Many forest roads closed after a rough winter

  • By Jessi Loerch Herald Writer
  • Friday, May 27, 2016 3:33pm
  • LifeExplore NW

The winter was hard on forest roads. Here is an update on conditions around the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

Forest Road 2081: Washed out several miles before trailhead to Peek-a-Boo Lake. Off of Mountain Loop Highway.

Forest Road 2660: Washed out. Off of Suiattle River Road. Also known as Tenas Creek Road. Accesses Boulder lake.

Forest Road 49: Very rough and then impassible a half mile before the N. Fork Sauk Trail. High clearance vehicles required. Repairs are expected by early summer, according to the Forest Service.

Forest Road 27: Washed out. Crosses Rat Trap Pass between White Chuck and Suiattle rivers. Meadow Mountain and Crystal Lake trailhead accessible from south.

Forest Road 4052: Washed out. Provides access to Lake Kelcema off of the Mountain Loop Highway.

The following roads are all off of U.S. 2.:

Forest Road 63: Washed out. Provides access to Blanca Lake and to the N. Fork Skykomish trails. The Forest Service is working on a temporary trailhead — hikers can walk the road, adding 4 miles to a Blanca trip and 8 miles to a N. Fork trip. Don’t block the gate or road when parking.

Forest Road 6835: Blocked by a large slide about a mile before the trailhead to the West Fork Foss Trail, which accesses many popular lakes.

Forest Road 6410: Reopened.

Forest Road 65: Washed out. Access to Troublesome Creek and San Juan campgrounds is blocked. Snohomish County Public Works hopes to have the road open by the end of the summer.

Forest Road 6520: Blocked by trees. Provides access to Johnson Ridge and Scorpion Mountain.

Forest Road 6420: Closed by winter damage. Also known as Money Creek Road. Provides access to Lake Elizabeth.

Be safe

If you head out to hike, remember trails are still in early season conditions. Many are still covered with snow. Bring the 10 essentials, www.wta.org/ten-essentials, and leave your trip plan with someone you can trust.

Andy Toyota, chair of Everett Mountain Rescue and a member of the Snohomish County Helicopter Rescue Team, offered tips to stay safe.

It’s easy to get off trail and lose your way when trails are snow covered. Bring a GPS and a map and compass.

A stream you can easily cross in the morning may be higher when later due to warmer temperatures and more snowmelt.

Beware of thin snow over water.

Dress properly. The weather is unpredictable this time of year. Toyota suggests dressing in clothes you considering wearing on a hike and then spending just 10 minutes outside at night, being still. If you’re cold, you don’t have enough clothing. Remember, you’ll be even colder if you get rained or snowed on.

Bring a personal locator beacon, SPOT or similar. These devices can initiate a rescue using a satellite signal. No cell service required.

If you are lost and know a helicopter is looking for you, shining a headlamp or cell phone light at a shiny emergency bivy can magnify the light. Toyota said a lost hiker used that trick and the rescuers were able to see the light on their night-vision goggles.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

A stroll on Rome's ancient Appian Way is a kind of time travel. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves on the Appian Way, Rome’s ancient superhighway

Twenty-nine highways fanned out from Rome, but this one was the first and remains the most legendary.

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Inside Elle Marie Hair Studio in Smokey Point. (Provided by Acacia Delzer)
The best hair salon in Snohomish County

You voted, we tallied. Here are the results.

The 2024 Kia EV9 electric SUV has room for up to six or seven passengers, depending on seat configuration. (Photo provided by Kia)
Kia’s all-new EV9 electric SUV occupies rarified air

Roomy three-row electric SUVs priced below 60 grand are scarce.

2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium AWD (Photo provided by Toyota)
2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium AWD

The compact SUV electric vehicle offers customers the ultimate flexibility for getting around town in zero emission EV mode or road-tripping in hybrid mode with a range of 440 miles and 42 mile per gallon fuel economy.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.