Sierra Cascades

[jvacek]

Be aware that, at least as of today, both the routes through Lassen Park and Crater Lake Park are still closed due to snow.

[kirkej]

The section between Hwy 12 in Washington State south to the Columbia River should be avoided for the next month per the Skamania County Sheriff. The Rainbow Family is holding their international gathering there this weekend, five miles east of Swift Reservoir. Estimates of the number of participants vary from 10,000 to 50.000 - on a road that often sees only four cars a day.

The gathering runs for seven days, I believe, but recent history suggests that the Forest Service may need to spend $750,000 cleaning up the area afterward. Contact the Forest Service Headquarters in Vancouver, WA or the County Sheriff for more information.

Avoiding this may involve a major detour. The mountain passes due east are still closed by snow. The I-5 corridor is probably the best option unless you want to go through Yakima.