PENDLETON â Officials with the Umatilla National Forest are warning visitors looking to adventure into the forest as spring begins to use caution or refrain from traveling on forest roads.
Though snow is beginning to recede in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, most roads remain impassible due to snow or mud caused by the melting snowpack, a press release from the Umatilla National Forest said.
âWe typically see incidents this time of year where families head up for the day, get stuck, and end up spending the night or making a very long hike out to look for help,â said Shane Dittlinger, the recreation program manager for the Umatilla National Forest.
PENDLETON â The Umatilla National Forest will soon have a new deputy forest supervisor.
Heidi McRoberts will step into the new role, according to a press release, effective March 14. McRoberts currently serves as a fish biologist on the Nez-Perce Clearwater National Forest.
âThe Umatilla is fortunate to have such a highly qualified individual who is so familiar with our communities and landscape join the Forest in this leadership role,â said Umatilla National Forest Supervisor Eric Watrud. âHer skills and background are an outstanding complement to the priority work the Forest has underway and the interests of the communities and partners that we serve.â