Drone over Selkirks shows high country still smothered in snow
MOUNTAIN ACCESS -- Skis, splitboards and snowshoes are still required to reach the region's high country this week, that is, if you chose the right roads to avoid closures or washouts.
Forest Service offices are so understaffed they're barely making a list of what's open and closed in the region. The best course is to call specific ranger stations before heading out for the latest information, but they're not always up to date, I learned this week.
So go out ... with a sense of adventure and a Plan B.
On the Sullivan Lake District of the Colville National Forest, visitors still can't drive even as far up as Gypsy Meadows before they hit snow.
But in the Selkirk Mountains north of Sandpoint, the Pack River Road is offering surprisingly good access to a temporary road closure at the last bridge across Zuni Creek, about a mile below the east side trailhead for Chimney Rock. That leaves a round-trip trek of about 12 miles to reach Chimney Rock and back on the over-snow devices of your choice.
"There's still a good couple feet of snow on the road at the Chimney Rock Trailhead, but a lot of the south-facing trails have already melted out completely," said Benjamin Read, who skinned up to the iconic Selkirks spire to make some turns and catch the drone photo above on Sunday.
