Gifford Pinchot
National Forest
Forest Headquarters
10600 N.E. 51st Circle
Vancouver, WA 98682
(360) 891-5000
TTY: (360) 891-5003
Cowlitz Valley
Ranger District
10024 US Hwy 12
PO Box 670
Randle, WA 98377
(360) 497-1100
TTY: (360) 497-1101
Mt. Adams
Ranger District
2455 Hwy 141
Trout Lake, WA 98650
(509) 395-3400
TTY: (360) 891-5003
Mount St. Helens
National Volcanic
Monument
Monument Headquarters
42218 N.E. Yale Bridge Rd.
Amboy, WA 98601
(360) 449-7800
TTY: (360) 891-5003
Johnston Ridge Observatory
24000 Spirit Lake Highway
P.O. Box 326
Toutle, WA 98649
(360) 274-2140
Mount St. Helens
Visitor Center
at Silver Lake
3029 Spirit Lake Highway
Castle Rock, WA 98611
(Operated by Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission)
TTY: Phone for the Deaf
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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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Damage
to Forest Road 99 at Mile post 8, July 2008 |
Damage
to Forest Road 99 at Mile post 8, July 2008 |
Damage
to Forest Road 99, July 2008 |
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