Gifford Pinchot National Forest

	USDA Forest Service Gifford Pinchot National Forest Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
For Immediate Release: December 08, 2006
Contact: Robin Rose (360) 891-5177 or Chris Strebig (360) 891-5005

Forest Sno-Parks Hit Hard by Recent Record Rains

Winter Conditions Close Forest Roads

VANCOUVER, WA –– November’s record rainfall and subsequent flooding affected Sno-Parks and key winter routes throughout the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. The November floods resulted in washouts, debris, and water over roadways and trails.  Forest crews are assessing the impact to winter recreation facilities. Visitors to Sno-Parks in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest should check the Gifford Pinchot National Forest website (www.fs.fed.us/gpnf) or contact the local Forest Service office before traveling.

SNO-PARK Status
All Sno-Parks in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest are open, however, many key winter routes have been affected by flood damage. On the south side of Mount St. Helens, roads and trails leading from the popular Marble and Cougar Sno-Parks, where a state record for rainfall in a 24-hour period (15.20 inches) was set earlier this month, were heavily impacted. Less than a mile east of Marble Mt. Sno-Park, winter sports enthusiasts will need to cross twelve inches of running water to continue east on Forest Road 83.

Storm damage may have impacted non-groomed snowmobile routes leading from the Johnson Creek and Skate Creek Sno-Parks on the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District. Snowmobilers should be alert when riding these non-groomed routes.

Forest visitors seeking winter recreation opportunities may still access Sno-Parks in the Mt. Adams Ranger District. However, flooding has resulted in washouts of some connecting roadways, and debris over some trails.  Travelers should be alert for hazardous conditions including gullies formed by water and melt-out under snow creating unstable snow bridges.

Please check the Forest website for current conditions at the Sno-Parks: www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/winter/current-conditions.shtml
FOREST ROADS Status

With recent snowfall in the Cascades, many Forest roads, (www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/current-conditions/roads.shtml), will become increasingly hazardous or impassable to automobile travel, particularly at higher elevations.

Forest Service Road 99, to the Windy Ridge Viewpoint on the east side of Mount St. Helens, is closed for the winter at the Wakepish Sno-Park.

Expect winter driving conditions beginning at milepost 27 on State Route 504 on the west side of Mount St. Helens. The Coldwater Ridge Visitor Center (elevation 3,110 feet) is open Saturday - Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please call ahead to check on conditions at (360) 274-2114. The Johnston Ridge Observatory is closed for the winter. Travelers on State Route 504 should watch out for ice in shaded areas and on bridges. State Route 504 is closed east of Coldwater Lake because of snow and slides.

Forest Road 25, on the east side of Mount St. Helens, is closed at its junction with Forest Road 93 north of the Pine Creek Information Station, and at Wakepish Sno-Park south of Randle, Wash. More than two feet of snow has fallen at Elk Pass (elevation 4,080 feet).

Forest Road 23, between Randle and Trout Lake is receiving snow. The road is closed due to washout 0.8 miles north of the junction with Forest Road 90.

Forest Service Road 52 (Skate Creek Road), from Packwood to Highway 706, is closed and gated for the winter.

Many roads on the Gifford Pinchot that had been open prior to December 1 are now closed for the winter months. Wildlife winter range closures and winter sports closures will be taking effect and restricting vehicular access to many popular spots on the Forest. These closures are in effect to protect wildlife during the winter period and to provide for winter sports such as skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. Winter wildlife and winter sports closures will be in effect until April 1, 2007.

Most Forest roads are now potentially hazardous to travel. Please make sure you and your vehicle are prepared for winter travel; carry emergency equipment and chains. Your safety depends on good planning and good judgment. For updates on weather and road conditions, contact Forest Service offices and for state wide road information visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/

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US Forest Service
Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Vancouver, WA
Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument - Amboy, WA
Last Modified: Friday, 08 December 2006 at 18:09:04 EST