The U.S. Forest Service will release online permits on March 31 at recreation.gov for hikers headed to Dog Mountain on weekends from April 24 to June 13 this year.   New this year, permits will be required on Memorial Day.  The permits are required as part of a partnership that began in 2018 to ensure public safety near Dog Mountain Trailhead, where congestion during the spring wildflower hiker rush created dangerous traffic congestion and at least one fatal accident prior to when permits were required.  Every hiker on the Dog Mountain Trail system on Saturdays and Sundays between April 24 to June 13, as well as on Memorial Day, will be required to carry a permit.  Permits can be obtained by riding the shuttle operated by Skamania County Transit, or by reserving a permit at recreation.gov for $5 per car and a $1 administrative fee.  This year, 100 permits will be released on March 31 for each day through the permit season.  New this year, an additional block of 100 permits will be released online three days before each permit date at 7:00 a.m.