 4–9pm with Salsa Dancing, 6–8pm. No experience needed, just come ready to move.
Saturday 9/5: 11am–9pm, with a Cornhole Tournament outside the Hampton Lodge, 1–4pm (double-elimination bracket). Live music with Curtis Moore, 6:30–8:30pm.
Sunday 9/6, 9am–2pm
Summer Access Policy
During the summer season (May–October), public access within the Mission Ridge Special Use Permit area is permitted except where restricted due to maintenance and construction. We love seeing the Mission Ridge community in the mountains and on the trails year-round, but please make sure to check out the full access policy by clicking the link below.
