Olympic National Park, in collaboration with community partners, hosts a Grand Winter Opening celebration this Friday, Dec. 17, at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.

The public event is co-sponsored by the City of Port Angeles, ARAMARK and the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce in celebration of Hurricane Ridge Road opening for seven-day access this winter.

Olympic National Park will waive entrance fees at the Heart O’ the Hills entrance station for the day.

“We invite the public to join our partners and us in celebrating the beginning of the winter season and our new seven-day a week access schedule,” said Karen Gustin, Olympic National Park Superintendent.  “The weather forecast looks promising for Friday, and we’re hoping for a good turnout of winter enthusiasts to mark the beginning of daily winter access.”

As always, winter access to Hurricane Ridge is weather dependent.  For up-to-date information on road and weather conditions, people can visit the Olympic National Park website at www.nps.gov/olym, follow HRWinterAccess on Twitter, or call the recorded Road and Weather Hotline at 565-3131.

All vehicles are required to carry chains when traveling the Hurricane Ridge Road in winter.

The brief Grand Winter Opening ceremony will begin at noon on Friday, Dec. 17, and will be held just outside the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center.  Attendees are invited to warm up inside the Visitor Center following the brief ceremony.  ARAMARK, the park concessionaire which operates the Hurricane Ridge Snack Bar and Ski Shop, will offer light refreshments including coffee and hot chocolate.

The event will include short remarks from Olympic National Park Superintendent Karen Gustin, Port Angeles City Councilwoman Cherie Kidd, a representative from Rep. Norm Dicks and a representative from the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club. Also featured will be the unveiling of a new “Road Open” banner to help publicize this year’s seven day a week plowing schedule.

All Points Charters and Tours will begin its shuttle service from downtown Port Angeles to Hurricane Ridge on Friday, Dec. 17, and offers twice-daily van service Wednesday through Sunday through the end of March. Advance reservations are strongly recommended and can be made by calling All Points Charters and Tours at 565-1139 or 460-7131.  Round trip tickets cost $10 per person.

The Hurricane Ridge snack bar and ski shop, with both ski and snowshoe rentals, will be open this Friday as scheduled, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.  The snack bar is open for ‘grab and go’ only on Fridays; full services are available Saturdays and Sundays.

A ranger-led snowshoe walks for individuals and families will be offered as scheduled at 2 p.m. on Friday.  The walk lasts 90 minutes and is less than one mile in length. People should register at the Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center information desk 30 minutes before the scheduled walk.  A suggested $5 donation from each snowshoe walk participant helps the park provide snowshoe walks and repair and replace snowshoes.