ben
05-17-08, 09:04 AM
Mid-May may feel more like mid-July over the next few days with temps forecasted to range in the low to mid 90's for Bend. Night temps are expected to remain above freezing at most elevations and this coupled with high daytime temps will increase the melting rate of the snowpack. This will result in a faster than normal snow melt for this time of year but, keep in mind that we have an above normal snow pack and most Deschutes National Forest Trails above 5,000 ft. (average) can be expected to remain snowbound after this weekend and even likely beyond Memorial Day Weekend.
Short summary on trail access for this weekend:
General snow line varies from roughly 4,200' to 5,000' and depends on
location. Further you are from the Cascade Crest to the East the higher
the snowline. Just below these elevations patchy snow may be found
especially on sheltered and north facing slopes. Lower elevation snow
will be found along Santiam and Mckenzie Pass areas and north into Mt.
Jefferson Wilderness. Higher elevation snowline will be found in the
Newberry Crater area with snow in the Crater ranging from 2-7 ft.
Generally, summer trails and access roads above the 4,200-5,000 ft.
elevation ranges will be partially or fully blocked by snow, unless
otherwise plowed. Not all spring plowed roads are yet opened to
traffic.
All Wilderness trails and access to all Wilderness Trailheads are/is
blocked by snow and expected to be for some time.
Phils Trailhead area trails are fairly snow free towards Skyliner, but
expect healthy drifts in places likely blocking the trails west of the
300 rd.. Again patchy snow will be found in north aspects and sheltered
locations. Beware that logging activities are in the cleanup stages
around the Phils TH area.
Lower Mrazek and lower Tumalo Creek Trails are reported to be in good
condition, although you are likely to hit snow line around 4,600' and a
few downed trees.
Deschutes River Trails are snow free to Sunriver, though a patch or two
may linger for next couple of days. Dogs are required to be on leash
within the Deschutes River Corridor from Entrada to Benham East for the
summer season. Road access to all Deschutes River Recreation sites, up
to Benham Falls is snow free and mostly good if not a bit bumpy. Road
41 is fully open between Inn of the Seventh Mt. and Road 40 just west of
Sunriver.
Benham Falls East, access from Lava Butte is good with Black Rock trail
reported snow free and in good condition.
For further mt. biking access in the Central Oregon area, go to the COTA
website at: http://cotamtb.com/
Fall River Trail has been cleared of blowdown and ready for the season.
Horse Butte Trails are reported mostly snow free to about 5,000' with
some blowdown. Bessie Butte Trail is in good condition. Be aware that
some controlled burns are scheduled in the near future for areas just
south and east of Bend as well as near the town of Sisters. Please heed
any warning signs of controlled burning activity in proximity to area
trails or roads. Some trails, roads and areas may be closed during
burns.
Peter Skene Ogden is likely snow free for the lower 3-4 miles. Expect
sections of blowdown.
2-7 ft. of snow reported in Newberry Crater with Road 21 still closed at
10 Mile. No date set for the opening. Road crew will be working on
installing a temporary bridge over Paulina Ck to Paulina Lk Resort in
the near future.
Sisters Ranger District Trails are mostly under snow above 3,800'.
Limited trail maintenance has begun around Sheep Springs Horse Camp,
beware the crew started hitting snow two weekends ago about 1 mile west
of the camp.
Metolius River East and West trails (hiker only) are reported free of
snow and in good condition with maybe a few blowdown.
Peterson Ridge trails are snow free and in good condition.
Black Butte TH access and trail blocked by snow.
Suttle Lake Trail on the south shore last week had light to patchy snow,
but is expected to be mostly snow free.
More from the Sisters R.D. front desk: Suttle Lake Campgrounds, Blue
Bay and South Shore, will be opening Friday 5/16. Link Creek has been
open for several weeks. (A few sites in Blue Bay have standing water in
them from the melt down and won't be available for awhile. Metolius
River Campgrounds will all be open as of Friday 5/16 as well. Three
Creeks campsites are still under snow and the 16 road remains closed at
the Upper Snowpark due to snow.
Pole Creek TH is still under snow as are the last 2.5 miles of the 15 road leading up to the trail head
Snow is holding for the time being at Wanoga and Swampy Sno-Parks (only
fair-poor condition), Dutchman is in good spring snow condition. Three
Creek Lk Sno-Park is showing some bare areas and the road out has bare
pavement for a distance to the Lakes. Ten Mile Sno-Park is snow free.
Crescent Lake Snow Parks are likely poor for winter trail use.
Please avoid using trails and roads that are just melting free from snow
and those that are soft/muddy as early season use damages trail/road
tread and can greatly increase maintenance efforts.
It's Pole, Peddle, Paddle weekend and watch for moderate to heavy
traffic to/from Mt. Bachelor in the morning and around Bend area and
snow free trails through the unseasonably HOT weekend.
Road summary from one of our road managers: Yesterday (5/14) I toured
the section of Cascade Lks Hwy that is has just opened. The gate at the
42, 46 junction has been moved to Lava Lk, but the County gate at
Deschutes Bridge is closed. Cultus Lk is opened to the boat ramp and the
parking area has been opened. The road into the boat ramp is narrow in
places, but if the public is careful they should be able to pass each
other. The lake at the boat ramp is still froze and the only open water
is from the middle of the lake west.
Crane Prairie boat ramp and parking area is open and most of the camp ground appears free of snow. Rock Creek campground is also mostly snow free, and the gate is opened, the road to the boat ramp and parking area are fully opened. Quinn River Campground and boat launch are still blocked by snow as is Cow Meadow CG and Boat Launch.
Road 40 has the west bound lane open from cascade lakes hwy to four
corners (4270). Road 40 east from 4270 is opened about a mile to a mile
and half and then blocked by snow. Road 40 from road 45 west was blocked
just before the 4040 junction.
Road 4270 from road 42 to road 40 is fully open, From the 40 north to
Deschutes Bridge is still blocked by snow.
Road 4285 to Brown Mtn boat launch is blocked by snow.
Road 4280 is open.
Road Manager/Transportation Planning
Deschutes NF, Bend-Ft. Rock RD
Other road notes:
Cascade Lks Hwy from Mt. Bachelor to ??? will not be opened this year
for Memorial Day Weekend due to snow. Full opening is not known at this
point.
Mckenzie Pass is also expected to be blocked by snow for several weeks
or longer.
Have a safe weekend!
Short summary on trail access for this weekend:
General snow line varies from roughly 4,200' to 5,000' and depends on
location. Further you are from the Cascade Crest to the East the higher
the snowline. Just below these elevations patchy snow may be found
especially on sheltered and north facing slopes. Lower elevation snow
will be found along Santiam and Mckenzie Pass areas and north into Mt.
Jefferson Wilderness. Higher elevation snowline will be found in the
Newberry Crater area with snow in the Crater ranging from 2-7 ft.
Generally, summer trails and access roads above the 4,200-5,000 ft.
elevation ranges will be partially or fully blocked by snow, unless
otherwise plowed. Not all spring plowed roads are yet opened to
traffic.
All Wilderness trails and access to all Wilderness Trailheads are/is
blocked by snow and expected to be for some time.
Phils Trailhead area trails are fairly snow free towards Skyliner, but
expect healthy drifts in places likely blocking the trails west of the
300 rd.. Again patchy snow will be found in north aspects and sheltered
locations. Beware that logging activities are in the cleanup stages
around the Phils TH area.
Lower Mrazek and lower Tumalo Creek Trails are reported to be in good
condition, although you are likely to hit snow line around 4,600' and a
few downed trees.
Deschutes River Trails are snow free to Sunriver, though a patch or two
may linger for next couple of days. Dogs are required to be on leash
within the Deschutes River Corridor from Entrada to Benham East for the
summer season. Road access to all Deschutes River Recreation sites, up
to Benham Falls is snow free and mostly good if not a bit bumpy. Road
41 is fully open between Inn of the Seventh Mt. and Road 40 just west of
Sunriver.
Benham Falls East, access from Lava Butte is good with Black Rock trail
reported snow free and in good condition.
For further mt. biking access in the Central Oregon area, go to the COTA
website at: http://cotamtb.com/
Fall River Trail has been cleared of blowdown and ready for the season.
Horse Butte Trails are reported mostly snow free to about 5,000' with
some blowdown. Bessie Butte Trail is in good condition. Be aware that
some controlled burns are scheduled in the near future for areas just
south and east of Bend as well as near the town of Sisters. Please heed
any warning signs of controlled burning activity in proximity to area
trails or roads. Some trails, roads and areas may be closed during
burns.
Peter Skene Ogden is likely snow free for the lower 3-4 miles. Expect
sections of blowdown.
2-7 ft. of snow reported in Newberry Crater with Road 21 still closed at
10 Mile. No date set for the opening. Road crew will be working on
installing a temporary bridge over Paulina Ck to Paulina Lk Resort in
the near future.
Sisters Ranger District Trails are mostly under snow above 3,800'.
Limited trail maintenance has begun around Sheep Springs Horse Camp,
beware the crew started hitting snow two weekends ago about 1 mile west
of the camp.
Metolius River East and West trails (hiker only) are reported free of
snow and in good condition with maybe a few blowdown.
Peterson Ridge trails are snow free and in good condition.
Black Butte TH access and trail blocked by snow.
Suttle Lake Trail on the south shore last week had light to patchy snow,
but is expected to be mostly snow free.
More from the Sisters R.D. front desk: Suttle Lake Campgrounds, Blue
Bay and South Shore, will be opening Friday 5/16. Link Creek has been
open for several weeks. (A few sites in Blue Bay have standing water in
them from the melt down and won't be available for awhile. Metolius
River Campgrounds will all be open as of Friday 5/16 as well. Three
Creeks campsites are still under snow and the 16 road remains closed at
the Upper Snowpark due to snow.
Pole Creek TH is still under snow as are the last 2.5 miles of the 15 road leading up to the trail head
Snow is holding for the time being at Wanoga and Swampy Sno-Parks (only
fair-poor condition), Dutchman is in good spring snow condition. Three
Creek Lk Sno-Park is showing some bare areas and the road out has bare
pavement for a distance to the Lakes. Ten Mile Sno-Park is snow free.
Crescent Lake Snow Parks are likely poor for winter trail use.
Please avoid using trails and roads that are just melting free from snow
and those that are soft/muddy as early season use damages trail/road
tread and can greatly increase maintenance efforts.
It's Pole, Peddle, Paddle weekend and watch for moderate to heavy
traffic to/from Mt. Bachelor in the morning and around Bend area and
snow free trails through the unseasonably HOT weekend.
Road summary from one of our road managers: Yesterday (5/14) I toured
the section of Cascade Lks Hwy that is has just opened. The gate at the
42, 46 junction has been moved to Lava Lk, but the County gate at
Deschutes Bridge is closed. Cultus Lk is opened to the boat ramp and the
parking area has been opened. The road into the boat ramp is narrow in
places, but if the public is careful they should be able to pass each
other. The lake at the boat ramp is still froze and the only open water
is from the middle of the lake west.
Crane Prairie boat ramp and parking area is open and most of the camp ground appears free of snow. Rock Creek campground is also mostly snow free, and the gate is opened, the road to the boat ramp and parking area are fully opened. Quinn River Campground and boat launch are still blocked by snow as is Cow Meadow CG and Boat Launch.
Road 40 has the west bound lane open from cascade lakes hwy to four
corners (4270). Road 40 east from 4270 is opened about a mile to a mile
and half and then blocked by snow. Road 40 from road 45 west was blocked
just before the 4040 junction.
Road 4270 from road 42 to road 40 is fully open, From the 40 north to
Deschutes Bridge is still blocked by snow.
Road 4285 to Brown Mtn boat launch is blocked by snow.
Road 4280 is open.
Road Manager/Transportation Planning
Deschutes NF, Bend-Ft. Rock RD
Other road notes:
Cascade Lks Hwy from Mt. Bachelor to ??? will not be opened this year
for Memorial Day Weekend due to snow. Full opening is not known at this
point.
Mckenzie Pass is also expected to be blocked by snow for several weeks
or longer.
Have a safe weekend!