News

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.

Recent Headlines

6 minutes ago in Entertainment, Holiday Guide, Lifestyle, Local

Where’s Santa Claus? NORAD radar to track Santa from the North Pole to Bellingham

Fresh

Stay tuned to watch Santa Claus make his way around the world this Christmas.

23 hours ago in Lifestyle, Local

Port of Seattle warns of fake Uber, Lyft drivers as holiday travel ramps up

Over 150,000 passengers per day will make their way through Sea-Tac leading up to the Christmas holiday.  

23 hours ago in Lifestyle, Local, Weather

Strong winds, heavy mountain snow in Whatcom County’s forecast this week

Southeast winds could reach 30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.

1 day ago in Sports, Trending

Jalen Hurts and the Eagles win their second NFC East title in a row by beating the Commanders 29-18

As the percussive horns of Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke" filled the air, Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni — wearing a black T-shirt bearing the words, "Been there, won that" — made the rounds in the locker room, offering hand clasps and back slaps to his players after they accomplished something that hadn't happened in two decades: win a second consecutive NFC East title.

1 day ago in Entertainment

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ launches with $88M domestically, $345M worldwide

"Avatar: Fire and Ash" opened with $345 million in worldwide sales, according to studio estimates Sunday, notching the second-best global debut of the year and potentially putting James Cameron on course to set yet more blockbuster records.

Bellingham Traffic