Deep Snow Preventing Crews From Reaching Most Stor
Incident: Storm07 - Wa - Olf - 0002 Flood
Released: 1/9/2008
Olympia, Wash., -- The accumulation of more than four feet of snow in the higher elevations of the Olympic National Forest has stalled progress in the assessment and emergency repair of roads damaged by winds and flooding during the intense, early December storm. Forest Service crews have refocused efforts on clearing trees from roads along valley bottoms and below 600 feet in elevation.
Chuck McDonnell, engineering technician for the Olympic National Forest, says the snow is blocking public access to areas above 1,000 feet and should be a deterrent to visitors.
"There is no snow plowing in the forest, and people who head up into the snow should be prepared with chains, supplies and full gas tanks ... and remember that cell phones don't work most places and you may have to walk out," McDonnell said.
McDonnell warns hikers that trail conditions are also poor in the national forest and that blowdown makes it easy to lose sight of the trails.
"Last Saturday afternoon, two hikers in the Quinault Rain Forest lost their trail," said McDonnell. "Darkness was falling and they had no lights with them." He said they ended up spending the night out in the forest and a search and rescue party was able to locate the hikers the following morning.
McDonnell and Art Gibson, engineering technician for the Hood Canal Ranger District, are assisting the forest's emergency efforts to clear and repair roads damaged by Storm07.
Earlier this week, Gibson's crews were reinforcing the Jefferson Creek Bridge abutments below Forest Road 2480 before being snowed out, and crews finished cutting down hazard trees along roads below 3,000 feet in elevation until new storms this week brought more snow and winds. Gibson says there are now more downed trees along the roads that were cleared in late December.
McDonnell warns that road conditions can continue to change dramatically throughout the winter months.
"Another Pineapple Express, similar to the one last month, could melt all the snow, bring with it more rain and winds, and cause more flooding, road washouts and tree blowdown," McDonnell said.
According to McDonnell, the permanent repairs planned for roads throughout the Olympic National Forest will require federal highway funding and up to three years to accomplish the work.
Olympic National Forest Road Status: 1/09/2008
Pacific Ranger District
Pacific South
Rd Number
Status- washouts and blowdown
Remarks
21
open
2120
open
USFS section to Salmon river bridge
2140
open to 4.0
cleaned culvert MP 2.8, trees blocking Mp 4-10
2140200
closed
Trees blocking road- no washouts
2160
open
Logging at 2 miles - MP 6.1 temp repair - rough but passable
2160100
open
to North Fork Matheny - old bridge approach washout
2160080
open
open on weekends due to logging operations
2180
open
single lane weaving thru cut trees
2190
open
2190200
open
22
open
overhanging trees
2200020
closed
Road bed totally buried in blowdown- no plan to open-kayak takeout
2203
open
one lane - narrow - woodcutters barely cut out
2204
open
2206
open
2208
open
2208030
open
first 2 miles
2208100
closed
Gated - washout last year at MP 0.4
2210
open
Cut out by Fish and wildlife
2220
open
2258
open
2258031
open
2258040
open
Neilton Point
2259
open
narrow road at temp repair washout at MP 5.2
2259040
open
2259042
open
2273
open
One lane cut open by PUD- woodcutters widening
2280
partially
Trees at MP 2.1
2281
closed between Mp 0.2 -4.7
washed out at Mp 0.4, 4.7- Hood Canal side open
Pacific North
29
partially
Open on Forks side to washout at 19 miles, 29-38 open on North side
2900070
open
Rugged ridge trailhead
2902
open
2903
open
One plugged culvert - needs excavator
2918
partially
Open to washout at mp 8.9 - bridge repair completed
2922
partially
Open to washout at MP 6.6- blocked at 6.5
2923
open
Headwall slump at MP 1.3 -one lane-Have Scott H. look at
2923060
open
4 wheel drive high clearance only- Rayonier repairing
2923070
open
2929070
open
one tree overhanging
2931
partially
checked to Mp 4.4 - darkness
2932
partially
checked to Bogie trailhead - 3 firewood trees on rd on 12-6
30
open
plugged culvert open at MP 8.9 - keep eyes on it if you drive
3000200
partially
Trees across rd at MP 1.9 - good to there
3000300
partially
Trees across rd at MP 1.1 - good to there
3000400
partially
Open first 2 miles - then snow- waterbars need outside clean
3040
partially
open Highway 101 to 595 spur, open Highway 112 side to end rd.
3040595
closed
20 trees across rd on 12-7 , roadbed fine ( Callis)
3067
partially
Open first1.5 miles then too much snow
3068
open
High clearance 4wd needed for wet crossing at beginning
3071
open -level 2
Mt. Muller trailhead- 10" wheel erosion- high clearance
HOOD CANAL NORTH
2730000
Open
2620000
Open
2630000
Closed
Slide at MP 1.3 (No patrol past the slide)
2610000
Open
Slide & Fillslope erosion at MP 0.7
2700000
Open
2800000
Open
2870000
Open
2875000
Open
2878000
Open
2877000
Open
2850000
Open
2845000
Open
2852000
Open
2855000
Open
2840000
Open
HOOD CANAL SOUTH
2200000
Open
2300000
Open
2270000
Closed
2372000
Not Looked At
2500000
Open/Closed
Closed at M.P. 9.2 & 11.1 (Several plugged culverts & debris in roadway.
2480000
Open/Closed
Jefferson Bridge approach washed (Roadway open)
Washed out at M.P. 5.0 from the 25 Road junction
Hamma Hamma River brigde at junction of Road 25
Approach washed, roadway is still open
2401000
Open to 2441
Not looked at from the 2441 junction out
2441000
Open/Closed
From 24 Road junction washed out past Road 2469, Before 200 Rd
No pictures at this site (Called in by JX Construction)
From 2401 Road junction slide at M.P. 1.0
No pictures at this site (Called in by JX Construction)
2464000
Open/Closed
From Road 2419 slide/washout at M.P. 0.5
No pictures at this site (Called in by JX Construction)
2510000
Open
From Hwy 101 open out to the 2530 Road junction
2419000
Open
Has some plugged culverts (Plan to open on 12/14) Snow and ice on road.
2400000
Open
Closed at M.P. 0.4 from Hwy 101 (Washed out) Repaired 1/04/08
Temp opened at M.P. 3.4 From SR 119 junction (Plugged culverts and slide)
The road is open from M.P. 0.0 (Hwy 101 side to the SR119)
Bear Guch II Fire area - Behind the gate - Called in by JX Constr.
Bowling alley area - Approximately 12,000 CY Slide
Day use area - Approximately 3,000 CY Slide - JX reported that
the culvert was in place. Covered by debris.
2451000
Approach washed out at the near side of the bridge.
Legend
This summary does not reflect Snow levels!!
12" snow at 1500' on 1-2, 40" at 2,000'
Expect small branches and debris on roadbeds, over-hanging trees, or only one lane cut open on some roads; expect new blow down along previously-cleared roads.
END
