By Jason Miller
(posted 6.3.11)

Finally! The May 25, noon reopening of the North Cascades Highway marked the second latest since the highway opened 39 years ago. The latest ever was June 14, 1974, and the next latest, surpassed by this year, was in 1976, when it reopened on May 21.

The clearing effort took more than six weeks, compared to just three-and-a-half weeks last spring. Nine feet of snowfall in March and a record seven-and-a-half feet in April on the western slopes of the Cascades kept avalanche control technicians and snow clearing equipment on Stevens Pass until the avalanche threat eased and allowed the team to move up to the North Cascades. There, they found SR 20 buried in snow as deep as 75 feet.

Party hearty
A Pass Opening Party coordinated by the Concrete and Winthrop chambers of commerce was a chilly but fun celebration. Held May 25, just minutes after the North Cascades Highway opened for the year, the gathering brought members of both chambers together at the Washington Pass Overlook, where they exchanged “Pass Offerings”—gift baskets filled with merchandise contributed by businesses from both sides of the mountains.

“It was an important day for all of us,” said Valerie Stafford, president of the Concrete Chamber. “This highway offers incredible scenery, amazing recreational opportunities, and the chance for many more people to visit our communities.”

One four-footed chamber member joined the festivities: Alex, a dog owned by Sharon Feller of Concrete Dental, insisted on shaking hands with everyone.
Both chambers look forward to celebrating the 40th anniversary of the highway in 2012.

Members of the Concrete and Winthrop chambers of commerce met at the Washington Pass Overlook minutes after the May 25 pass opening, and shared a toast. From left, Steve Mitchell, Winthrop Chamber board member and owner of Rocking Horse Bakery in Winthrop; Lori Loomis, Winthrop Chamber board member and owner of Backcountry Coffee Roasters in Winthrop; Valerie Stafford, Concrete Chamber president and owner of Concrete Theatre in Concrete; and Anne Bussiere, Concrete Chamber board member and owner of Annie’s Pizza Station in Concrete. Submitted photo.