31 CWMP 2013-2014 Winter Field Season Report
trailhead for the Pacific Crest Trail (snowed in during the winter). Because this is a very
popular location and very easy to find the specific start is not flagged. The transect travels
about 150 meters off of the highway towards the east through Old growth forests. There
are some small stream crossing, which may be exposed if snow levels are low. The
transect end is well flagged at the coordinates above with pink flagging tape in a grove of
particularly large Douglas fir trees. The end is about parallel with the onramp for exit 53
of the interstate, still 150 meters into the forest.
The South Leg of the transect will be significantly shorter than the north end due to lack
of natural habitat on this side of the Interstate. The transect follows the thin line of trees
adjacent to the highway for the length of this band of trees. The south transect starts at the
beginning of the tree cover just south of the bridge and highway, and runs parallel to the
highway until the forest ends behind the parking lot of the Chevron gas-station.
HYACK / SILVER FIR
Northing Easting
Sidehill Start: 620155 5250950
Sidehill End: 620440 5250080
Hyack Creek Start: 620410 5250575
Hyack Creek End: 619440 5250070
This site is accessed from the Silver Fir ski lift parking lot at Hyack. This is the only site
not involving transects that parallel I-90, ie. this is the only non-highway transect.
Road-oriented items on data sheets are therefore not relevant for this site. The
Hyack site is of conservation interest because there is a proposal to expand the ski resort.
The transects start a few meters from the parking area. One transect follows the trajectory
of an existing trail; the other goes perpendicular to the trail, following a creek uphill.
Directions: Going East on I-90, cross the Snoqualmie Pass and take the Hyack / Gold
Creek exit. Turn right after the ramp, to the South of I-90, and follow the road as it bends
to the right. After a short distance there are signs to Silver Fir ski lift on the left; turn left
and park in the far left (South-West) corner of the parking lot. Walking straight South
from the South-edge of the parking lot will take you uphill to a logging road/ski corridor
which runs parallel to the edge of the parking lot. Follow this trail to the left (approx.
East), keeping left at any forks, till you reach a stream in a steep V-shaped channel. The
intersection of the stream and the trail is the starting point for both transects at the Hyack
site. The first transect, named "Hyack—sidehill", follows the trail to the East of the
stream, continuing straight if the road bends, and ends at the overhead power lines. The
second transect, named "Hyack—Creek" parallels the creek uphill and also ends at the
power lines. For this transect, walk along the East side of the creek.
Note: If the stream is too difficult to cross, walk up hill a short distance to find the
footbridge. Having crossed, walk back downhill to the transect starting point.
