Fire in Mountain Center darkens Palm Springs ...

[zippetydude]

I totally agree with you and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. If a friend has surgery don't we all say, "Can I see the scar?" Nature, in all its phases, including healing, is fascinating to observe.

I myself found it remarkably engrossing to roam across some hills in Wildwood State Park after they burned clear of brush and grasses a couple of years ago. It's suddenly a lot like traveling in deep snow - there are no obstacles and you can wander all over the place. I found new rock formations and utterly amazing "moonscapes" all around.

BTW I'm not suggesting creating shortcuts, so don't anybody get all excited. If you never retrace your steps, but instead simply wander from point to point all over the place, no trail is established and no damage is done.

Hey, it looks like the area over at Hidden Divide is open? Maybe the fire stopped short of the ridge? Am I misreading the closure maps?

z

[hvydrt]

Why is the area north west of San J closed? ( The Black Mountain Fuller Ridge Marion area?) Did that area burn too?

[neverwashasbeen]

InciWeb states the following in the most recent update:

"The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and Mount San Jacinto State Park are currently closed however; The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will reopen tomorrow, July 23rd."

[tramtim]

The Tram will be open but we are told by the Rangers that ALL OF THE STATE PARK ARE CLOSED. This is everything from the back door of the Tram Mountain Station to Idyllwild.

I think it is till they fell the monster is truly dead; the crews that were up here did not finish a line around the fire due to the rain on Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully this will get lifted soon.

Tim

[Florian]

Why is the area north west of San J closed? ( The Black Mountain Fuller Ridge Marion area?)

That was part of the original closure when no one knew how far the fire was going to go. I would think the north area might be opened once they've had a chance to do an assessment. I would expect the state park to remain closed for a while.

-Florian

[Florian]

BTW I'm not suggesting creating shortcuts, so don't anybody get all excited. If you never retrace your steps, but instead simply wander from point to point all over the place, no trail is established and no damage is done.

One person wandering from point to point probably isn't a problem. It's the next person that also walks along your foot steps, and the next person, and the next, etc that eventually form use trails all over the place. I would like to ask that we all honor any area closures no matter how long they are in place. There are reasons for closures even if they are not immediately obvious to us. (And i really hesitated to post this. If we want to start a discussion regarding closures and use trails perhaps a new topic thread would be the best place.)

-Florian

[bluerail]

Yea i would hesitate to post that also, kinda makes it seem like you think the idiots are on the message board.

Ive come to realize the idiots ive run across on the mountain never even find this board.

[zippetydude]

I hear you Florian. I'm certainly not looking for a debate either. The place I'm talking about was burned off but the ground was firm, I couldn't have found my own footprints had I tried. Out in the forest, the soil is much softer and might well yield clear prints as you mentioned.

As far as honoring the closure, I agree with Steve. The people on this board are, as far as I have ever seen, very good about respecting the wilderness and others as well. Selfish people who raid the boxes and your cache on Skyline aren't on here anyway.

Incidentally, there's a sizable fine if you break that particular law, and from what a firefighter told me, trespassers also stand to be investigated for arson. Apparently arsonists like to go and gloat over the destruction they have caused.

Anyone seen any officially produced pics? I'm hoping some of the trees made it and the regrowth won't have to start from scratch.

z

[Hikin_Jim]

Some people kill me. I mean you go to all the trouble to train for something like Skyline and then you dump empty water bottles beside the route? What?

And, hey, I'll just take the emergency water, because it's all about me, right?

On the other hand, hopefully the FS will be reasonable with what they close and for how long they close it. Sometimes people get really frustrated with the "worry warts" who close things at the drop of the hat. Unreasonableness just encourages scofflaws.

Anyway, I've probably said too much. Everybody respect the forest.

HJ

[lilbitmo]

According to the Message in this inci-web update

Shows that the state park is now open - see under "Open"

Notices

Open:

The Communities of: Idyllwild, Fern Valley, Pine Cove, Bonita Vista, Pine Springs, and Trails End

Palm Springs Aerial Tram

Hurkey Creek Campground has reopened for Camping Only Hiking and Biking Trails Remain Closed.

Idyllwild State Park and Stone Creek State Park

Lake Hemet Campground

Highway 243

Highway 74

And the State Park is looking for volunteers to help with the Desert View Trail to clean it up and stop spur trails
See link to calendar here look under Aug 3rd
Click on that link to sign up, I've sent a message to Phoebe Oelheim at phoebe@calparks.org to see if that date is still a go with all the confusion about what's closed and what is open as she's in charge of that date/crew organization.

Might be a chance to see the damage up close without getting reprimanded for doing so. They are working from 8:30 AM to 1 PM and children 10+ are welcome.