Be careful out there everyone

Water rescues have become something of a frequent occurrence around these parts. The biggest culprit seems to be the high water levels for this late in July and some hikers and campers are not paying attention.

Well ... the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Ranger Station wants people heading to the outdoors to know that rivers and streams can be highly dangerous with higher temperatures on the way. So be careful out there this weekend everybody and pay attention to safety around any bodies of water.

Here's the press release from the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest ranger station:

EVERETT — Watch out for the water when you are hiking or camping on the
Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, say recreation specialists. Seemingly small creeks and streams can become raging rivers on warm days, stranding hikers and endangering them if they try to cross. Innocent-looking shallow waterways can be flowing strong enough to knock an adult off his feet or sweep a child downstream.

“We have had two young children drown this year. Rivers are above level for this time of the year and on a warm day can really come up as snowpack melts,” says Cecilia Reed, recreation manager for the Snoqualmie Ranger District.

On the southern end of the forest, Denny Creek, Greenwater River, the Middle Fork and South Fork Snoqualmie Rivers are running high, and the White River is turbid, Reed says. Further north, the Skykomish River, South Fork Stillaguamish River, Beckler River and North Fork Nooksack are high.

For information about trail conditions go to www.fs.usda.gov/goto/mbs/road_trails or contact the local ranger district www.fs.usda.gov/goto/mbs/contact-us.