After the fire

[Florian]

Sounds like the Deer Springs, Marion Mountain, Seven Pines, and Fuller Ridge Trails are all open to LRV and SJ Peak. I suppose the USFS area south of the state park is all closed?

Yes, that is my understanding.

-Florian

[OldnSlow]

Hiked Deer Springs today. From Suicide Rock Tahquitz and the whole area look pretty good. I didn't go north up the PCT, just a quick up and back. Had the trail to myself from Suicide Rock to Strawberry Junction, much more crowded on the way down. No rangers on the trail, much to my surprise.

Driving up through the valley, things didn't look too bad on the 74 until I reached Keen Summit. Then you could really smell the fire and see where it tried to come back west. Amazed they saved the propane tank farm. It jumped the road right next to it.

The village was nice and busy as I drove back down around 12:30. But down at 371 and the 79 fire trucks started streaming eastward.

[Florian]

I have it on good authority that the tramway summer pass will be extended an extra 5 days when the tram reopens on 8/31 thru 9/4! Trails out of Long Valley are expected to be open by then.

-Florian

[Florian]

The Indian Canyons south of Palm Springs have also reopened. They are currently on summer schedule open 8am Fri-Sat-Sun.

-Florian

[Hikin_Jim]

Nice, especially since the tram is going to be shut down starting this weekend.

I see that it's shutting down this weekend for what appears to be three weeks.

The Tramway’s annual maintenance is scheduled for
August 10-30, 2013, tentatively reopening August 31, 2013.

How long is the tram shut down normally? Is it usually this long?

HJ

[neverwashasbeen]

HJ, the tram shut down this year is scheduled to be longer than normal. They are doing major preparations for the 50th anniversary of the original opening. Normally they close for about 2 weeks, but depending on the amount of work that needs to be done, it has been extended as needed. Perhaps TramTim has more to add.

[tramtim]

Yes we are closing on Saturday the 10th to Friday the 30th for our annual maintenance, normally we do this in September but this September is our 50th birthday and we did not want to be closed for it.

The longer time is to let us do some schedule maintenance on all the Hydraulics Systems, motors and brakes. Also we are doing our 6 year carriage exchange, we take the Tram off and remove the Carriage (the part that the cable is hooked to) and go through it with a very fine tooth comb. Then on the last week it’s the Swiss and the State’s turns for testing and inspections.

Also on September 12th we will be close for a VIP party for the 50th.

Tim

I know the State is trying to get the backcountry or at least parts of it open when we reopen on the 31st.

[Hikin_Jim]

OK, so I'm confused here. I understand why the tram is closed (normal annual maintenance), but why is the state park closed? The fire affected the USFS portion of the San Jacintos, but it really didn't affect much of the state portion other than a little bit around Hidden Lake Divide. I've heard "rain damage", but that seems odd since the USFS controlled and state controlled western portions are open (Deer Springs Trail, Marion Mountain Trail, Seven Pines Trail, Fuller Ridge Trail, spur trail to the summit of SJ Pk, etc.). Is it just precautionary until they can assess the damage?

I guess I don't understand why they don't open things to Round Valley and the summit and just close the trail up to Hidden Lake Divide.

HJ

[lilbitmo]

I agree HJ something doesn't ring true.
Like company & fish things start to smell after three days and its been three weeks.

[Florian]

Also on September 12th we will be close for a VIP party for the 50th.

Tim, i rode the tram the first week it was open. I was 8 years old. Can i apply to be a VIP?

-Florian