Gifford Pinchot National Forest

	USDA Forest Service Gifford Pinchot National Forest
For Immediate Release: July 23, 2008
Contact: Chris Strebig (360) 891-5005 or Roger Peterson (360) 891-5007

Winter Road Damage Limits Access to Windy Ridge on the East Side of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument

VANCOUVER, WA – Forest Road 99, which provides access to the Windy Ridge viewpoint, has opened to the Bear Meadows interpretive site. Forest road crews recently encountered several areas affected by heavy snow pack and winter storm damage on this high elevation road (see photos posted at the bottom of this release). A major failure of Forest Road 99, which accesses the east side of the Mount St Helens National Volcanic Monument (MSHNVM), will prevent visitors, for the remainder of the summer, from accessing the popular Windy Ridge viewpoint over looking Spirit Lake as well as the northeast side of the volcano. Forest personnel are completing road damage reports.

Visitors will only be able to access Windy Ridge on foot or by bicycle, as the road will remain closed to motor vehicles until further notice. It is approximately 11 miles one way from Bear Meadows to Wind Ridge. Forest staff recommend that visitors with RV’s and trailers leave these at the Wakepish Sno-Park, at the junction of Roads 99 and 25, as parking at Bear Meadows is limited.

The following is a list of approximate one way mileages from Bear Meadows to sites along Forest Road 99:

• To the Blast Edge Viewpoint: 1.5 miles
• To Meta Lake and the Miners Car: 4 miles
• To the Norway Pass Trailhead: 5 miles
• To Cascade Peaks View Point: 6 miles
• To the Independence Pass Trailhead: 7 miles
• To the Harmony Trailhead: 9 miles
• To the Windy Ridge Viewpoint: 11 miles.
  

The 17-mile Forest Road 99 enters the core of the area devastated by the 1980 eruption, and terminates at the Windy Ridge viewpoint. It offers views of Spirit Lake, the debris avalanche, and the northeast side of the volcano and crater.

In the late 1980’s the road was upgraded, as a result of a major reconstruction effort, to a two lane asphalt standard. Side slopes are often very steep, and much of the outside lane was constructed on fill material of deep pumice soils. Once the snow melts out in the late spring, there are typically small slides and minor damage to the shoulders of this road. These slides can normally be cleared through routine maintenance activities.

Heavy snow this past winter delayed the typical opening date, normally between Memorial Day and mid-June. Fall storms also battered the area, which resulted in emergency declarations for surrounding counties. This may have triggered or accelerated the failures.

Forest Road 25 on the east side of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument opened recently. This road provides key north/south access from Randle and Packwood to Swift Reservoir and other areas on the south end, and also on the east side of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Drivers and motorcycle riders should use caution on Forest Road 25 as some road areas may have settled; and rocks and other debris may be on the road bed. The road offers several views of Mount St. Helens. Secondary roads off of Forest Road 25 may have snowdrifts, fallen trees, and rocks.

On the north end of Forest Road 25, the Woods Creek bridge project will enable coho salmon to access additional habitat in Woods Creek. A temporary bridge bypass allows drivers to access Forest Road 25 with only minor delays at milepost 4, south of Randle, Washington. This bridge project has begun.

Due to 2006’s flood and 2008 winter damage, forest visitors should continue to check conditions before attempting to access some popular sites in the Forest. Heavy snow pack remains at higher elevations and will continue to delay the opening of some higher elevation recreation facilities until later this summer.

Due to flood damage, Forest Road 81 remains closed between Kalama Horse Camp and Forest Road 830 leading to Climbers Bivouac (Forest Road 830). Construction to repair this section of road is scheduled for the summer of 2009.

Road access to the Climbers Bivouac is now open. Forest Road 83 is closed to all motorized traffic east of the Marble Mountain Sno-Park, due to flood damage. This has closed access to the Lahar and Lava canyons on the south side of Mount St. Helens. Construction to repair this section of road may begin in late summer of 2008.

Forest Road 23, a major cross-Forest route between Randle and Trout Lake, Wash., remains closed by snow. A washout 0.8 miles north of the junction with Forest Road 90 will only allow access to Takhlakh Lake Campground by traveling south from Randle, on Forest Road 23. Construction to repair this section of road will begin later this summer.

Campgrounds:
Takhlakh Lake Campground still has two to three feet of snow in places. Crews are removing danger trees from this high elevation campground which will open in early August.

Crews have also repaired the E Loop of the La Wis Wis Campground near Packwood. This loop sustained major damaged in the fall storms of 2006. This loop will open to campers this Saturday July 26, affording visitors access to premium camping sites located near the Cowlitz River.

Visitors to the Forest should take an extra measure of caution this year, and research thoroughly their planned route to learn of any known hazards, or if access to trailheads is blocked by road washouts. Travelers should drive cautiously on all Forest roads and be prepared to encounter sections of road damaged this past winter. For your safety, please use your headlights when driving on Forest roads. When traveling into the Forest, check with the district office nearest your destination for the latest conditions. Motorcycle riders need to be especially alert for cracks, depressions, wildlife, and loose gravel.

For more information, please visit the Road Report on the Forest website or call the Gifford Pinchot Forest Headquarters (360) 891-5000, or one of the Forest Ranger District offices.

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US Forest Service
Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Vancouver, WA
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument - Amboy, WA
Last Modified: Wednesday, 23 July 2008 at 19:05:33 EDT