State Park closure October 2007

[halhiker]

We have not had any smoke in the Palm Springs area AT ALL. We saw a little yesterday from the Arrowhead area fire and some this afternoon above San Jacinto. NONE had come this way.

I work in a hotel and we've had tons of evacuees come out here just to breathe. It's actually been very nice here and should be even nicer this weekend.

[guest]

Hi guys,

I've seen this once before, where the State Park closes the whole area, including Long Valley, so the tram has to help manage that closure.
So, yes, if you ride up, the doors out the back will probably be locked, or at least posted, no entry.
The tram seems to be slow in updating info, 2 days ago they were still running the ticker for the tram race!
Your right about people being disapointed at the least, if they don't find out they can't enjoy the forest until they get to the tram.

ss

[fishandcandy]

The back doors aren't locked yet. They're still letting people out onto the little patio back there, but the path downhill is closed off.

Sorry about the website - they aren't able to update right now.

The number for the Ranger recording is 760 327 0222. That'll have the info when the park reopens.

[Davis2001r6]

Thanks for the info fishandcandy, will pay close attention.

[Hikin_Jim]

LOL, so you can go out on the back patio. That's what I call a true wilderness experience.

Well, that settles it. If you can't go down the ramp, then EVERYTHING is closed and skyline is out unless you want to climb "beautiful" hill 5815 which is just outside the boundary and I believe on the Skyline route. Of course you do then have to walk back down.

[halhiker]

I posted earlier that we hadn't had any smoke in the Palm Springs area. OK, this morning (10/25) we can see some, especially above San Jacinto. Where I live in La Quinta we couldn't smell any but it was visible above some of the mountains in the western and southern portions of the Valley.

[cynthia23]

Yes, the smoke is rolling in to the Coachella Valley, and all reports are it will get worse. I went up the Ramon trail this morning (Thursday) and it was getting nasty--sky getting "cloudy" except it was smoke. It's also hot and dry. It was unpleasant and hard to hike in and by the weekend I imagine it will be much worse. The light is turning a weird yellow color--SO unflattering, not to mention your lungs are sucking in benzene, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and a few other unpleasant things. My advice to everyone is to stay home, indoors, and get out that "buns of steel" DVD ...

[Hikin_Jim]

The light is turning a weird yellow color--SO unflattering

That is, after all, my major concern when hiking.

Long time no post, Cynthia; hope all is well.

HJ

[fishandcandy]

It looks like the park will be closed through the weekend at the least.
Not that I can imagine anyone wanting to hike in this anyway.

[CaptainSwab]

My dad was up in Idyllwild on Wed to go hiking where he was told that all the trails were closed. The ranger told him most likely they would be closed until the end of fire season at the end of Nov.

It looks like everyone has been getting different stories though about them reopening.