Saturday, May. 24, 2008

Late snow, spring flooding causes many sites to stay closed

By The Associated Press

Memorial Day weekend is a great time to go camping -- if you can find a place to camp.

Late snow and spring flooding have closed many popular campgrounds across Washington state. Most of the sites not affected by the weather are already reserved for the weekend.

U.S. Forest Service and state officials recommend holiday travelers make sure their destination is open before leaving home.

At least 11 Forest Service campgrounds in the Cascades between the Canadian border and Enumclaw, near Mount Rainier, are expected to be closed because of snow, said Carol Gladsjo, public service manager at the Forest Service's Darrington office.

Some roads leading up to campgrounds are snowed in and in some cases, "the campgrounds are piled up with snow," said Allen Gibbs, a Forest Service spokesman in Everett. Most of the campgrounds off Interstate 90 are closed, Gibbs said.

Snow is expected to prevent camping near Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams this weekend. Other sites are still cleaning up downed trees and other damage from winter storms.

Snow can still be found above 2,700 feet elevation in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest in southwest Washington. Many campgrounds and hiking trails there are closed.

"The forest is still feeling the effect of a long winter," said Chris Strebig, public affairs officer for the forest. He said some recreational facilities will be closed until late June or July.

Spring flooding caused by melting snow has closed many campgrounds in Eastern Washington, where officials are unsure how long it will take to remove debris. Boaters and hikers can get some access to recreational areas, but the high water has some officials warning people to be extra careful.

Most Washington state parks are open this weekend, but campsites available through the state reservation system were almost completed booked by Thursday morning.

About 55 of the state's 84 campgrounds take reservations, said Virginia Painter, spokeswoman for the parks system.

So campers could head toward a campground that welcomes visitors on a first-come, first-served basis, unless they're worried about using their nearly $4 a gallon gas to drive to a favorite lake and then turning around if they don't find a campsite.

With rising gas prices, "people are more inclined to want the sure bet of a reservation," Painter said.

There are sites available for the weekend after Memorial Day.