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Mt. Baker Ski Area opening put on hold with highway closed indefinitely

Mt. Baker Ski Area opening put on hold with highway closed indefinitely

Photo: Saga Communications/Dave Walker


GLACIER, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Skiers and snowboarders will have to wait a bit longer to get their first runs of the year in at Mount Baker.

WSDOT spokesperson David Rasbach says the Mount Baker Highway will remain closed east of Glacier until further notice.

Crews have cleared as much of the landslide debris as possible, but Rasbach says incoming winter weather and road conditions are making it unsafe to reopen even one lane.

The National Weather Service has issued a winer storm warning for the Cascades of Whatcom and Skagit counties through 4 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 20.

Mount Baker is expected to get 2 to 3 feet of snow.

It comes after Mt. Baker Ski Area said on Thursday that it has enough snow and was hoping to have Opening Day this weekend, but is just waiting on the highway to reopen.

Rasbach says experts are evaluating the area to help WSDOT develop a repair plan and a timeline for reopening, but a culvert and the road will need more work, at minimum.

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