Low Snowpack Opens Trails Early, but Hikers Must Heed Warnings of Early-season Dangers
SEATTLE - Cabin fever is striking Washington hikers a little early this year.
Last spring hikers were consumed with impacts from a devastating series of floods in the Cascades high country. Now one year later, the weather is on many people's minds, and this time it's the lack of snow.
Extremely low snowpack and unseasonably warm temperatures have opened up many trails that would not ordinarily be hikeable until May or June. A quick perusal of the hiking trip reports on the website of Washington Trails Association reveals a contagious buzz among hikers to take advantage of this rare opportunity and hit the trails. Many are doing just that, launching a very early start to the hiking season.
"For hikers, this is like an early Christmas," said Lauren Braden, Director of Communications with Washington Trails Association. "It's wonderful to get into the mountains and enjoy the weather, but please be careful out there."
This past weekend, a young Everett man died near the summit of Mount Pilchuck after encountering icy conditions while venturing 100 yards from the lookout at the summit. This unfortunate incident reminds us that even though quite a few trails are beginning to open up early, it's still a time for extreme caution.
"A lot of hikers see the nice weather and expect trails to be clear of snow," said Braden. "Patches of treacherous snow and ice, particularly on north-facing slopes, still remain on many mid-elevation trails." She cautions hikers to turn back if encountering treacherous snow and ice unless equipped with an ice ax and knowledgeable about how to use it.
Even during a mild March, cold and snow can catch hikers off guard.
"The fear is that someone might get sucked into a one or two-night trip," said Gary Paull, recreation and trails coordinator for the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. "And then it starts snowing and they get themselves stuck out there."
Very little snow has fallen this winter, and the impact of this fact on hiking, fire danger, and general mountain ecology is potentially huge. The ski season hardly ever got started in Washington, most Sno-Parks are now closed for the season, and the governor has declared a drought emergency. The North Cascades Highway opened had its earliest opening ever (although during the especially dry winter of 1976-77 it never closed).
"We actually had a lot of precipitation this winter," said Ted Beuhner, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service's Seattle office. "But almost all of it fell in the form of rain." As a result, snowpacks throughout the state are at 20 to 30 percent of normal levels for this time of year.
Hikers are advised to check ahead with local ranger stations for current conditions on roads and trails. This year, WTA's trip report section of its website, www.wta.org will be even more important than ever; if you're out hiking on the trails, post a trip report to share with others what conditions are like.
Many trails and roads still aren't clear of annual blowdown trees and brush, and won't be until summer crews get to them. "We could be doing trail work right now," said Paull, "but the seasonal employees aren't on the payroll yet. So we'll be behind the curve for a bit."
Hikers can expect to encounter more damaged bridges, puncheons and trail structures than usual. Bridges were out on the Pratt Lake and Snoqualmie Lake Trails in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, as well as the Skyline Divide near Mount Baker. Trails closed for a variety of reason include the South and Middle Fork Cascade River, Squire Creek, and Mount Higgins.
With the state in an official drought, one word was much on the minds of hikers and forest officials alike: fire. Yet, according to Beuhner of the National Weather Service, of the five driest winters in the past 50 years, only one was a bad fire season.
"A bad fire season is not necessarily the result of a dry winter," said Beuhner. "What's important is what happens during what we call the green-up period in the next several months," he said. With that said, he indicated that extended 90-day forecast called for continued above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation.
But that doesn't mean we can't get more snow or a bout of cold weather.
Hikers should be prepared for that possibility - always carry the "ten essentials" (including extra clothing, fire starter, and some sort of shelter). In addition, your car should include a safety kit with chains, warm clothes, radio, food, water, shovel, and first aid kit. Always check before you leave for trail conditions with the local ranger station and closely watch weather forecasts.
Beuhner recommends carrying a small battery-powered weather radio on overnight hikes to keep abreast of changing conditions. Hiking poles or ice axes can be of help on stretches of icy or snow-covered patches.
In addition to roads and trails still blocked by blown-down trees, hikers can expect to encounter closures remaining from the flooding that occurred in late 2003. The Mountain Loop Highway, although it was snow-free by mid-January, is still closed between Bedal campground and Barlow Pass due to flood damage (drivers cannot complete the full highway loop). Many trails and roads in the vicinity of the Suiattle and White Chuck Rivers continue to be closed because of storm damage.
Stream crossings will also prevent many hikers from accessing otherwise snow-free trails. Reports from the Olympic Coast indicated that the Ozette River, for example, was running high and not fordable in early March.
In closures unrelated to weather, areas within a 5-mile radius of the crater of Mount St. Helens remained closed due to continuing volcanic activity.
Throughout the state, hikers were marveling at the possibilities of a very early and extended season.
"It's a bit spooky," said Beuhner, of the unseasonable weather, "but it's all happened before."
Gary Paull agreed, noting that out the window of his Darrington office, "There's no snow on Mount Higgins. It's bizarre. It looks like July out here."
Still, it's important to remember it's not July and foul weather could hit at any moment. Enjoy all the early-season opportunities, but be careful out there.
This article courtesy of Washington Trails Association:
Low Snowpack Opens Trails Early, but Hikers Must Heed Warnings of Early-season Dangers
