Jul, 31, 2008
OUTDOORS
Despite milder conditions, hikers advised to use caution
Easy: Hannegan Pass is “melting out” a bit, said to Heidi Oythgoe of the Northwest Interpretative Association at Glacier Public Service Center. Accessible via Hannegan Pass Road, it measures about four miles, during which hikers can enjoy valley views, wildflowers and some views of the lower mountains.
Hiking Hannegan Pass in warm weather may result in unwelcome visitors, however: "When it's hot, there might be a lot of bugs," Oythgoe said.
Moderate: The Skyline Divide Trail can be reached from Deadhorse Creek Road (road No. 37) off Glacier Creek Road. It's a two-mile jaunt through the forest, then hikers will encounter snow for about 1˝ miles.
The snowpack is melting, Oythgoe said, but patches of snow remain. There is much to see, but "hikers should be careful to stay off the meadows," Oythgoe said.
Interactive trail map: Click here.
TRAIL INFO
Check road and trail conditions before you hike.
MOUNT BAKER-SNOQUALMIE NATIONAL FOREST
Web site: Click here.
Phone: For trails accessed from Mount Baker Highway, call the Glacier Public Service Center at 599-2714. Otherwise, call (360) 856-5700, ext. 515.
NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK
Web site: Click here.
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CRAIG PARRISH
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD
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Consistently favorable weather continues to work in favor of local hikers and outdoors enthusiasts, but visitors are still encouraged to use caution.
The winter snowpack is still lingering, although it continues to "melt a little bit in places," said Heidi Oythgoe of the Northwest Interpretative Association at Glacier Public Service Center.
"We're still about a month behind," on the normal snowpack melting schedule, Oythgoe said.
As experienced hikers know, that melting may result in more, faster-moving water on trails - water around which visitors should be extremely careful.
The weekend's forecast is from mostly cloudy to party sunny skies. The sunshine naturally attracts a larger group of hikers, Oythgoe said, and the recent balmy stretch (not counting the middle of this week) has had people getting outdoors more frequently.
Hikers looking forward to getting on the trails this weekend to enjoy the cooler temperatures are advised not to forget the suggestions that apply in warmer weather: Keep hydrated, exercise extreme care around moving water and be respectful of the surroundings and fellow hikers.
