Boise National Forest officials are warning drivers to stay off snow-covered forest roads.
Boise National Forest spokesman David Olson says drivers are finding lower elevations are clear, until they start climbing higher into the forest.
“All of a sudden you hit a snow patch and you can probably usually get through those,” Olson says. “And then it’s dry again for a little while and then all of a sudden you hit another snow patch and then the temptation is to try to go through each of those successive snow barriers or packs, and generally they just get deeper and longer in duration or distance. So that’s when you usually get stuck.”
Olson says six cars got stuck Saturday in the Granite Creek area, just east of Idaho City, and had to be helped out of the snow.
“As a minimum, it’s a hassle and it’s going to be a challenge to get your vehicle out,” says Olson. “On the worst side, one could be stuck enough so you really are going to be overnighting in a given location and waiting for some kind of assistance or having to do a long walk. If you do start encountering snow on a forest road, basically stop, turn around, and head back.”
Olson says the snow is slowly melting. He advises waiting a few weeks and then checking in with forest offices before traveling to higher elevations.
Copyright 2014 Boise State Public Radio
