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Rangers Log, Monday the 12th of May, 2008

Hi everyone, this is Mikki reporting on Monday the 12th, ten days before the long Memorial
Weekend starts. We drove up Reecer and the Manastash roads yesterday (35 and 31,
respectively). You could make it 6 miles up both (starting at the end of the county roads).
There is serious talk about the Manastash not being snow free for the big weekend. Even
with good weather predicted, it will most likely be too little, too late. We just have a lot of
snow out there. Remember that the upper Table Mountain trails, as well as some roads,
have a seasonal closure until June 15th. This might be a moot point because they may not
be accessible until then anyway.

The Liberty area is melting out a bit faster. You can access the 4W319 trail, but only the
lower loop is snow free. Our long time 4x4 Volunteer group from the PNW4x4A has
postponed their annual upper trail work party until mid-June. As far as I know, this is the
first time their scheduled has had to be shuffled due to snow!

Taneum Junction is snow free and Taneum Ridge and the North Fork Taneum are being
logged out. However, it is almost certain that we will not have any loops open for Memorial
Day Weekend! We are about three weeks behind our normal logout progression due to the
snow.

Please, please, please DO NOT punch through the snow or ride around blowdown. The trail
crew is working diligently during the week to get trails logged out. Riding through the snow or
around blowdown just promotes seasonal trail closures.

Here are some Campground updates from our friendly Rec. folks (12 May, 2008):

I was able to drive to the Salmon la Sac bridge today w/ minimal difficulty. Cars will be able to get there by this
weekend. Will be a while to get to Sac trailhead. Fish Lake rd is still a no go. Lake bed access at both Morgan and
Dry Cr wide open, no mud even. Can only get about a 1/4 mi up Cooper.

Wish Poosh, Cle River, and Red Mtn CGs should be open by the 16th w/o much problem PENDING satisfactory water
samples and hazard tree removal. I don't anticipate any problems though. Same goes for Taneum, Icewater, Min
Spgs, and Swauk. We'll keep you posted.

Can't get up East Kachess rd past the dam. I will decide early next week whether or not to cancel East Kachess group
site reservations for the holiday weekend. Right now looks pretty iffy.

I have recommended Thousand Trails cancel reservations at Kachess CG. I estimate it will be at least a week before
we can get in there and what we find will determine how long it'll take to get it ready for opening. Looking awfully
grim for the holiday. Same for Crystal Spings.