Tree problem at WA Pass

[olyclimber]

So, maybe it has been talked about before I haven't found it yet, but what is the deal with the trees up east of WA Pass? There is a lot of trees with dead tops, and I can't tell if the trees are dying or this is just a temporary blight they'll recovery from?

 

Seems like it will make a tinderbox up there if they die (worse that it already is in peak fire season).

[Tod]

There is some sort of beetle or worm infestation that is eating up much of the fir trees around the Washington Pass area.

 

When I was hiking down the Bridge Creek drainage last month we ran into someone studying the problem and they were trying to identifiy the actual species infesting and determine a course of action. Niether species the researcher identified were native to Washington. From what I could tell from the convversation, the only two options for solving the infestation was either fire (which is inevitable due to the destruction and death of trees occuring) or spraying (which means a lot of red tape and pissed off people). I think she said the infestation started last year?

 

From what we saw going up and down Bridge Creek and beyond, most of the area is being eaten dying in a serious way. If it's not a tinderbox now (which it is), it'll be tinderbomb next year.

[olyclimber]

At the Lone Fir campground pretty much all the trees (young and old) have dead tops. There was also in infestation of moths...I wonder if these are the bugs that are causing the problem.

[thatguy]

Have seen the same elsewhere on the eastern slopes. A horticulturally inclined friend in Roslyn claims the forests have been weakened due to water stress and are more susceptible to these infestations than in years past.

[111]

The moths have been there for several years (at least 5). dont remember what type they are but not good ones.