SAM Magazine-Snoqualmie Pass, Wash., Jan. 8, 2009-Heavy rains and high snow levels have taken a toll on Washington ski resorts, with avalanches, mudslides and floods shuttering resorts and making access roads impassible. At Snoqualmie Pass, rain sparked a 300-foot-wide slide that toppled two lift towers on the resort's Keechelus chairlift. The debris from the incident also damaged structures at the base of the resort, but no major injuries were reported.

The warm weather and rain prompted the Washington Highway Department to close a section of I-5 due to flooding, and all mountain passes due to the potential for avalanches and mudslides. Many ski resorts saw their access roads closed due to the danger as well-including Summit at Snoqualmie, Stevens Pass, Mt. Baker, Crystal Mountain, and White Pass. One exception was Mission Ridge, but that ski area was forced to cease operations due to wind gusts exceeding 120 mph.

The rain and high freezing level came in the wake of a strong storm that dropped up to 50 inches of snow in some areas during the first few days of the New Year.

Snow and colder temperatures are expected to return Thursday night and Friday, and most resorts are expected to resume operations on Friday. One of these, Steven's Pass, has endured two days of weather and highway related closures. The resort will run six of 10 chairlifts on Friday prior to resuming full operations on Saturday. "We are pleased with the way our mountain operations and WA DOT personnel managed the impacts associated with this recent storm, and are extremely happy to be open once again for skiing and riding" said GM John Gifford. He credited cold early-season conditions and a well-managed storm water runoff infrastructure for allowing the snowpack to shed most of the precipitation from earlier in the week, while minimizing damage to the mountain. \

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