PCT - Possible Bypass Routes for the Mountain Fire Closure

[Hikin_Jim]

I've been pondering some possible bypass routes for the PCT with respect to the Mountain Fire Closure.

My first cut was the route shown in gold. The gold route has obvious problems because it goes east of Mountain Center (through the closure area). Probably a no go, but since a lot of that is dirt road (not trail), it's possible that it might open early.

My second cut was to add on the routes shown in yellow and blue. I think those might actually work although there could be some private property issues. I'm curious if anyone has any feedback on them. I've never hiked so much as a foot of any of the yellow or blue routes.

HJ

[gonehigher]

In tow I've got a group of experienced older women hikers doing the border to 15 MacD section hike I'm keeping an eye over scheduled for early April. This will help as they have a ton of support and were looking to get off the PCT at the 74 and back on at Black Mountain. I will let them know about the section open from the 74 to above Little Desert tomorrow on our training hike. They are a motivated group and have a ton of history behind them.

The wind blows north.

Thanks Jim.

[Backwoods]

Disregard I had it wrong.

[Backwoods]

Living right by the closed section confused me as far as this is concerned since all the sinage was removed. Sorry.

[Hikin_Jim]

First, some links on the USFS site pertaining to Closure Order 13 - 18.

There are two logical sections to the Mountain Fire Closure PCT bypass:
1. Paradise Corner area to Lake Hemet
2. Lake Hemet to the S Ridge Trail.
The S Ridge Trail then rejoins the PCT near Little Tahquitz Valley.

I think the section beyond Lake Hemet is the trickier to bypass. Here's my thinking on the beyond Lake Hemet section:
If you follow the above links, you'll get this map:


I see May Valley Road (5S21) highlighted in bright yellow, meaning that it's closed. For that matter, anything due east of Keenwild is closed. The lower section of the S Ridge Trail (below ~6500 feet, marked as trail #3E08.3 on the map) is also closed.

Therefore, the route past Lake Hemet (going North) that I originally marked on my interactive Mountain Fire PCT bypass topo map using the gold colored line is probably not going to be acceptable to the USFS. I've re-marked the sections of that possible bypass in red that are currently closed.

Because the May Valley Road route is probably no good, I marked out a route in dark blue to the west. This blue route generally follows telephone maintenance roads until it goes north of Hwy 74. North of 74, it's following back roads and some marked trails. I think it would work, but it really needs someone to scout it/GPS track it.

Regarding the first part of the bypass, from Paradise Corner to Lake Hemet, I agree that Thomas Mountain Road isn't a very good bypass. It adds a lot of miles, you'd be sharing the route with cars, and there's not a lot of water.

So, I looked harder. The route marked in yellow is what I came up with. It parallels Hwy 74 to the west. It looks doable, but it needs scouting/GPS tracking.

HJ

[Andy]

Jim,

Just wanted to point out that there is a single track trail on the east side of 74 between Hurkey Creek to a little ways beyond 5S05 that would probably serve as a good bypass for that section. Only concern is that it is a popular MTB route.

[Hikin_Jim]

Hi, Andy,

Thanks. I had seen that on the satellite photos. It's a good alternative (except maybe for the dive-bombing mountain bikes), but then how do you re-connect with the PCT? Sections 28, 29, and 30 on the map are all closed. For that reason, I didn't try to include it in a bypass route.

HJ

[Hikin_Jim]

In tow I've got a group of experienced older women hikers doing the border to 15 MacD section hike I'm keeping an eye over scheduled for early April. This will help as they have a ton of support and were looking to get off the PCT at the 74 and back on at Black Mountain. I will let them know about the section open from the 74 to above Little Desert tomorrow on our training hike. They are a motivated group and have a ton of history behind them.

The wind blows north.

Thanks Jim.

You're welcome. I sketched in a new route in green from the Cedar Springs Trail Junction on the PCT back to Hwy 74 for those doing longer sections and what not. Or of course just park a car(s) on Morris Ranch Road.

HJ

[Hikin_Jim]

Sorry I was in a hurry early'r. The part were you wrote. "The gold route has obvious problems because it goes east of Mountain Center" is open as far as I know from the fact that the mountain bikers are rideing down there and the Cow Bell Ally entrance to May Valley is open on the Idyllwild end I just haven't personly been down to check the hurky creek entrance. If I'm lucky enough to do the PCT again next year like I think I am I'm going to road walk the 74 to just past lake Hemet on your map cut over to dirt May valley road. Gold?? There's quite a few places to cut over.Then on to were May Valley Road. Gold on the map? comes out on Cow Bell Alley to Saunders meadow road hang a right then a mile or so to the 243 in Idyllwild. This Topo map dosen't show any road names so I'm guessing that's what your thinking for the May Valley section?? The 74 road walk can't be more than 5 or 6 miles this way can it? To me the cut over to May Valley is the only question as to what I would do if I was doing it today and I know May valley like the back of my hand. I live right off Saunders Meadows.

May Valley Road sure looks like the best bypass option in that area -- certainly better than the route I marked out in blue. But it is definitely closed right now. It'd be great if the USFS would open a corridor to allow it's use. We'll see.

HJ

[Backwoods]

Yep Jim I just went to the SJ ranger station and talked to the person from the back office about it. When I asked why the closer signs were taken down he said signs go up and signs come down who takes them down is the question. Since there are no signs I could get away with walking through there but that won't work for planing a detoure for hundreds of PCT hikers. He said they are working on something along the lines of your blue line on the topo. So I did a little leg work here in Idyllwild and what I came away with is the blue is a step in the right direction.