NORTHWEST:

--WDOT: "So, it looks like we might have the latest spring opening in 20 years. We took our annual scouting trip up the highway on Thursday, March 17, and found a whole lot of snow." Click here for Hwy 20 conditions.

-- The new bridge at the north side of Baker is gone! What happened? Click here. 

--For Frenchman Coulee/Vantage climbers: Starting this week, there will be a porta potty there, at least until the end of May. Please report any vandalism! Click here for more info. Thank you WCC.

--Mt. Baker Snoqualmie Forest reports:

Road work on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest will hinder and block access to trails and wilderness areas this summer while workers repair damage caused by storms sweeping through the Cascades the last few years, destroying culverts, washing out roads and damaging bridges. Forest Service engineers predict they will finish most of the repairs by this fall.

The following lists the closures in major travel corridors on the forest.  Visitors can call the ranger district in the affected corridor to get the most up-to-date information before heading out to their destination.

I-90, STATE ROUTE 410
Road repairs along I-90 and SR 410 corridors in the Snoqualmie Ranger District will block access to some trails and campgrounds. Call the Snoqualmie Ranger District at 425-888-1421 for current information about closures.

Middle Fork Snoqualmie Road (Forest Service Road 56) will close July 15 through August at milepost 15, blocking access to the Dingford Creek Trailhead. Tacoma Pass Road (forest Service road 52) will close July 15 through August at milepost 2.5.

Evans Creek Road (Forest Service road 7920) will close June 15-Aug. 15, blocking access to Evans Creek Campground. Work on Cayada Road (Forest Service road 7810) July 15 until August will block access to Summit Lake Trailhead.  28 Mile Road (Forest Service road 72) is closed at the gate until Aug. 15.

US HIGHWAY 2
Road repairs in this corridor will only close low-use roads July 15 until August. Call the Skykomish Ranger District at 360-677-2243 for current information about how these closures could affect your trip.

MT. LOOP HIGHWAY, SUIATTLE ROAD
Road work along the Mt. Loop Highway and Suiattle Road corridors in the Darrington Ranger District
will block access to various destinations, including Glacier Peak Wilderness and the Pacific Crest Trail. Call the Darrington Ranger District at 360-436-1155 for current information about how trails and roads are affected.


--Thinking about heading to Leavenworth? Watch out for possible road closure due to the recent mudslides.

-- Click here for beta on the Snow Lake parking lot near Alpental. Have you had issues there with overnight car bivys?

 --Forecast for the East Slope of the Cascades.

--Forecast for the West Slope of the Cascades.

--Webcam for Leavenworth and the Stuart Range.

--Forecast for Mount Rainier.

-- Route and Conditions Report from Mt. Baker Rangers: Mount Baker Climbing Blog.

--Forest Service Road Report for Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

--Mount Saint Helens, Mount Adams conditions and recreation report.

--Webcams for Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, Leavenworth.

--An up-to-date ski and snow report for the Northwest may be found here.

--Up-to-date Pacific Northwest ice conditions may be found here.


RED ROCK CANYON:

--Everyone is wondering about possible closures and national parks and entities, including us. Click here for an update from the LVCLC. Also see this Alpinist article. We'd love to hear your thoughts.

--Forecast and average temperatures for Red Rock Canyon.

--Webcam for Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

--The late exit and overnight permit number for Red Rock Canyon is 702-515-5050. If there is any chance that you will be inside the park after closing, be sure to call this number so that you don't get a ticket.

--The entrance to the scenic drive had a parking area for those who wanted to carpool up until approximately April of 2009. That lot has now become employee parking and people who want to carpool are required to park at the lot outside the Scenic Drive exit.

--The scenic drive currently opens its gates at 6 in the morning.

JOSHUA TREE:

--What happened in Joshua Tree during the government shutdown in the 90's? Click here.

--Forecast and average temperatures for Joshua Tree National Park.

--Webcam for Joshua Tree National Park.

-- As winter use in Joshua Tree is growing, camping can be difficult at times.  It is not a bad idea to come with a back-up plan if the park campgrounds are full.  Here are the NPS Campground Details. Some people like to stay at the rural campground often referred to as "The Pit."  And lastly, there is a campground available at Joshua Tree Lake.

--The Joshua Tree entrance fee is currently $15 per vehicle.  Your receipt will give you access to the park for seven days after its initial purchase.  Rangers check this receipt at each of the major access points going in and out.  Annual passes are available for $30.



--Webcams for Bishop, June Lake, Mammoth Mountain, Mono Lake, Tioga Pass.

--Permits to hike to the top of Half Dome are now required seven days per week when the cables are up. This is an interim measure to increase safety along the cables while the park develops a long-term plan to manage use on the Half Dome Trail.  A maximum of 400 permits will be issued each of these days (300 of these permits are available to day hikers).  To read more, click here.

ALASKA RANGE:

--This trip report was from a couple of weeks ago, but is worth posting. Check out the second ascent of Mt Huntington via the West Face Couloir.

--Conditions in the range are not currently available.  But we are taking reservations for both Alaska Range Ascents and Denali trips.  To learn more, click here.  We will begin regular conditions reports in the Alaska Range in late April.

ALPS:

--Chamonix and Mont Blanc Regional Forecasts may be found here.

--Webcams for Chamonix Valley, Zermatt and the Matterhorn.