Work on a temporary bridge over Benham Creek on Forest Road 25, south of Randle means the road is closed just south of Iron Creek during the construction. Gifford Pinchot National Forest visitors should be prepared to encounter dump truck traffic on Forest Roads 76, 28 and 23.

Here is the rest of the news release:

The temporary bridge should be in place and open to traffic by late-June. This will allow for access to the east side of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and the popular Windy Ridge view point.

“While the flooding in the fall of 2008 wasn’t as widespread as the
previous two years, Forest Road 25 and Forest Road 54 took the brunt of the damage,” said Ron Freeman, Public Services Staff Officer for the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. “We truly appreciate the work Federal Highways Administration is doing to help us reopen Forest Road 25 and other key Forest roads.”

Visitors to the Cispus Learning Center should be alert to heavy truck traffic that will be hauling material in the vicinity of the Center. Hauling will occur Monday thru Thursday during daylight hours.

Material is being hauled from the Benham Creek slide to a disposal site to an area located on Forest Road 2300100.

The Forest has started work with Federal Highways on design and replacement of the bridge over Benham Creek. Completion of the permanent bridge is scheduled for 2010.

During the past winter several Forest roads, including roads 21, 25 and 54, experienced landslides and storm damage.

Click here for updates on weather and road conditions.

For current Forest road information, please contact Gifford Pinchot
National Forest offices. The Forest Headquarters in Vancouver can be
reached at 360-891-5000; Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
Headquarters in Amboy can be reached at 360-449-7800, and Mount Adams Ranger District in Trout Lake can be reached at 509-395-3400.

So we launched a new project this morning: Rainier 110.

This is year marks the 110th anniversary of Mount Rainier National Park and we will commemorate the anniversary by hiking 110 miles in the park this summer.

I've got 16.9 miles down so far, which almost all of the trails that aren't covered with snow. In fact, a couple of those mile were over the snow.

There are five waterfalls that can be reached fairly easily right now. And they worth the trip right now because they are raging as the snow melts.

Here are pics from my hike last week:

CHENUIS FALLS

IPSUT FALLS

RANGER FALLS

CARTER FALLS

MAD CAP FALLS

Two loops of Cougar Rock Campground at Mount Rainier National Park will be open to the public Friday. The warm weather has melted out almost 25 parking pads and tent sites in loops A and C, said acting superintendent Randy King in statement just released.

Campsites for recreational vehicles such as trailers, campers and motorhomes are extremely limited at this time.

The remaining loops, including the group sites are still covered with snow. Cougar Rock typically opens by Memorial Day weekend, but the slow winter melt out delayed this year’s opening.

At Ohanapecosh Campground, loops A, B, C and D opened for the Memorial Day weekend. Loop D still has no running water at this time.

The White River Campground is scheduled to open on June 26.

Camping fees at Cougar Rock and Ohanapecosh are $12 and $15 per site and at White River $12.

Between June 25 and Sept. 6 Cougar Rock and Ohanapecosh campsites can be reserved in advance. The nightly fee during the reservation period is $15 per site. For reservations, call toll free 1-877-444-6777. White River Campground is operated on a first-come, first-served basis.