As of this morning, these forests are closed due to extreme fire conditions (heat+high winds)
Quote:
The closures affect all national forests south of Eldorado National Forest in Placerville, including:
Stanislaus National Forest
Sierra National Forest
Sequoia National Forest
Inyo National Forest
Los Padres National Forest
Angeles National Forest
San Bernardino National Forest
Cleveland National Forest
Closure status will be reviewed daily as the conditions change, according to a news release from the Forest Service.
Also, per our local paper roughly fifty hikers are safely hunkered down at Vermillion Valley Resort, a semifamous hopping off and resupply point for PCT hikers. They should be evacuated today if plans pan out.
Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6800
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
It appears that all the national forests in Oregon aiong the Cascades are closed. It's a real holocaust thanks to the "historic wind event" that started Monday afternoon. East winds have moderated a little but they are still blowing.
Edited by OregonMouse (09/09/2011:35 AM)
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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey
You're right, the Forest Service has closed all National Forests in the state.
Quote:
In an unprecedented move, the U.S. Forest Service on Wednesday closed all national forests in California in a frantic attempt to prevent more wildfires from erupting.
“The number of large fires and extreme fire behavior we are seeing across the state is historic,” Regional Forester Randy Moore said in a written statement. “These temporary closures are necessary to protect the public and our firefighters, and we will keep them in place until conditions improve and we are confident that National Forest visitors can recreate safely.”
Wednesday’s announcement extended the full closure to the remaining 10 forests in the northern half of the state. Visitors face fines and possible prison time for violating the emergency order.
“I ask all Californians and visitors to take these closures and evacuations seriously for their own safety and to allow our firefighters to focus on the mission of safely suppressing these fires,” Moore said.
Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6800
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
Those fires will be burning for quite a while yet. Even here in wetter Oregon, it will be well into November of even December before they are pretty well out.
Air Quality Index where I live is in the high 500s, basically off the scale above Hazardous, so I'm not even going outside!
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May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey
The smoke from the California fires has reached SE Arizona. I’m surrounded by mountains where I live; often I can’t see them for the smoke. The sun is a red ball for at least two hours after sunrise and before sunset. The sky is overcast with the smoke. No idea about the air quality but my eyes are irritated.
Registered: 01/16/13
Posts: 913
Loc: Nacogdoches, TX, USA
Originally Posted By Rick_D
Was beginning planning of a season-ender at the end of September, but guess I'll pencil it in for the time being. What will be open?
It's time for you West coasters to hike my neck of the woods. TX, AR, and OK hiking season starts in earnest in fall and goes through late spring. I guess you could hike summer too, if you like hiking in a sauna, but I don't.
In all seriousness, I wish you all the best. Stay safe.
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The journey is more important than the destination.
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