White Pass
Hill Climb

Six years ago, the Lewis County Drift Skippers put together a snowmobile hill climb that takes place at the White Pass Ski Resort, located 25 miles east of Packwood, Washington and approximately 50 miles west of Yakima. This event takes place the first weekend of April every year. " What is it?", you ask. It is a tough climb up the steep faced ski run called "Execution." How the Hill Climb works is, the club sets up a winding qualification course which only ascends half way up the hill on Saturday. Only the snowmobile racers who qualify on Saturday are allowed to attempt Execution, and to even be allowed to enter the race you must be 18 years of age. For Sunday morning a new course is set up which goes to the top of the intimidating face of the hill, made even more so if rocks are showing that year. The course that was used for the qualification run the day before is also changed, the only catch is, the deep ruts made by all the sleds on Saturday are not groomed back into a smooth ski run. Oh no, that would be too easy. The new course is set up to cross over, not follow, the deep and hopefully frozen solid ruts carved out by all the previous days runs. This makes for some interesting starts for the racers, and some excitement for the spectators. It also helps prepare the racers for the hair raising, hope your sled doesn't flip over backward and end up in pieces, hill that they are about to tackle. Once, or should it be said IF, a fortunate rider reaches the top he, or yes even she, is safe. If you mess up... Bye Bye sled, hello major repair bill. If you are lucky, your sled will remain on it's track and skies and race as fast as it can straight down the hill to be flipped upside down in the catch net. The other scenario to this event is your sled missing the runaway net and slamming, sometimes airborne, nose first into a stand of old growth timber. Or it could just start tumbling from the moment of ooops and just tear itself up as it rolls down the hill. None of those scenarios leave happy thoughts for the racers, but they do make for an exciting race. Actually, the hill is lined with catchers that risk their body parts and lives to save every snowmobile that starts on a wayward downhill course of it's own. Who by the way, are getting very good at it. The winners are the top three riders with the fastest times in each class. Winners and cash awards are announced and given out inside of the ski lodge at the end of Sunday raceday. Take it from me, a loyal spectator for six years and a club member for longer than that, it's a blast. Each year that we hold the event, more and more racers and spectators show up for an exciting weekend of spectacular crashes and amazing rides. So we hope to see all of you there next year.

For all you adventurous snowmobilers who would like to attempt to conquer Execution for the first time and compete for first prize, we will post registration information, rules and fees when it gets closer to race day.

Our club has had members attempt the run. Those members include: