Closing the North Cascades Pass is a yearly occurrence, closing Stevens or Blewett Pass is not uncommon, but it is not every year that Tumwater Canyon on highway 2 just west of Leavenworth is closed because of avalanche danger. The entire region was hit over night, Sunday Dec. 2nd and Monday Dec. 3rd, with massive amounts of snow followed by a steady rainfall making the possibility of avalanches and snow slides probable.

Tumwater Canyon, known more for falling rocks than falling snow, had between 20 and 50 separate avalanches cover the entire roadway. This caused numerous cars and even semi trucks to get caught in between slide areas or be covered in snow themselves. Washington State Department of Transportation workers worked their way in from both the west and east ends and evacuated the stranded motorists. The canyon was then closed, to be evaluated later during daylight hours. Stevens Pass, also on highway 2, was closed later that same morning and not opened up until 2:30pm in the afternoon of December 3rd.

Semi-Trucks having trouble making it through Tumwater Canyon after avalanches came down. Many vehicles were left abandoned while state workers evacuated motorists from the dangerous areas.

Photos courtesy of Washington State Department of Transportation