With the snow level dropping to 4,000 feet in the Cascades today, Washington's ski areas are reporting their first dusting of snow of the season.

"It looks like a winter wonderland here at Crystal Mountain," said Tiana Enger, Crystal's spokeswomen. "We’ve seen snow up high a few times already but it touched down at the base area (4,400 ft) for the first time this morning."

"... Could this be a sign of an early winter? I hope so."

More snow is in the forecast this week.

Crystal Opened in early November in 2005 and '06, but open in late November last season.

Here are some photos taken this morning at Crystal from Enger:

A hunter lost near Packwood was rescued by Lewis County Sheriff’s deputies Monday night, according to a statement released by the sheriff’s office.

The lost man, a 57-year-old Poulsbo resident, was using a GPS unit but could not use it because heavy tree cover kept him from getting a signal, the statement said.

The man started hunting at 10:30 a.m. and his 51-year-old partner called for help when his partner was 2 ½ hours late for a rendezvous.

The lost hunter tied an orange ribbon around a tree and passed it three times as he tried to find his way. Eventually, he decided to stay put and wait for help to arrive.

Deputies used GPS, maps, two-way radios, sirens and lights to direct the man out of the woods, the statement said. The lost hunter emerged from the woods at 7:52 p.m.

According to the statement, the hunter was well prepared for a day hunt but not for an overnight stay.

The sheriff’s office issued this statement for those who rely heavily on their GPS units for route finding: “Technology plays an important role in our lives but it does have limitations. The best tried and true practice is still to have a map and compass, know the area you hunt, hunt with a partner and, if lost, don’t panic. This hunter did not panic and showed good judgment in staying put and being prepared with a two-way radio, other supplies, and a well-communicated plan with his hunting partner. All of the precautions the hunter took before trudging off into the woods helped keep him safe until we were able to rescue him.”

State wildlife officials will discuss on Oct. 17 proposed changes in elk-hunting rules to help control crop damage and other problems caused by foraging elk in the Cowlitz River Valley.

The meeting will begin at 5 p.m. at the Packwood Community Hall.

In developing statewide hunting seasons for 2009-11, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife proposed two possible changes in elk-hunting rules designed to address increasing complaints about elk damage in the Cowlitz River Valley, Sandra Jonker, regional wildlife manager, said in a department news release.

Good forage in the valleys below the hills of the Gifford Pinchot National Forests draw large numbers of elk into the area, especially during hard winters, she said.

One proposal would create a new special-permit hunting area one mile from either side of U.S. 12 from Morton to Packwood. The other would allow hunting of cow elk -- rather than just branched antler bulls -- during the general hunting season in the Davis Lake Valley, the release said.

The two changes are being proposed to reduce property damage and other elk-related problems in the area, Jonker said.

Local no-shooting zones would remain in place and not be affected by the department’s proposals, the release said.