Hometown Mountain Shoutout: Fear, Friends, and Freedom at Stevens Pass, WA In the North Cascades, Stevens Pass hides in the shadow of Washington State’s more distinguished resorts, Crystal Mountain and Mount Baker. Like any little brother, he is often overlooked entirely. However, Stevens still boasts an average of 460 inches of snowfall a year and an impressive, for a local mountain, 1,125 acres of skiable terrain. While the 13 lifts only […] Algird Zalpys | November 4, 2024 0 Comments
Record-Setting Trail Runner Alex Borsuk Reminds Us that the Mountains are a Playground On a clear day in May 2013, Alex Borsuk was on a plane, flying over Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan on her way to a new job in Bellingham, Washington. Having grown up in Ohio, she had never seen a glacier and did not know there were active volcanoes in the continental United States. She immediately felt the desire […] Featured Article Zach Armstrong | October 24, 2024 0 Comments
Grizzly Bears Poised for a Return to Washington’s North Cascades The North Cascades are a breathtaking sight of jagged peaks and emerald valleys located in Northern Washington State. The Cascades are on the cusp of reclaiming a vital piece of their ecological heritage: the grizzly bear. The grizzly bear population has dwindled up north almost to the point of extinction, with the last confirmed sighting in the Cascades reported in 1996. Unregulated […] Jack Bynum | July 9, 2024 0 Comments
What Are Suncups and How Do They Form? Perhaps you’ve trudged through them—the several-inch-deep snow pockets that litter approaches during the late spring touring months. Complete with miniature peaks and valleys like the mountains they reside on, the cups can range anywhere from a few inches to over two feet in depth. But what are suncups, how do they form, and where are they found? If you haven’t […] Brains Tate Sundberg | June 26, 2024 0 Comments
Washington State Historic Snowfall Comparison: Mount Rainier vs Mount Baker When you think of legendary snowfall in the Pacific Northwest, I suspect a few spots that come to mind within the Evergreen State. That said, I want to jump right in and give you context on the precise coordinates of these two locations and their proximity to the Pacific Ocean. I begin with Mount Baker, or Koma Kulshan as it […] Brains Matthew Oliphant | May 12, 2024 1 Comment
Why Does Lassen Peak Typically Get More Snow Than Mt. Shasta in California? You’re probably wondering how can a peak that is further south and is around ~3,723 ft shorter in elevation typically receives more snow overall compared to a much taller edifice. Before I explain and break down this intriguing case, let’s first get our bearings set in terms of the location and overall coordinates of these two iconic peaks in the […] Brains Matthew Oliphant | September 25, 2023 0 Comments
Coppervale Ski Area, CA – A Small Ski Area With a Big Heart When it comes to ski areas, it is often the local, smaller areas where you can find the heart and soul of the ski community. These resorts are where many learn the fundamentals of skiing and snowboarding, and the initial spark is ignited that leads families to devote a significant portion of their time and energy to this rewarding sport. […] Matt Scribner | January 20, 2023 0 Comments
SnowBrains Forecast: Snowy Weekend Ahead for the West Coast | 1-3 Feet for the Cascades | Up to 6 Feet for the High Sierra 10:45 pm MST, 12/7/2022 Forecast By SnowBrains Chief Meteorologist – Eric McNamee Forecast Summary: A series of troughs will move through the west coast and bring multiple FEET of snow to the Cascades and Sierra by Sunday. Snow starts Thursday morning across the Cascades and moves south to the Sierra by Thursday night as the first trough digs into the […] Weather WeatherBrains | December 7, 2022 0 Comments
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