Washington Pass Birthday Tour

The Birth­day Tour is spring ski-tour­ing clas­sic that becomes eas­i­ly acces­si­ble when Wash­ing­ton Pass along the famous North Cas­cades High­way opens in April or May. Span­ning 5 miles, the Birth­day tour cir­cum­nav­i­gates a long ridge strad­dling Okanogan and Chelan Coun­ties, and access­es many open bowls and chutes. Best of all the tour typ­i­cal­ly doesn’t involve car­ry­ing your skis even as late as mid-June! 

If you are new to back­coun­try ski­ing this is guar­an­teed to get you hooked! The Birth­day Tour pro­vides plen­ty of ski­ing for all abil­i­ty lev­el and incred­i­ble views of the North Cas­cades. With slopes at a vari­ety of aspects and angles, and the abil­i­ty to ski in either direc­tion depend­ing on the con­di­tions, the Birth­day Tour near­ly always pro­vides great snow con­di­tions. For many, The Birth­day Tour rep­re­sents an annu­al rite of spring. 

There are many superb options near­by for those look­ing to extend their stay in the WA Pass area. Maple Pass, just a short dri­ve from WA Pass prop­er, offers a long tour over var­ied ter­rain that is just as epic, but less trav­eled than the Birth­day Tour. Anoth­er option is a trip up and over Sil­ver Star, that involves ski­ing on glaciat­ed ter­rain, and a pos­si­ble sum­mit of Sil­ver Star.

Addi­tion­al­ly there are dozens of long, or short­er tours that are suit­able for skiers of many abil­i­ty lev­els. We can find a tour that is guar­an­teed to stoke your fire, just give us a call to make the arrangements!