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
Categories: Access Tags: benham creek, coldwater lake, gifford pinchot, gifford pinchot national forest, hoffstadt bluffs, hummocks trail, johnston ridge observatory, marble mountain, mount st helens, packwood, skate creek, skiing, sno-park, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, washington, wildlife, winter
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…
Categories: Press Releases Tags: ashford, copper creek, Events, gifford pinchot, lewis county, lewis river, marble mountain, mt adams, mt rainier, mt st helens, national forest, packwood, peterson prairie, skate creek, sno-park, st helens, trout lake, washington
Washington Cascades Overland Tour 2007 – Final Thoughts
Over the last four days, I completed a 681 mile adventure (not counting the additional 465 miles to get to the starting point and back home again) following an overland route through the Cascade Mountains of Washington state, stretching from the Columbia River near Carson, Washington to Chopaka at the border crossing with British Columbia. From my records, about 63% of the overland route was on forest roads.
Categories: Adventures, On The Web Tags: 4wd, 4x4, 80-series, adventure, bethel ridge, british columbia, carson, cascade mountains, cascades, chelan, chopaka, cle elum, columbia river, expedition, fj80, forest road, four wheel drive, ghost towns, land cruiser, manastash, mines, okanogan, oregon discovery route, overland, packwood, seattle, similkameen river, toyota, trail, trip, walla walla, washington
Trip Report: Washington Cascades Overland Tour 2007 – Day Two (08.11.07)
Daily Goal: To Drive from Babyshoe Pass (on FS-23 near Mt. Adams) to Cle Elum, Washington (I-90) via Bethel Ridge and Manastash Ridge.
Categories: Adventures Tags: 4wd, 4x4, 80-series, adventure, arb, babyshoe pass, barber springs, bethel ridge, blewett pass, buck meadow, camp, camping, carson, cascade mountains, cascades, cle elum, expedition, fj80, forest, four wheel drive, gifford pinchot, hugo lake, jim sprick, land cruiser, landcruiser, liberty, manastash, mt adams, mt hood, mt rainier, naches, national forest, nile, oak creek, overland, packwood, park, Photos, quartz mountain, rattlesnake creek, rimrock lake, takhlakh lake, taneum creek, teanaway, tillman creek, tour, toyota, trip, washington, washington cascades, wenatchee, white pass, wildlife
Trip Report: Washington Cascades Overland Tour 2007 – Day One (08.10.07)
Today was going to be a very long day. Not only would I be attempting to reach my destination in Packwood, I would also have to include the drive from my home in the middle of Washington state to the southern border near Oregon to start the tour of the Washington Cascade Mountains. My goal was to complete the drive from the Oregon border to the British Columbia in four days.
Categories: Adventures Tags: adventure, babyshoe pass, babyshoe ridge, bear creek, big lava bed, camp, campground, camping, carson, cascade mountains, cascades, columbia river, dualsport, expedition, fishing, forest, forlorn lakes, gifford pinchot, goose lake, huckleberries, indian heaven, lake, lewis river, lookout, meadows, motorcycle, mt adams, mt hood, national forest, oregon, overland, packwood, red mountain, routes, sawtooth berry fields, south prairie, steamboat lake, suv, tour, triangle pass, trip, twin buttes, twin falls, washington, washington cascades, wilderness, wind river
Washington Cascades Overland Tour 2007: Intro
For the past year, I've had the desire to map out and drive an overland route through the Cascade Mountains of Washington state from the Columbia River near Oregon all the way to northern border with British Columbia.
Categories: Adventures Tags: 4wd, 4x4, 80-series, adventure, border, british columbia, carson, cascade mountains, cascades, chelan, chopaka, cle elum, columbia river, expedition, fj80, forest, four wheel drive, jeep, land cruiser, landcruiser, mt adams, oregon, overland, packwood, road, tour, toyota, washington, washington cascades, wrangler, yj
High Rock Loop Backroads Tour – 06.24.07
Since I worked the night before and my wife's nephew was coming over for dinner, I had to keep the day's adventure somewhat local from my home. Flipping through the book Washington Byways, I found Tour 49 - High Rock Lookout Loop and it fit perfectly into the day's time restraints. I loaded up the dog in the Land Cruiser and headed towards the Cascades in hopes of finding some sun above the low hanging clouds.
Categories: Adventures Tags: 4wd, 4x4, adventure, Adventures, ashford, backcountry, backroads, cascade mountains, cascades, catt creek, cherokee, dnr, elbe, fj80, forest, forest road, forest service, four wheel drive, greenwood lake, high rock, hiking, jeep, kernahan road, land cruiser, landcruiser, lookout, mt rainier, national forest, national park, overland, packwood, park, randle, road, sawtooth, skate creek, snow, snowmobile, teeley creek, tour, towhead gap, toyota, trail, trailhead, trip, washington, wildlife, wrangler
