Posts Tagged ‘gifford pinchot’

Winter Road Closures in Place on Gifford Pinchot National Forest (Washington)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Chris Strebig (360) 891-5005

VANCOUVER, WA – Due to the unusually low snowpack this year, officials with the Gifford Pinchot National Forest would like to remind all forest visitors that there is a winter recreation road closure from December 1 to April 1 that prohibits wheeled vehicles on certain roads. These closures are to protect wildlife during the winter period and to provide for winter sports such as skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. This closure helps to prevent damage to the surface of the groomed snowmobile and ski trails. Compliance with this closure will help save money targeted for snow grooming. Please check with your local Forest Service Office for the list of roads that are closed.

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Gifford Pinchot Forest Roads 25, 81, and 83 Gated for Winter Season (Washington)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Chris Strebig (360) 891-5005 cell (360) 901-2131

Vancouver, WA – Increasing snow at higher elevations is causing the closure of some Forest roads for the winter. Winter recreationists should keep in mind that roads to Sno-Parks will not be plowed until December 1 or later.

Forest Road 25 is now gated at the south end due to increasing snow levels at higher elevations. The north end of Forest Road 25 is gated at Benham Creek, five miles north of Forest Road 99, due to an ongoing landslide. Forest Road 81 is closed beyond Cougar Sno-Park, and Forest Road 83 is closed beyond Marble Mountain Sno-Park.

Forest Service Road 52 (Skate Creek Road), from Packwood to Highway 706, is still open, however, wintry conditions should be expected. Gates at both ends of the road will be closed when snow accumulates.

On the west side of Mount St. Helens, State Route 504 remains open east of the Hoffstadt Bluffs Visitor Center as far Coldwater Lake recreation site. 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 as well as for wildlife. The Washington State Department of Transportation plans to maintain State Route 504 for winter travel to Coldwater Lake and the Hummocks Trail as weather conditions and available equipment permit. Winter visitors need to be aware that road conditions can change quickly due to blowing snow. For the latest information on State Route 504 and other Washington State Highways visit WSDOT’s web site at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/regions/Southwest/. Motorists can receive updates by calling 511.

As winter snows arrive many roads on the Gifford Pinchot will be closed for the winter months. As winter closures take effect, vehicular access will be restricted to many popular spots on the Forest. These closures are to protect wildlife during the winter period and to provide for winter sports such as skiing, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. All closed areas, are open to the public with access by foot. Wheeled vehicles are restricted from all-winter sports travel routes. Snowmobiles are not allowed in wildlife winter range areas. Once implemented winter wildlife and winter sports closures will be in effect until April 1, 2010.

Please make sure you and your vehicle are prepared for winter travel. Remember to 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 statewide road information visit www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/.

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/news/2009/documents/final-20091025a-Roads-closures.pdf

Landslide Closes Forest Road 25/Wakepish Sno-Park Closed for Season (Washington)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2009

CONTACT: Chris Strebig (360) 891-5005

Vancouver, WA – An ongoing landslide has closed Forest Road 25 at Benham Creek 5 miles north of the Forest Road 99 junction to Windy Ridge. A large landslide closed the road last winter, and a temporary bridge was installed in June to provide access on this major north and south Forest access route. Recent heavy rains are dislodging additional material at the Benham Creek site causing Forest officials to call for a complete closure to protect public safety.

Wakepish Sno-Park which is located at the junction of Forest Road 25 and Forest Road 99 will be closed for the season due to the bridge closure. Three other Sno-Parks (Johnson Creek, Skate Creek, and Orr Creek) on the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District should be accessible this winter. Visitors should contact the Cowlitz Valley Ranger District at (360) 497-1100, or visit the Gifford Pinchot National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/gpnf for additional information.

As snow levels drop below 3,000 feet in elevation, Forest visitors are cautioned to check ahead on road conditions with local Forest Service offices or the Gifford Pinchot National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/gpnf. All Forest visitors should prepare for winter weather driving conditions. Snow plowing on Gifford Pinchot National Forest roads occurs only to Sno-parks through the Washington Parks and Recreation Commission as funding allows. The majority of Forest roads are not plowed for snow, and Forest visitors are cautioned to plan their visit to the Forest based on increasing snow levels and the possibility of getting stranded if they drive Forest roads at higher elevation. Currently, about 2 feet of snow blankets elevations above 4,000 feet.

The Forest has started work with Federal Highways on design and replacement of the bridge over Benham Creek. Completion of the permanent bridge is scheduled for 2011.

For current Forest road information, please contact Gifford Pinchot National Forest offices. The Forest Headquarters in Vancouver can be reached at 360-891-5000; Cowlitz Valley Ranger District in Randle can be reached at 360-497-1100; Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Headquarters in Amboy can be reached at 360-449-7800, and; Mount Adams Ranger District in Trout Lake can be reached at 509-395-3400.

For more information on current road conditions, visit http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/currentconditions/roads.shtml or call any of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest offices.

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/news/2009/documents/final-20091120a-ForestRoad25-Wakepish.pdf

Landslide Threatens Closure of Forest Road 25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10, 2009 cell (360) 901-2131

CONTACT: Chris Strebig (360) 891-5005, cell (360) 901-2131

VANCOUVER, WA – Forest Road 25 at Benham Creek 5 miles north of the Forest Road 99 junction to Windy Ridge may be closed at any time due to a landslide. A large landslide closed the road last winter, and a temporary bridge was installed in June to provide access on this major north and south Forest access route. Recent heavy rains are dislodging additional material at the Benham Creek site causing Forest officials to consider a complete closure to protect public safety.

As snow levels drop below 3,000 feet in elevation, Forest visitors are cautioned to check ahead on road conditions with local Forest Service offices or the Gifford Pinchot National Forest website at www.fs.fed.us/gpnf. All Forest visitors should prepare for winter weather driving conditions. Snow plowing on Gifford Pinchot National Forest roads occurs only to Sno-parks through the Washington Parks and Recreation Commission as funding allows. The majority of Forest roads are not plowed for snow, and Forest visitors are cautioned to plan their visit to the Forest based on increasing snow levels and the possibility of getting stranded if they drive Forest roads at higher elevation. Currently, about 2 feet of snow blankets elevations above 4,000 feet.

The Forest has started work with Federal Highways on design and replacement of the bridge over Benham Creek. Completion of the permanent bridge is scheduled for 2011.

For current Forest road information, please contact Gifford Pinchot National Forest offices. The Forest Headquarters in Vancouver can be reached at 360-891-5000; Cowlitz Valley Ranger District in Randle can be reached at 360-497-1100; Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument Headquarters in Amboy can be reached at 360-449-7800, and; Mount Adams Ranger District in Trout Lake can be reached at 509-395-3400. For more information on current road conditions, visit http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/recreation/currentconditions/roads.shtml or call any of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest offices.

http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/news/2009/documents/final-20091110a-ForestRoad25.pdf

Forest Hosts Tenth Annual Pick Up the Pinchot, Public Lands Day Events

VANCOUVER, WA – Join us this fall for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest’s tenth Annual Pick Up the Pinchot (P.U.P.) clean-up events.

There are three P.U.P. events scheduled for Saturday, September 27. These events are part of National Public Lands Day events scheduled across the country in late September.

“On National Public Lands Day, we all have a chance to contribute to the well being of our public lands for this and future generations of Americans,” said Al Matecko, Acting Forest Supervisor. “Last year, more than 150 people participated in PUP events, and worked on projects to remove trash and help restore the East Fork of the Lewis River. We hope that people will continue to join us and volunteers around southwest Washington this year.” Read more…

Unknown Lake at South Prairie

Unknown lake at South Prairie as viewed from FS-66 in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington.

Read the complete trip report at Washington Cascades Overland Tour.

Burley Mountain to Mt St Helens Tour 10.13.07

Each time I venture to the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in the South Cascades of Washington state, I am simply amazed at the beauty of the country. In this region, not only are you are surrounded by four major peaks of the Cascade Mountains (Mt. Rainier, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Hood), there is an extensive variety of terrain ranging from deep valleys and canyons to exposed buttes and cliffs, alpine meadows to old growth forests, and of course, the Mt. St. Helens blast zone. I could easily spend days or even weeks just exploring the region.

With that in mind, I decided to host a Backroad Drivers Northwest tour in the area just south of Randle, Washington. This region is an area which I am fairly familiar with having spent a lot of time hunting, camping and exploring with my father while growing up. The tour would follow one of my favorite routes in the area, Forest Road 77 from the Burley Mountain Lookout along the ridge past Pinto Rock and Mosquito Meadows. From Mosquito Meadows, we would would take FS 99 to the Windy Ridge Viewpoint at Mt. St. Helens and follow FS 26 back to Randle.
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