Snow Plugs Roads

Sun., April 18, 1999

By Rich Landers richl@spokesman.com (509) 459-5508

National forests

National forests, especially those in the Cascade Mountain Ranges, are already putting recreationalists on notice that a deep snowpack will postpone forest access this spring and summer.

A snowpack running 250 percent of normal in some areas of the Gifford Pincho National Forest will stall efforts to clear roads in the Mount. St. Helens National Recreation Area, officials said last week.

The heavy snowpack coincides with a shortage of funds for snow plowing, said Gifford Pincho spokesman Jack Thorne.

Anyone planning trips to forests in Washington, Oregon and Idaho should call in advance to ranger districts for updates on road conditions well into June.

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Snow Plugs Roads

Jesse Tinsley

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