Hikers negotiating Lake Chelan Trail washout

BACKPACKING — The big lingering snowpack and advent of warmer, wet weather is raising the pucker factor for any backpackers heading out on routes that cross streams.

A point I missed in my Sunday story about hiking the Lake Chelan Shoreline Trail is  that rising creeks have caused some trail damage. Over the May 14-15 weekend, rainwater flowed through the Meadow Creek drainage, washing out a section of the Lakeshore Trail.

Experienced hikers can still get through this area by hiking down close to the lake, crossing the creek and hiking back up to the trail, the Forest Service reports .  But the difficulty could change daily with the weather and the amount of runnoff coming down the creek.

Hikers looking for easier access to the Lakeshore Trail can plan trips between Stehekin and Moore Point to avoid the Meadow Creek area.

Updates: Chelan Ranger Station, (509) 682-4900.