It has been an uncommonly busy month for search and rescue crews in Skamania County.  Skamania County Undersheriff Pat Bond says in May they have received 19 calls for service, compared to four in the same time period one year ago.  Bond says they are seeing a bigger influx of hikers…particularly in the Mt. St. Helens area.  He adds hikers should be prepared for changing conditions, don’t go on to closed trails, and communicate plans with others.  Bond says while they use a number of volunteers in search and rescue, the large number of search and rescue operations does create a big drain on sheriff’s department resources.