Snow and rocks blocking a popular winter recreation area on Mount St. Helens' south side for about a month have been cleared, a Washington state official said Monday.

"Marble Mountain (Sno-Park) has been cleaned up," said Wayne McLaughlin, operations manager for Washington State Parks winter recreation program. "The road is open and everything's ready to go."

McLaughlin said the parks department spent $10,000 from an emergency reserve to pay a contractor to clear snow from two parking lots at Marble Mountain that have nearly 250 spaces. On a typical winter weekend -- when there's sufficient snow -- those spaces are filled by snowmobilers, skiers, snowshoers, mountain climbers and others who have an affinity for snow.

Because of excessive snow this season the parks' department budget for snow removal had been exhausted when a snow and rock slide in late January blocked Forest Road 83, the road leading to the Marble Mountain parking lots. The slide was about 3.5 miles east of the parking area and 9.5 miles northwest of the nearest town, Cougar.

A Forest Service contractor cleared the slide debris, made up mostly of rock, last week, McLaughlin said, opening access for a bulldozer and blower to clear snow from the road and parking lot.

Marble Mountain Sno-Park is at about 2,670 feet and within the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and the Mount St. Helens National Monument.

-- Allan Brettman

@allanbrettman

503-294-5900

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