okanogan wenatchee national forest

Current conditions with temperatures in the upper 80's most days are leading to rapid snowmelt, which is feeding directly into streams and rivers.

U.S. Forest Service spokesperson Robin DeMario says the in-between time period known as shoulder season will take a while to arrive.

Winter camping doesn't require a cooler or ice to keep food cold. There are also no bugs, and the crowds are much smaller.

One of the state's most accessible locations to snowshoe is the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest.

There are 120 Sno-Parks across the state, and a number of them are in the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest.

They're warning that people who use mapping apps to avoid highway closures or to shorten their travel time can sometimes find themselves in very dangerous situations with unplowed roads, heavy snow, and no cell phone service.

They include Eightmile Road in the Icicle Drainage area south of Leavenworth as well as the Number 2 Canyon Road west of Wenatchee.

The Pacific Crest Trail is closed in it's northern section of the Okanogan Wenatchee National Forest because of wildfires.  There are nine fires burning in the Pasayten Wilderness Area, which has led to the closure of the trail from Holman Pass north to the Canadian border.  ...

The Irving Peak Fire amassed an additional 400 acres since Wednesday evening, due to increased winds and dryer weather conditions.

This Labor Day Weekend will bring an extra wave of campers before summer ends, so prepare to have a second or third choice in case a popular campground is already filled.