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.
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