Trail Info

[Grumpy]

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REPORT REPORT REPORT

PUBLISHED ON Thursday, May 15, 2008 AT 12:05AM

Snow keeps many areas closed
Campgrounds, trails may not be open by Memorial Day weekend
by Scott Sandsberry
Yakima Herald-Republic

YAKIMA -- It's going to be a scorcher in the lowlands this weekend, but jumping right into those summer activities you've been waiting for might be a problem. Or even impossible.

In some cases, they might not even be doable by Memorial Day weekend.

In the high country, where a way-above-normal snowpack has been diminished little by a relatively crisp spring, it's going to be wet and messy. Many campgrounds are still too full of that soft and melting snow to open; such popular camping areas as Bumping Lake, Lodgepole, Dog Lake, Leech Lake and possibly Pleasant Valley are unlikely to be open by Memorial Day.

"It's going to be a real mess, especially the people that have reservations at places like Bumping," said Naches Ranger District spokesman Doug Jenkins. "Bumping is pretty much always open by Memorial Weekend, and now they're talking about three feet of snow, and (work crews) have had setbacks because of that snow. Trying to get in there and trying to remove it has been a problem. We can't say no, that it won't be open, and we can't say yes. It might all be under water."

A lot of things might be under water. The National Weather Service spotlighted the Yakima and Naches rivers, the Stehekin River west of Lake Chelan, and the Methow River as the state's most likely candidates for approaching flood stage this weekend. That could mean whitewater rafting enthusiasts might want to skip the Methow, which could get enough snowmelt debris that logjams will become an issue.

Debris and logjams could pose dangers, too, for tubers floating the Yakima River over the next several days, when the snowmelt runoff is apt to spread the river higher up its banks and pick up more downed trees and snags.

That same runoff from the anticipated heat wave -- and the thunderstorms that might come with it -- will mean even trails that are open are apt to be mug slogs. The Forest Service even considered closing the Little Naches and other popular motorcycle/four-wheel-drive areas but then decided to leave them open; those areas, though, will be subject to increased enforcement staffing over Memorial Day weekend to watch for "excessive use" and mudding, Forest Service officials say.

Not that there will be much trail worth riding, says district frontcountry trails manager Sam Bissell.

"From all appearances, it looks as if many of the motorcycle and 4x4 trails will be inaccessible because of snow. In fact, many of them may not see ground until as late as mid-June," Bissell said. He added that Pyramid Trail -- from which, in low-snow years, trail users can follow all the way to Pyramid Peak before June -- has less than three miles of snow-free, accessible trail.

People with reservations to campgrounds that are likely to be closed can go to www.recreation.gov or call 877-444-6777 for refund information. With the exception of Dog and Leech lakes, the rest of the Naches district's Forest Service-run campgrounds are expected to be open by Memorial Day. Those include American Forks, Halfway Flat, Kaner, Crow Creek, Clear Lake (North and South) and South Fork Bay.

Northwest Land Management, which operates many campgrounds on Forest Service land, is hoping to open a few of its lower-elevation campgrounds -- such as Indian Creek, Hause Creek and Willows -- this weekend. Other NLM-operated campgrounds, including Cedar springs, Cottonwood, Cougar Flat, Hells Crossing, Little Naches, Sawmill Flat, Soda Springs should all be open by Memorial Day.
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[Lurch]

As of this morning the trails are open in naches. They are supposed to stay open. the campgrounds are a day by day basis depending upon flooding.