The mountain continues to tease us with hints of winter as we move into mid-September! This weekend brought another early-season storm through the region, and this time we picked up several inches of new snow near the top of Chair 2 and the surrounding ridgeline. Temps dropped off quickly as night fell on Saturday, bringing temps down to 30 in the Upper Basin. A majority of new snow fell from Saturday night into early Sunday morning, with portions of rain and sleet mingling in beforehand. Snow totals taper off quickly as you fall in elevation, dwindling toward a snow line around 6000 feet.
As is typically the case with these early-season teasers, the first few freezes have been fleeting. By the time I made the trip up on Monday afternoon, temps had risen above 40 at summit and snow was getting dense and slushy, sparkling in the filtered sunlight. With conditions trending warmer and drier in the coming days (albeit with the chance for another round of precip on Tuesday), I’d expect this white wreath to be melted out by the week’s end. We sure aren’t complaining though. Anticipation continues to build, and that’s half the fun as we wait for the lifts to start turning.
Regardless of the snowpack, hints of the steady march toward fall are beginning to crop up on the mountain’s flanks. The tips of the first few western larches are beginning to be tinged with yellow. That transition will be happening in earnest in just a few weeks’ time. After that, the seasonal transition picks up and gets colorful, and before we know it, snowmaking will be here.
We’ll keep you posted.
Summit Forecast
Monday 9/14: Mostly sunny, with a high near 43, falling to around 41 in the afternoon. A slight chance of rain showers overnight, with a low around 39.
Tuesday 9/15: A chance of rain showers and patchy fog, with a high near 39. Partly cloudy overnight, with a low around 39.
Wednesday 9/16: Sunny, with a high near 46. Mostly clear overnight, with a low around 44.
Chair 5 Pub Schedule
Friday 9/18: 4-9pm with Salsa Dancing, 6–8pm. No experience needed, just come ready to move.
Saturday 9/19: 11am-9pm with live music with Erik Link, 6:30–8:30pm.
Sunday 9/20: 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.
