Mountains may still feel wintry

By Jennifer Langston

Herald Writer

The traditional kickoff of the summer outdoor season will be an experiment in extremes this year.

If you’re heading to the mountains, bring boots and tire chains. There’s so much snow that popular hiking trails are still buried and Crystal Mountain Ski Area near Mount Rainier is reopening for Memorial Day weekend.

On area beaches, one of the lowest tides of the year on Monday will expose acres of shoreline. That means great hunting for marine life including clams, sea lemons and purple sea stars.

While reservable campsites at popular parks have been booked for months, don’t despair. Some state parks, such as Camano Island State Park, offer spots on a first-come, first-served basis.

Fewer than half the campsites on the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest fall into that category, but head out as early as possible today to get one.

National forest ranger stations will be open this weekend. If the fee campsites are full, they may be able to suggest undeveloped sites where last-minute campers can pop a tent.

But many backcountry campsites and trails in the Cascades are still snowed under. Winter storms and a cool spring mean that snowmelt is several weeks behind normal.

"This is for sure a very, very late spring," said Diane Holz, information assistant for the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in Darrington. "People are going to find snow in places that are a little bit surprising."

Renee Dohrn, who works in the forest’s Skykomish ranger district, said hikers should expect snow on trails above 1,500 feet. In many cases, crews haven’t gotten in to clear downed trees and slides that winter storms have left.

Some lower-elevation hiking trails are free of snow and in good shape, but it’s a good idea to ask about conditions before heading out.

"This is usually the beginning of what people hope to be the hiking and camping season, but we’re not quite there yet," Dohrn said.

For those looking for a different way to commune with nature, the moon will provide a great show on area beaches.

The Edmonds Parks Department is offering low-tide beach walks with ranger naturalists this weekend at Olympic Beach next to the Edmonds fishing pier and Brackett’s Landing north of the ferry dock.

"The minus tides … are going to expose some creatures you wouldn’t normally see because they’re usually under water," said Sally Lider, environmental education coordinator for the city’s parks. "There’s a lot to see there, but it’s also really important to realize how fragile they are."

Look for critters in tide pools, under rocks and around pilings. But don’t crush anything underfoot and leave the collecting buckets at home. Much of the Edmonds shoreline is designated as a marine sanctuary where harvesting is prohibited.

Lider said people can look for sea slugs, which come in a variety of colors including lemon yellow, orange, blue and brown. One variety is almost transparent with white, frosty edges.

You might be lucky enough to find a sunflower sea star, which has 25 arms instead of the usual five.

For those willing to drive a little farther, some of the best tide pools can be found at Rosario Beach at Deception Pass State Park on Whidbey Island. You might spy a gum boot chiton, a mollusk the size of a loaf of bread. There also are strawberry anemones and purple sea stars.

Managers ask that you not step on algae, an important part of the food chain, or disturb animals by picking up rocks.

Deception Pass also offers hiking through old-growth coastal forests, wildflower meadows and sand dunes. But don’t expect a campsite this weekend at one of the state’s most popular parks.

"We’ve been full for three months. Getting a campsite isn’t going to happen," said Rick Blank, assistant park manager. "But it may be just a really a neat holiday, because if the weather’s not so good you may get the feeling out on Rosario that you’re one of the only ones there."

You can call Herald Writer Jennifer Langston at 425-339-3452

or send e-mail to langston@heraldnet.com.