Snowy Hwy. 2 remains closed by worst conditions in 30 years
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STEVENS PASS, Wash. - Travelers heading over the Cascade Mountains are facing major detours just two days before Christmas after transportation officials were forced to close Highway 2 over Stevens Pass.
Falling trees along the highway have killed one couple and seriously injured nearly a dozen other people over the past three days.
Conditions are so bad that the state Department of Transportation has closed the highway from Stevens Pass all the way to the west end of Leavenworth to help prevent any more tragedies.
"I've heard the same comment over and over - they've never seen this kind of condition in 30 years here," says Dan Farmer of the state DOT.
Trees were still falling over the highway on Sunday under the weight of heavy, wet snow. DOT crews are working to clear those trees off the highway - but until conditions change, Highway 2 will remain closed over a snowy Stevens Pass -- until at least Thursday.
Some stuck travelers called the closure "frustrating."
But others were more philosophical.
"This is winter in the Cascades - what do we expect?" said one motorist.
Some drivers were simply hoping for a day trip across the mountains - but not any more. They're not up for the extended drive across Snoqualmie or Blewett Pass.
Crews say the road conditions are driveable over Stevens Pass, but the danger is from large trees covered in ice and snow creating treacherous conditions.
"What we're seeing is, certain species are uprooting and falling over, and other species are just snapping mid-stalk and just tumbling over," says Farmer.
On Friday, a large tree came down on an SUV with a family of six inside, killing a Bothell couple and injuring their four children. Then, on Saturday, a car with five people inside slammed into a fallen tree, injuring everyone inside the vehicle.
“This series of storms has been remarkable,” said Dan Sarles, WSDOT regional administrator for the North Central Region. “The snow is unusually heavy and wet, snapping and uprooting trees at a rate we haven’t seen in decades.”
Highway 2 carries an average of 5,000 vehicles across the pass every day. During the closure, drivers who usually take Highway 2 must detour to Highway 97 Blewett Pass, to connect to Interstate 90 or drivers can take I-90 Snoqualmie Pass.
At Stevens Pass ski resort, occupancy is down since skiers from Eastern Washington can't access the mountain. Meanwhile, employees are stuck.
"I've been up here since yesterday morning at 7:30," says one worker who lives in Leavenworth, whose 40-minute commute has turned into an hours-long nightmare. "I was frustrated yesterday. I'm beyond frustrated now."
Falling trees along the highway have killed one couple and seriously injured nearly a dozen other people over the past three days.
Conditions are so bad that the state Department of Transportation has closed the highway from Stevens Pass all the way to the west end of Leavenworth to help prevent any more tragedies.
"I've heard the same comment over and over - they've never seen this kind of condition in 30 years here," says Dan Farmer of the state DOT.
Trees were still falling over the highway on Sunday under the weight of heavy, wet snow. DOT crews are working to clear those trees off the highway - but until conditions change, Highway 2 will remain closed over a snowy Stevens Pass -- until at least Thursday.
Some stuck travelers called the closure "frustrating."
But others were more philosophical.
"This is winter in the Cascades - what do we expect?" said one motorist.
Some drivers were simply hoping for a day trip across the mountains - but not any more. They're not up for the extended drive across Snoqualmie or Blewett Pass.
Crews say the road conditions are driveable over Stevens Pass, but the danger is from large trees covered in ice and snow creating treacherous conditions.
"What we're seeing is, certain species are uprooting and falling over, and other species are just snapping mid-stalk and just tumbling over," says Farmer.
On Friday, a large tree came down on an SUV with a family of six inside, killing a Bothell couple and injuring their four children. Then, on Saturday, a car with five people inside slammed into a fallen tree, injuring everyone inside the vehicle.
“This series of storms has been remarkable,” said Dan Sarles, WSDOT regional administrator for the North Central Region. “The snow is unusually heavy and wet, snapping and uprooting trees at a rate we haven’t seen in decades.”
Highway 2 carries an average of 5,000 vehicles across the pass every day. During the closure, drivers who usually take Highway 2 must detour to Highway 97 Blewett Pass, to connect to Interstate 90 or drivers can take I-90 Snoqualmie Pass.
At Stevens Pass ski resort, occupancy is down since skiers from Eastern Washington can't access the mountain. Meanwhile, employees are stuck.
"I've been up here since yesterday morning at 7:30," says one worker who lives in Leavenworth, whose 40-minute commute has turned into an hours-long nightmare. "I was frustrated yesterday. I'm beyond frustrated now."
were is the snow for western washing???
You sha'll not pass!
 @3rase LOL!
 @3rase There is no apostrophe in shall. Â
 @PrairieDawn  @3rase It depends. I think he was talking about a Navi named Sha'll. So he just had a missed comma.
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"You, Sha'll, not pass!"
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;)
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...
Normally I would say "Dont drive over Stevens Pass, go under it on the train." But they arent running right now either. GRRRRRRRR!
Darn global warming.....
This comment has been deleted
 @TruthinAdverts Nope, its getting back to the way things were 20-30 years ago. Nothing to see here, move along.
 @TruthinAdverts  @JeepRex Significant climatic extremes. Otherwise known as Summer weather and Winter weather. This isn't southern California with its one season.
leave your car there and take the train. Go back fro the car later.Â
So glad we went to Leavenworth and saw the Christmas lighting at the beginning of the month! Stay safe, everyone!
It is always so heartbreaking to hear of such tragedy this time of year. I have never known the trees to be a problem up on the passes, even when road conditions were the worst. I am wondering if the trees were old and weak or if it's simply the amount of snow coming down?
 @takncarabizniz What I was told at the Stevens Pass Ski Patrol yesterday was that the ground has not frozen as it usually does, meanwhile they sustained large amounts of heavy snow.. This snow is too heavy for these un-anchored trees. This is causing the trees to uproot because their roots are not frozen in. They were using helicopters to "blow" the snow off the trees and power lines on Friday when my folks tried to get to their cabin near there.
 @Thunder  @takncarabizniz Thanks for the information. Sometimes I read the comments first...saves time.
People seem to forget what technology has allowed us to do so easily. But 100 years ago, you didn't go through the passes because it was too dangerous. These so called "day trips" are still very dangerous this time of year, be prepared to get stuck. Have your food, extra clothing, let people know what path you are driving and make sure you call and check in with people who could call for help if you don't show up on time. Be careful and have a Merry Christmas, not a tragic one.
"This is not the mountain pass you are looking for."