Trail Closures?

[OldnSlow]

This may be answered somewhere else but has anyone an updated trail closure listing? We're hoping to head up DS through Wellman's Cienega to the summit in a couple of weeks. I haven't seen any information lately on current trail status.

Thanks in advance!

[Ulysses]

Went up Devils Slide this past Sunday and the PCT going north from Saddle Jct. towards Wellmans was taped off with warning signs. That being said, I didn't see any Wilderness Patrol that day. I believe they are not working due to the govt. shutdown. Saw a guy a couple weeks ago coming down the PCT from Strawberry Cienega, and a friend of mine's kid has been camping several times in the closed areas. Who knows...

[Hikin_Jim]

This may be answered somewhere else but has anyone an updated trail closure listing? We're hoping to head up DS through Wellman's Cienega to the summit in a couple of weeks. I haven't seen any information lately on current trail status.

Thanks in advance!

Officially the stretch from Saddle Junction to Wellmans Cienega is closed. Why it would be closed is anyone's guess since the Mountain Fire did not affect that area. Note the use of the word "officially." With the government shutdown, there's no one checking...

HJ

[Justin]

I ran into that situation on Saturday at saddle junction. An older gentlemen informed us of the closure when we were on the trail up (I'm sure he saw our overnight packs), and mentioned a potential $10,000 fine if caught in the closed area, plus he had a legit looking walkie talkie, so who knows who he talks to with that thing haha . Whether the fine is legit or not I have no idea, but it kept us from going any further and we resorted to Tahquitz and an early trip home.

[Hikin_Jim]

Seems like an awfully high fine.

I wish someone could articulate why that section of the trail is under a fire closure since there was no fire there.

HJ

[OldnSlow]

Thanks. I was told it was a $5k fine when I first went up Deer Springs and asked about it. That was the first weekend any trails were open on the south side. When we Tahquitz a few weeks later, the volunteer at the lookout told us they were out surveying trails to see what could be reopened.

Then silence, then the shutdown.

We'll see what happens.

[cynthia23]

I don't think there would be any shutdown situation, would there? MSJ is a state park after all. I don't think there are any federal employees there? Of course somebody correct me if I'm wrong ...but I don't think anyone should rely on there being 'no one checking', because the state rangers are surely out and about ...

[Hikin_Jim]

We're talking about trails in the USFS area of control.

HJ

[cynthia23]

Well, in either event, I don't think anyone would want to go into the burned areas. I know someone who did (to take photos), and he regretted it. He said it was horribly dangerous (this from somebody with a high risk tolerance) and that he was sick for several days after (from the dust and ashes.) I'm guessing they're keeping closures on non-burned areas because they're contingent with burned ones, and they really don't want to even remotely risk the liability of anyone going in there ...at least that's my guess...

[Jill G]

10/18/13 I called the USFS Idyllwild: the PCT from Saddle Junction to the State Park sign and through Strawberry Cienega to Strrawberry Camp is still closed. They are evaluating the trail and hope to reopen the section "soon".