Olympic National Park trails reopen for spring hikers

Skiers and boarders are still trekking to the mountains, giving thanks to the spring-skiing snow gods. But most non-snowriders have turned their attention to lower elevations with hopes of hiking there, and eventually nearer the peaks.

Let’s start today with Olympic National Park, where crews are making progress in clearing debris and repairing damage from fall and winter storms.

Quinault Loop Road reopened Tuesday, and emergency repairs on portions of Quinault North Shore and South Shore roads continue as the highest priority. Quinault Valley’s North Fork Road is scheduled to reopen April 25, and the campground May 16. The Graves Creek Road will be closed in 2008 to vehicles, but foot, stock and bicycle entry is fine. The campground opens April 25.

In the Queets Valley, Lower Queets Road is open seven miles to Matheny Creek, but remains closed beyond that. An alternative route into the Upper Queets Valley will open on April 18. The campground is scheduled to open on May 16.

Hoh Road and campground are open; Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center is also open. The Park and Forest Information Center in Forks is open on weekends. All road-accessible coastal destinations (Kalaloch, Mora, Ozette) are open, but hikers should be prepared for trail washouts.

Sol Duc Road is open as far as Eagle Ranger Station, but about two feet of snow are on the ground at the campground and trail head. The campground will open April 11.

All roads in the Lake Crescent area are open; Fairholme Campground opened yesterday. All roads in the Elwha Valley are open, Elwha Campground is open and Altair Campground will open May 23.

Road conditions permitting, Hurricane Ridge Road is open Friday through Sunday through May 4. It should be open 24 hours a day starting May 9. Visitors should call the park’s hotline (360-565-3131) for current conditions. The Heart O’the Hills campground has re-opened after a four-month storm damage closure.

Deer Park Road should re-open June 1. The snow pack at Deer Park is 166 percent of average, so there may be delayed openings for some high elevation roads, including Deer Park, Obstruction Point and Hurricane Hill Road.

The Dosewallips Road remains closed because of a washout outside the park boundary. The Staircase Road remains closed. It sustained major damage during the December storm, both within and outside of the park boundary.

Five riverside sites in the Staircase Campground were lost to floodwaters along the North Fork Skokomish River, but the campground is expected to open for the summer season.

The Olympic National Park Wilderness Information Center (WIC) is now open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (360-565-3100).

Sno-parks: Spring warming has led to closure of more than two dozen state Sno-Parks and the transformation of some into trailhead parking. Remember that trailhead fees will kick in after Sno-Park fees end.

Closing Sno-Parks is also the signal to end grooming of snowmobile and cross-country trails. Check www.parks.wa.gov/winter to make sure your favorite Sno-Park is still open.

The mountaineer speaks:>/b> Ed Viestures brings years of peak experiences to a free 7 p.m. April 10 talk at REI, 222 Yale Ave N. in Seattle. The author of “No Shortcuts to the Top” is focused on his 18-year goal of climbing the 14 peaks above the 8,000-meter mark without additional oxygen.

He’ll also talk about a 1,200-mile trek with polar explorer Will Steger to Baffin Island (Canada) last year. For information: 206-223-1944.

Education on a budget: Saint Edward State Park offers free environmental and recreational classes at the new Saint Edward Environmental Learning Center in Kenmore.

Space is limited for mainly two- to three-hour courses that include flowering trees of the forest, the language of birds, a Lake Washington walk, bats, orienteering and night birds at the park. For information: www.seelc.org.

Columnist Sharon Wootton can be reached at 360-468-3964 or www.songandword.com.