As everyone knows, we had over 3 feet of snow this week-end, which buried everything on the mountain. The state highway couldn’t keep the snowparks open, there was no place to park, they were having vehicles towed if they stuck out in the roadway. Last year one of our groomer drivers had his vehicle towed for not being totally off the road. Many people were stuck in the snow parks and had to be pulled out. It was a mess. I went up Monday to check on conditions and there was no place to park at the lake, people were digging out their vehicles. The state highway only had 1 snowblower operating as their new one was broken down. I got the groomer shed plowed out and got my vehicle out of the way so they could clear the parking area, went up to turn around at Morning Creek and it was completely snowed in. I had to turn around in the highway.
I planned on grooming today and Tucker SnowCat reps working on the new one They are currently staying in Pendleton as they had a long day detouring around closed roads in the Diamond Lake Area and had to come through Portland. I was also drifted in today and by the time the county opened my road, Highway 11 and 204 were closed due to high winds, drifting snow and an avalanche on highway 11 with avalanche warnings on 204. 204 is still closed at this time. It should calm down tomorrow and we can get up with the Tucker reps to work on the new one and start cleaning up after the storm, which will take time and patience just like we have to have patience with the State Highway Department to get caught up. The powder hounds and their big machines reported it was great for them. I understand there are some trees down, which will slow us down. We will do the best we can, so you need to have patience as we have had severe stormy weather for a week.
You guys did a great snow dance! Put that on pause now!
Jess Thompson
TTF grooming chairman