Fire in Mountain Center darkens Palm Springs ...

[cynthia23]

There's an interesting article in today's Desert Sun (maybe some kind soul can post the link? I'm technologically challenged) which has a map showing a history of big fires in the San Jacintos since the 1920s. There's also an interesting discussion about the cause of mega-fires--climate change, too much fire suppression, or both? I certainly don't know the answer but the article was interesting.

The Idy Arts kids are going back tomorrow. I'm going to (somewhat nervously) take my son back up.

[Florian]

There's an interesting article in today's Desert Sun (maybe some kind soul can post the link? I'm technologically challenged) which has a map showing a history of big fires in the San Jacintos since the 1920s.

Here is the graphic .. http://www.mydesert.com/interactive/art ... -wildfires

-Florian

[cynthia23]

Thanks so much Florian.

[Hikin_Jim]

I like that they're discussing the fire in the past tense -- although I note that containment is still only about 50% as of 1830 hours today.

HJ

[whatmeworry]

Awesome shot of one one of the MAFF-equipped C-130s in action.

https://twitter.com/AEGMAFFS/status/358714255664611329/photo/1

[Backwoods]

HJ This is the story of Tahquitz and the mountain named after him that for some reason wasen't touched by the fire as it blazed all around it. A Cahuilla legend recounts how tribesmen chanted over the body of their fallen chieftain Tahquitz,, who had been possessed by an evil spirit and killed his sweetheart. Suddenly his body began to glow like fire, and he rose and settled on Idyllwild's Tahquitz Rock. According to the legend, Tahquitz is trapped beneath the rock with a rattlesnake and a condor for company, and when the mountain shakes and trembles, it is not an earthquake, but Tahquitz up to his evil tricks on Lily Rock.
Could the lightning and thunder today be his anger about the fire?? The fire kinda kept it's distance from Tahquitz thank god since South Ridge trail is a 2 mile hike from my house. It's been a strange week up here in Idyllwild it kinda seem's like something unexplainable brought rain at this time after it's been so dry. Also I camped in quite a few burnt USFS area's last year during my PCT Thru only a week or so after they burnt. the only place that was regulated and told us were to camp were the state parks burnt or not. I would try to plan my day so I got out of the burn area's though just becouse they were so depresing and ugly. The mood's pretty uplifting in IDY today I thought I share this ledgend just for the hell of it.

[hikerval]

What an awesome SJ community. Thank you to all who have kept us up to date with excellent graphics and valuable links, and those fire crews carving lines through the forest to protect this special place. This is the bright spot in 2 consecutive weeks of agony, with fires burning through favorite places (also Chariot Fire in San Diego).

50% looks so much better than the 19% we've been seeing for the last couple days.

[Wild]

Awesome shot of one one of the MAFF-equipped C-130s in action.

https://twitter.com/AEGMAFFS/status/358714255664611329/photo/1

Wow, awesome shot indeed!

Well, at this point I guess I'm just excited to see how fast the mountain will recover. With the amount of snow it gets in the winter, it should be faster than a lot of the lower fires in SoCal. My hat is off to the firefighters and all involved personnel. I can't wait to volunteer for trail maintenance, I have a feeling the trails will need a lot of help. Also thanks for all the updates people, especially Florian, you have been on top of it man, really appreciate it!

[cynthia23]

Thanks for the legend Backwoods. I agree that it's rather odd that we should get so much rain today after so long without it, and it's also odd, looking at the map in the Desert Sun today of historical fires, how fires on MSJ have 'skipped over' the Idyllwild area.

But of course, less mysteriously, this week we owe thanks for Idyllwild's safety to the extremely hard work of all the fire personnel. Without them ... I shudder to think of what would have happened. I'm thankful for all their work.

[miboman]

Reading these postings is depressing. I came home from an extended weekend backpacking in Ansel Adams Wilderness. Radio news indicated rain had helped a lot and I did a quick look at inciweb report. Looking at fire perimeter, I thought Laws and a fair chunk of the area had been spared. Reading these posts indicate a much bleaker picture. So glad I got to do a Laws-Round Valley loop two weeks ago