Ski to Sea course, weather and road conditions you need to know before Sunday’s event
Memorial Day weekend is expected to be cloudy with some showers in Bellingham, making this year’s Ski to Sea race a chilly one, according to the National Weather Service.
Sunday’s Ski to Sea race is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. sharp, Sunday, May 29, up on Mount Baker with cross country skiing, followed by legs of downhill skiing or snowboarding, running, road biking, canoeing, cyclocross biking and kayaking. The finish line will be at Marine Park in Fairhaven with local food vendors and an award ceremony.
Racers face a chance of showers, mainly before 11 a.m., in Bellingham, and a high temperature of 61 is expected.
Mount Baker Ski Area has a chance of snow Saturday, May 28, with the snow level rising to 5,300 feet in the afternoon. Sunday has a chance of rain, with snow level rising to 6,000 feet in the afternoon. The weather on the mountain will be mostly cloudy, with a high near 45, according to the weather service.
The Nooksack River at Ferndale will be running at 8.5 feet Sunday, according to NOAA trends. And, while the trend for water temperature is rising, it’s still in the low 50s.
For the kayak leg, the National Weather Service’s marine forecast is predicting westerly winds up to 10 knots becoming southerly on race day. Wind waves 1 foot or less are predicted for the Northern inland waters. Seas will likely build up to around 8 feet by Sunday morning with a weekend weather front expected but remain below any advisory levels.
Ski to Sea will take place rain or shine, but the sea kayaking leg could change routes due to weather. The race has set up a short and long course that, depending on wind, could change race day.
“The call of long or short course is made around 11 a.m. that morning but can also change throughout the day if the wind picks up. It only changes due to wind, not rain,” Anna Rankin, Ski to Sea race director, wrote in an email.
Mount Baker Highway will be closed from 7:15-11 a.m. on Sunday between Canyon Creek Road in Glacier and The Mount Baker Lodge. No vehicles will be allowed to travel down the mountain until the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office permits but is likely to open around 10:30 a.m. for vehicles staying behind a van that checks the running course.
Vehicles are not allowed to be parked along the course between the Shuksan Department of Transportation shed and the Heather Meadows Lodge at Mount Baker.
For the full course map to avoid traffic, visit Ski to Sea’s website.
When arriving at the finish line at Marine Park, it can be difficult to find parking. Public transportation is encouraged by the Ski to Sea website, which offers parking suggestions.
There is pay parking across the street from the Bellingham Cruise Terminal located at 355 Harris Ave., as well as a park-by-donation lot at Sacred Heart Catholic Church that opens at 12:30 p.m. and is located at 1110 14th St.
Whatcom Transportation Authority will also be running extra buses on Route 14 between Western Washington University and the finish line, according to a news release from Maureen McCarthy, WTA director of community and government relations.
Parking will be free at WWU’s Lot C on Bill McDonald Parkway at West College Way. Buses will depart from three bus shelters on the west side of Bill McDonald Parkway near the WWU recreation center. The buses will depart every 15 minutes between 10:45 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., and after 7:30 p.m. the route will resume its regular Sunday schedule.
Each ride costs $1 cash for those ages 18 and older and exact change is required. The buses will also accept valid WTA bus passes.
Route 14 will return to WWU Lot C from the bus shelter at 12th and McKenzie, or riders can take Route 1 between downtown Bellingham and Fairhaven, which departs every 15 minutes on Sundays.
This story was originally published May 26, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
