OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST – Damage estimates in the Olympic National Forest totaled $8 million as of Friday – and that’s just what rangers had discovered so far, as they continue clearing roads and trails.
But it’s still possible to cut Christmas trees in the forest, especially in the northeast section of the Hood Canal Ranger District in Jefferson County.
The Dec. 2-3 storm that hit western Washington spewed more than 14 inches of rain and wind gusts of more than 40 mph.
The damage included $3 million in lost timber value, according to the National Forest Service.
Restoring access to all roads in the Pacific Ranger District may take up to a year, said Pacific District ranger Lance Koch.
More than 100 miles of recreation trails throughout the national forest cannot be accessed until late spring after winter snow melts, he said.
Molly Erickson, recreation program manager for the Pacific Ranger District, said, “Trails and interpretative trails have been devastated in the Forks and Quinault areas.
“There’s hundreds of trees each down on several trails and they are large trees.”
“We’re just in the evaluation stage.
“We have been trying to reopen roads and especially to emergency service radio repeater sites,” she said.
Road washouts – which included the Lake Cushman Causeway – exposed power and telephone cables and creeks created new stream channels across many roads.
