Читать книгу One Night Wilderness: Portland. Quick and Convenient Backcountry Getaways within Three Hours of the City онлайн

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CHECK THE SNOWPACK: The winter snowpack has a significant effect, not only on when a trail opens, but also on wildflower blooming times, peak stream flows, and how long seasonal water sources will be available. It is a good idea to check the snowpack on or about April 1 (the usual seasonal maximum), and make a note of how it compares to normal.

This information is available online at www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/ for Washington state and www.or.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/ for Oregon. If the snowpack is significantly above or below average, adjust the trip’s seasonal recommendations accordingly.

WATCH OUT FOR LOGGING TRUCKS: When driving on forest roads in our area, keep a wary eye out for log trucks, especially on weekdays. These scary behemoths often barrel along with little regard for those annoying speed bumps known as passenger cars.

CHECK TRAIL CONDITIONS: The Northwest’s frequently severe winter storms create annual problems for trail crews. Occasionally trails are washed out for years, but at a minimum, early-season hikers should expect to crawl over deadfall and search for routes around slides and flooded riverside trails. Depending on current funding and the trail’s popularity, maintenance may not be completed until several weeks after a trail is snow-free and officially “open.” Unfortunately, this means that trail maintenance is often done well after the optimal time to visit. On the positive side, trails are usually less crowded before the maintenance has been completed.