A CABLE MALFUNCTION on the Hurricane Ridge Poma lift has knocked out that piece of equipment — a bummer for skiers and snowboarders looking to shred on newly fallen powder.
But weather and road conditions permitting, the Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area will still be open this Saturday and Sunday, with rope tows, tubing park and terrain park operating.
The Poma lift cable malfunctioned last weekend and will remain closed pending completion of a review.
“The Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club and the National Park Service share a deep commitment to public safety and are working together to insure that the ski lifts are functioning as designed and intended,” said Olympic National Park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum.
The ski lifts at Hurricane Ridge were inspected earlier this season, as they are every winter.
“The review will include a another thorough inspection by an outside ski lift engineering and inspection firm,” said Greg Halberg, president of the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club.
The Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center, snack bar and ski shop also are scheduled to be open.
For road conditions and closures, call the road condition hotline at 360-565-3131 or check the park’s Twitter account at www.twitter.com/HRWinterAccess.
Ridge fundraiser set
Port Angeles residents Gary and Jan Holmquist will discuss their cycling trip through Europe at a fundraiser for the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club on Saturday.
The couple celebrated their retirement with a tour of six countries in Western Europe.
They will discuss how they planned their trip, using public transportation and share photos from their journey.
The talk is set for 7 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel, 221 N. Lincoln St. in Port Angeles.
Suggested donation is $5.
Tour de Dungeness
Continuing in the cycling vein, the 19th annual Tour de Dungeness, begins Saturday in the Dungeness Valley.
Riders in different categories compete on a 12-mile course that includes Lotzgesell, Cays, East Anderson, Sequim-Dungeness Way, Woodcock and Kitchen-Dick roads.
The tour returns for another race day Saturday, March 19.
Races will start at 9:45 a.m. each day and last until late afternoon.
Parking is available at Tim’s Custom Cabinets, corner of Kitchen-Dick and Lotzgesell roads.
Registration is $35.
Marine Area 6 reopens
Marine Area 6 (Eastern Strait of Juan de Fuca) will reopen Saturday for a week-long blackmouth fishery.
It was a good thing Wednesday’s downpour came in advance of Saturday for anglers who prefer to fish in the relatively safe confines of Port Angeles Harbor.
A brown-tinged mix of stormwater runoff was clearly visible on the harbor as of Thursday afternoon.
But I’d bet it’s nothing a couple of late-afternoon westerly winds can’t clear before Saturday.
Send photos, stories
Have a photograph, a fishing or hunting report, an anecdote about an outdoors experience or a tip on gear or technique?
Send it to sports@peninsuladailynews.com or P.O. Box 1330, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
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Outdoors columnist Michael Carman appears here Thursdays and Fridays. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 57050 or at mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
