JACK FROST NEEDS to get his act together.
Without a few more inches of snow atop Hurricane Ridge, winter sports fans will have to wait an extra week or two to hit the slopes.
The scheduled opener for Olympic National Park’s winter wonderland is set for this Saturday.
Unfortunately, organized snowboard and skiing activities may be put on hold.
While there is a solid base of snow present at the Ridge, it’s in the form of one large block of ice.
Another foot or so of fresh powder is needed to make for some desirable shredding.
And with forecasts pointing to possible rainfall, that might not happen in the next couple of days.
“There’s a 50-50 chance [for a skiing opener], but if it starts raining up there, it’s probably a zero chance,” said mountain manager Craig Hofer, who has already set up the intermediate and bunny rope tows.
“They were saying we’re supposed to have a couple feet of snow, but it didn’t come here like it did the Cascades. It’s just not snowing the quantity that I expected.”
Hofer said he will head up the mountain Friday before making a final call.
“Then I’ll really know what to do,” he said. “It’s real iffy here at this point.”
Snowshoe city
Even if skiing and snowboarding is put on hold, the park’s other activities should still begin Saturday.
Chief among them are the ranger-led snowshoe walks, scheduled for 2 p.m. each Saturday, Sunday and Monday holiday through March 28.
Participants get to trek through the snow on tennis rackets (aka snowshoes) for approximately 90 minutes, taking in all of the winter beauty that accompanies the Ridge along the way.
Since space is limited, snow trampers are encouraged to register at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center information desk 30 minutes beforehand.
Although the walks are technically free of charge, a $5 donation helps the park finance the frigid foray.
(And if you don’t fork over the dough, expect a visit from Jacob Marley and his heavy chains come Christmas Eve. That’s what you get for being such a deplorable miser.)
Organized group snowshoe walks are also available at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
To schedule a group outing, call 360-565-3136.
You’ll poke an eye out
As you may have heard once or twice by now, the Sunrise Snowplay Area is officially out of commission.
The former tubing and sledding spot was closed for good because of the potential for serious injury.
Luckily, the little tykes (8 years old or younger) do have the option of sledding and tubing at the Small Children’s Snowplay Area, weather permitting (a key Hurricane Ridge qualifier).
That little piece of paradise is located just west of the visitor center and is closely monitored.
The snack bar and ski shop, which offers ski and snowshoe rentals, is also open Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays inside the visitor center.
Hurricane Ridge Road is scheduled to be open daily during the holiday period, weather permitting, from Friday all the way through Jan. 3 (minus Christmas).
The road may also close temporarily if the parking lot becomes completely full.
All vehicles must park within the Hurricane Ridge parking lot.
To make best use of the available space, park staff urges visitors to carpool whenever possible.
“Ride-sharing and carpooling will conserve the limited parking spaces at Hurricane Ridge, and we ask all our visitors to help in this effort,” said Superintendent Karen Gustin.
All drivers are required to have tire chains on their tires or in their cars.
Always check road and weather conditions before your trip by phoning the park’s 24-hour road conditions hotline at 360-565-3131.
Information on current weather conditions at the Ridge is available at http://tinyurl.com/8rdfdk.
For more information on ski and snowboard activities at the Ridge, visit www.hurricaneridge.net.
Avalanche classes
Olympic National Park and the Hurricane Ridge Sports Club want folks to know their snow.
To that end, both will be sponsoring avalanche classes near the beginning of next month.
• The sports club will host a Level 1 Recreational Avalanche Course on Jan. 8, 9 and 10 at Hurricane Ridge.
The course — divided into two classroom sessions and two days on the mountain — teaches students avalanche terrain identification, safe travel techniques and rescue.
The cost is $150 for season pass holders and $200 for anyone else.
• Olympic National Park will hold a free avalanche awareness class on Jan. 7.
The class runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., and will be at the North Olympic Library System in Port Angeles, 2210 S. Peabody St.
For more information on both classes, contact North by Northwest Surf Co. at 360-452-5144.
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Matt Schubert is the outdoors and sports columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. His column regularly appears on Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at matt.schubert@peninsuladailynews.com.