Snow levels in Central Oregon continue to fluctuate, according to Chris Sabo, trails specialist for Deschutes National Forest.
It's safe to assume there's more snow at higher elevations.
“Right now, the high country's looking pretty good,” he says. “It looks like we're going to get a few more inches of new (snow) here and there, maybe mostly up at the higher elevations.”
Lower down, particularly at summer trails such as the Deschutes River and Phil's trails, conditions are spring-like.
“It's more like April conditions that we're seeing on those trails. In March, typically, that stuff folks are getting out on is still frozen and/or under snow,” Sabo said.
Regarding Phil's Trail, Sabo and the Central Oregon Trail Alliance are asking folks “not to ride, run or hike those trails that are soft and muddy,” Sabo says. “It does damage to the trail tread and makes it more difficult to repair and maintain.”
Sabo urges patience. “Hold off, wait for them to set up. It could be an early setup this year, the way it's going.”
The Forest Service is also putting out a request to motorized users to do some self-policing around the Bend Municipal Watershed and other closed areas. The last two weekends, there's been an increase in trespassing across boundaries near closed areas, he said.
Sabo says more advanced machines and their riders are getting into some challenging terrain where one bad fall could lead to, among other problems, fuel and oil spilling into the watershed and affecting water quality.
“That may be just a few bad apples in the user group, but they're setting a poor example for the rest of the folks who are trying to play right up there,” Sabo says. “So we'd like to send out to those folks who are doing this activity: Stop. And those folks who are seeing it ... help us with educating those others out there.”
In other trail news, Dutchman Flat will be busy with the Webskis Cascade Crest 2010 ski race starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. Sabo asks that snowmobilers planning to ride in the area watch out for skiers, who will be crossing snowmobile trails in two sections.
David Jasper can be reached at 541-383-0349 or at djasper@bendbulletin.com.
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