Thinking about snow in August? Why not! Fundraising party to keep Hurricane Ridge Road open all winter Saturday.

PORT ANGELES — Barrett Christy is a pro snowboarder who participated in the 1998 Winter Olympics and has more X Games medals than any other woman.

Her husband, Temple Cummins, also is a pro snowboarder with X Games experience and who is on YouTube jumping a moving train on a snowboard.

The couple, new Sequim residents, are expected to be special guests at a Saturday fundraiser to raise community funds to continue winter access to Hurricane Ridge all winter, weather permitting.

After all, Christy and Cummins moved to the area because of daily access to the Ridge during winter months, said Frank Crippen, owner of North by Northwest.

“They moved here from Gig Harbor to surf, [for] the recreational opportunities and the road being open year-round to the Ridge,” said Crippen, a board member of the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club, which is sponsoring the fundraiser.

“Going up to the Ridge every day in the winter was a big influence for them to move up here.”

For the road to Hurricane Ridge to stay open, though, $9,000 still needs to be raised by Monday’s deadline, Crippen said.

About $66,000 has been raised by the community toward a goal of $75,000 to keep the road open seven days a week from late fall to spring except for when storms shut the Ridge down.

Saturday’s Hurricane Ridge Winter Access Benefit, scheduled for the R Bar, 134 E. Front St., should go a long way toward reaching that goal, Crippen said.

The event for those 21 and older costs $25 at the door, starts at 6 p.m. and lasts until 10 p.m. — though those who attend can stay longer.

It will feature bands, disc jockeys, drink specials, raffles, a silent auction and a happy hour with a free buffet and free beer and wine from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The entrance fee to the fundraiser goes down to $10 after 8 p.m.

“Party all night, until 2 a.m. if you want,” Crippen said.

The deadline for the community fund is Monday.

Community donations are needed to match a $250,000 federal Department of Interior pledge to keep the Ridge open in the winter.

“There is only one road to Hurricane Ridge, so we need to keep it open,” Crippen said.

“In Seattle, 15 roads go to the Cascades, but we have only one that goes up into the snow.”

In the winter, Hurricane Ridge offers winter sports fun for families, including skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and other snow events.

This is the second year of a pilot project by Interior to keep the road to Hurricane Ridge open seven days a week in the winter.

In 2010, Interior agreed to provide the funds for two or three years if community members raised $75,000 each year of the trial.

Crippen and other fundraising leaders are hoping snowboarding superstars Christy and Cummins will help pack the R Bar with snow enthusiasts Saturday.

Calls requesting comment from the two were not answered.

Those who can’t attend the party can still donate.

Checks to keep the road open also can be taken to North by Northwest, 902 S. Lincoln St., or Necessities & Temptations, 217 N. Laurel St., Crippen said.

Checks can be written to Washington’s National Park Fund, Olympic National Park-Hurricane Ridge, or they can be mailed to Washington’s National Park Fund, Olympic National Park-Hurricane Ridge, at Chase, P.O. Box 64626, University Place, WA 98464.

Donations can also be made online at the website of Washington’s National Park Fund, www.wnpf.org.

To help reach the goal, Clallam County commissioners agreed to a $25,000 match Tuesday.

The Port Angeles City Council voted unanimously to contribute $25,000 last month. The Sequim City Council also approved a $5,000 donation.

Other contributions include $3,000 from the Olympic Tourism Commission, $2,500 from the Port Angeles Business Association and $1,000 from the Clallam County Bed and Breakfast Association.

________

Sports Editor Brad ­LaBrie can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at brad.labrie@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in Sports

Wilder Baseball Club.
AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL: Wilder Jr. shuts out Wollochet behind DeLeon

Wilder Junior completed a sweep over Wollochet with four-hit… Continue reading

Port Angeles Lefties.
WEST COAST LEAGUE: Lefties swept by first-place Apple Sox

Despite a grand slam home run from Jeremy Giesegh, the… Continue reading

Strait Slice Pizza won the Peninsula Soccer League championship this weekend. From left, kneeling (not including children), are Kaye Thomas, Kelsey Kuhn, Beckie Lee, Mel Messineo, Taryn Asmus, Victoria Jones and Jack Waknitz. From left, standing, are Sam Havens, Ian Miller, Christine Loewe, Alli Roth, Aaron Lee, Kyle Henderson, Jimmy Quigley, Luke Strong-Cvetich, Zach Gray, Isaiah Jindrich and Minh Pham-Bui.
PENINSULA SOCCER LEAGUE: Strait Slice league champions

Strait Slice Pizza won the Peninsula Soccer League championship this weekend. From… Continue reading

Wilder Senior’s Bryant Laboy hits a chopper against Whatcom Post No. 7 while Landen Olson waits in the on-deck circle. Wilder Senior was able to win the pitchers’ duel with a walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh by Braydan White. (Pierre LaBossiere/Peninsula Daily News)
AMERICAN LEGION: Wilder Senior wins four straight

Senior’s Ethan Staples fires no-hitter

Port Angeles Lefties.
WEST COAST LEAGUE: Lefties drop pair of games to Wenatchee

The Port Angeles Lefties couldn’t have had two more different… Continue reading

KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Lefties first baseman Will White tries to catch Seattle Gumberoos baserunner Eoin Buechs off the bag during Thursday's game at Port Angeles Civic Field.
PORT ANGELES LEFTIES: Lefties sweep the Gumberoos after 9-1 victory

The Port Angeles Lefties completed a three-game sweep over… Continue reading

Crab season begins in marine areas surrounding the North Olympic Peninsula on July 3. (Annie Johnson/WDFW)
OUTDOORS: Recreational crabbing season to open July 3

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced Puget Sound… Continue reading

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife completed the purchase late last month of the Sekiu boat ramp. (WDFW)
OUTDOORS: WDFW completes purchase of Sekiu boat launch

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has finalized its… Continue reading

Westport won its second straight Olympic Junior Babe Ruth championship, beating Local 155 6-3 on Wednesday. Front row, on knee, is Kade Johnstad. Middle row, from left, is bat boy Hans, Tristan Konopaski, Kayden Morrison, Zach Clay, Abe Brenkman, Easton Prchal, Parker Pavlak, Lane Wilson, Noah Johnstad, Jay Lieberman, Easton Prchal, Aidan Smith, Dakota Morrison and assistant coach Jared Johnstad. Back row, from left, is assistant coach Nick Cannady, head coach Carey Pavlak and assistant coach Matt Prchal.
OLYMPIC JUNIOR BABE RUTH: Westport wins back-to-back titles

Westport won back-to-back Olympic Junior Babe Ruth championships, beating… Continue reading

Port Angeles Lefties.
PORT ANGELES LEFTIES: Lefties win second straight over Seattle

The Port Angeles Lefties beat the Seattle Gumberoos 7-2… Continue reading

AREA SPORTS BRIEFS: Sprague resigns as Crescent volleyball coach

Kimber Sprague has announced her resignation as head volleyball coach… Continue reading