Update on snow at Stevens Pass, other ski areas in region

Snow has begun falling for real at higher elevations in the Cascades.

If you’re a skier or snowboarder, that’s great news. If you’re a hiker, that means you need to plan your excursions more carefully to stay safe. Check conditions before you head out and be sure to bring the 10 essentials.

Here’s a roundup of some conditions around the area.

Stevens Pass

As of Monday, there was a little over a foot of snow at the top of the Tye Mill and Jupiter lifts.

Check out a quick video of what it looked like.

You can also check Stevens’ web cams to see how things look like right now.

If you’re thinking about buying a season pass, the price goes up after Sunday.

Mount Baker

The Mount Baker ski area had about 8 inches of snow at Heather Meadows, as of Tuesday. More snow is expected this week. Check out a video to see conditions.

The last 2.7 miles of the Mount Baker Highway, Highway 542, have been closed. That section of road provides access to the popular Artist Point viewpoint. The section of road will be closed until snow melts enough to reopen it, probably in early summer 2016. The Glacier Public Service Center will be open on Saturdays and Sundays, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Snoqualmie

Snoqualmie Pass, which has four ski areas — Alpental, Summit West, Summit Central and Summit East — has about 9 inches at the top of Alpental. Take a look at the conditions at their website.

Crystal Mountain

The Crystal Mountain ski area had about 10 inches at the top of Green Valley as of Monday and received about an inch of snow overnight. Check out the conditions and webcams here.

White Pass

The White Pass Ski Area reported about 15 inches of snow at High Camp. Check out the snow report here.

Mount Rainier

All vehicles, including four-wheel-drive vehicles, are now required to carry chains in the park. The road to Sunrise is closed for the season, as is the road to Mowich Lake. Other roads will close soon. Check the park website for the status of roads. The gate on the road to Paradise will close each night and reopen each morning, if conditions allow. Check the park’s Twitter feed for updates.

Olympic National Park

Deer Park Road and Obstruction Park Road are closed for the season. Most other roads are open, check here for the status. The road to Hurricane Ridge is currently open 24 hours a day, but could close at anytime based on conditions. Check on the Hurricane Ridge current status on the park’s website.