A series of snow storms has pummeled the Cascade Mountain Range and the Columbia River Gorge this winter.

The snowfall near Government Camp on Mount Hood has been so steady that snow blowers now have to clear passage by aiming 20 feet above Highway 35 and 100 yards to the east or west.

“Normally we go a couple of days with a lot of snow and then there is a break. But our crews have been working constantly this year to keep our roadways safe,” said Christine Miles, spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Transportation.

She said ODOT has already used $14.7 million of the $21 million banked for snow plowing and sanding statewide. With weeks left until spring, the agency is hopeful that it can keep expenditures within the existing budget — or some paving and construction projects might have to be cut this summer.

On the local front, the City of Hood River and Hood River County have also been challenged by the continual storms. However, neither agency is reporting a significant budget crunch since the clean-up of sanding material takes place during regular business hours.

“Our budget’s stretched but we’re doing okay,” said Dean Guess, director of the county’s public works department.

He said it has proven difficult to clean the red volcanic rock, known as cinder, off the roadways before another snowfall occurs.

“The way that things have been going, we’re looking to pick the rock up as soon as the weather service tells us that we’re not getting any snow,” said Guess.

He said the county has focused most of its efforts on sanding and plowing 208 miles of roadway. He said the Cooper Spur ski area has been the most challenging to clear, with 12-foot banks of snow now lining the access roadway.

“We are ready for spring — I wish it was tomorrow,” said Guess.

Both county and city work crews ran short of the fine gravel that is their preferred choice and opted for less-expensive cinder as supplemental material.

Dave Smock, city public works foreman, said cinder has proven advantageous because it does not retain water so it doesn’t freeze, which can make regular gravel difficult to distribute. However, he said cinder is not as durable and disintegrates into dust when driven over.

For that reason, ODOT and the county do not recycle the cinder. Smock said, if possible, the city plans to reuse any of the red rock that “survives” vehicle passage.

ODOT data shows that 206 inches of snow have fallen this winter at Government Camp, the second highest level within the last 10 years.

During the winter of 2001-02, 216 inches was recorded in that location.