Unstable Mountain Slopes Continue To Take Lives

An unstable snowpack that claimed the lives of two snowmobilers near Glacier Park over the weekend persists in much of the region.

The avalanche hazard has been rated as very high on steep north and northeast slopes in the Kettle Range, said Keith Wakefield, Colville National Forest recreation ranger in Republic, Wash.

The Kettle range is a popular backcountry skiing area.

Wakefield, as well as avalanche forecasters in Idaho, are warning against backcountry travel in steep terrain this week.

When the hazard is this high, it’s best to ski on groomed trails and lift-served resort areas where avalanche danger is controlled, he said. Snowmobilers have to be particularly cautious, Wakefield said.

Trails being groomed

Cross country ski trails in the Newport, Wash., area will be groomed starting Friday, the Forest Service said.

Several people in the Newport area have joined with Newport Ranger District to groom the Wolf trail system just out of Newport as well as the longer Geophysical Area trail system near Bead Lake.

The plan is to groom about once a week when snow conditions allow.

Info: (509) 447-3129.

Hunting rule change

The season for elk taken in Game Management Units (GMU) 372 and 382 in Yakima, Benton and Klickitat counties has been extended until Dec 31. Only antlerless elk may be taken during this extended season. Only modern firearm hunters with an eastern Washington elk tag (EF) are eligible to hunt this extended season.