Stepping outside the lodge into the blustery chill of the tail end of a storm, I was greeted by a couple of contrasting sights this morning. Behind the lodge, on a south-facing slope receiving its first hints of filtered sunlight, the first flowers of spring have started to bloom. But looking up, the upper slopes were unveiled in a patchy dusting of white as last night’s storm clouds began to dissipate in the new sun.
The mountain is in that in-between stretch of the year where the view changes a little by day, and a lot by elevation.
From the Base Area, the lower mountain is mostly clear of snow and beginning to look more like spring. The snowpack has been gone from much of the lower elevation terrain for a while now, but until the last couple of days, the mountain still felt like it was waiting for the season to fully turn. That shift is starting to happen in sunlit spots, with greenery beginning to take hold and the first splashes of yellow flowers pushing their way up day by day. Nearby, the first lupine buds are also beginning to show their earliest hints of purple. It is still early, and the greenery is just getting going, but the lower mountain is clearly waking up.
Higher up, the story is different. Winter is still hanging on in the usual places: higher elevations, north-facing aspects, sheltered pockets, and wind-loaded or leeward slopes where the snowpack tends to linger longest. Yesterday’s rain turned to a light dusting of new snow overnight on the upper mountain, adding a fresh reminder that spring at Mission Ridge rarely arrives all at once. From below, you can see bare ground, new growth, old snowfields, and a little new snow all sharing the same ridgeline.
That contrast is the main condition to note right now. Depending on where you are looking, the mountain can appear to be in two different seasons at once. Because of that, anyone spending time on the mountain should expect variable conditions. Lower elevations are largely snow-free, but surfaces may still be soft, muddy, or uneven in places. If you venture higher up, be ready for winter conditions. Waterproof footwear is of the essence, and snowshoes will be a useful tool, especially when the sun softens things up in the afternoons. A trip from the Base Area to the top of Chair 2 will bring you through several stages of the changing seasons.
It was great to see so many people up here last Sunday for Mother’s Day Brunch, which sold out and brought a lively start-of-spring feel back to the lodge. We are also excited to welcome athletes and spectators for the Tour de Bloom bike race tonight and again next Tuesday, May 19. The climb up the mountain is a hard-earned one, and the first signs of greeenery should make for a pretty good reward at the top.
Looking ahead, the Chair 5 Pub opens for the summer season on June 5. We are excited to welcome everyone back in an official capacity then, and we hope to see folks out enjoying the mountain as it continues to change over the next few weeks.
For now, Mission Ridge is doing what it does this time of year: slowly trading winter for spring, slope by slope and flower by flower.
Base Area Forecast
Friday 5/15: Sunny through mid morning, then becoming mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. Breezy, with a west wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
Saturday 5/16: Mostly sunny, with a high near 46. Breezy, with a west wind 15 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.
Sunday 5/17: Sunny, with a high near 53.
Chair 5 Pub Schedule
The Chair 5 Pub at Mission Ridge opens for the summer on June 5th! The restaurant will be closed throughout May. Beginning in June, standard hours will be Fridays from 4pm–9pm, Saturdays from 11am–9pm, and Sundays from 9am–2pm. Visit the Operating Calendar to view a full schedule.
No chairlifts will run during the summer season.
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.
