Hikers still finding snow on trails above 3,000 feet elevation

HIKING — Keep your gaiters on, hikers, if you’re antsy to get on timbered trails above 3,000 feet in elevation, especially if they’re on shaded north slopes.

The Inland Northwest Hikers Meetup group found snow on about 30 percent of the 5-plus miles of Bead Lake trail they explored Sunday.  In between were long stretches of trail that was clear and smooth cruising in this portion of the Colville National Forest northeast of Newport.

Ice still plugged the ends of the lake and the trailheads were snowed in.

But all the hikers, including the one that slipped on a snow-covered bridge and took a soaking in the snow-melt creek, said they had a marvelous time getting out for the early season.