UPDATE 1:30: Mt. WIlson: Apparently now there is growing concern that the critical communications towers on Mt. Wilson may be endangered. In a note to the "neighbors" usegroup, Steve Bass reports that there is only one engineer now on the hill taking care of all stations. Upper Big Tujunga Rd. is no longer usable for egress due to a fire 300 yards from Colby Ranch on Upper Big Tujunga. The only safe way out now is through Wrightwood.
It hasn't burned since the 1950s. They probably reckon it's high time. And it's not a bad time to let the burning happen, since there are only light winds.
I saw a report somewhere today that they anticipate containment a week from Tuesday.
The RED areas are the most currently actively burning areas
Yeah sure let the whole thing burn... Most of it hasn't burned in a while
Just another prime example of Forest Service mismanagement
As I've always said, some of the worst things done to the Angeles has been at the hands of the FS Policies and their stupidity, from the Git Go to now.
Ranching, Mining, Timber Sales, Road Building, Homesteading, you name it
cougarmagic wrote:And so goes the pavilion at Inspiration Point, which the Mt Lowe volunteers worked so hard to rebuild, and make historically accurate:
Cougarmagic, is that [reasonable] speculation or have you heard that the pavilion has or is burning?
Just read this from the SG Valley Tribune:
....... Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Mark Savage said a strike team and engines were in place and air tankers had laid down fire retardant on the mountain directly in front of the “huge communication location.”
“It’s not a matter of if it impacts Mt. Wilson, it’s a matter of when,” he said. “Unfortunately today it was so smoky that our tankers couldn’t work anywhere near that area......
----
Yikes...
Does anyone know if the fire has gone up the Grand Canyon, just west of where the Alpine Tavern once stood?
Always wanted to get down in there... sure looked pretty when looking down on it from the Granite Gate area...
I just got this email from Brian Marcroft, who runs the Mt Lowe volunteers:
"Fire at cape and circular bridge. they were fighting another fire at sunset point near granite gate. It appears that they stopped the fire in millard at about granite gate"
HPS peaks in closed area in and around the Station Fire:
09A Mount Gleason (in the burn perimeter)
09B Iron Mountain #2 (in the burn perimeter)
09C Condor Peak (in the burn perimeter)
09D Fox Mountain #2 (in the burn perimeter)
09E Mount Lukens (in the burn perimeter)
10A Mount Emma
10B Old Mount Emma
10C Pacifico Mountain
10D Bare Mountain
10E Granite Mountain #1
10F Rabbit Peak #1 (in or at the edge of the burn perimeter)
10G Iron Mountain #3
10H Round Top
10I Mount Hillyer
10J Cole Point
11A Josephine Peak (in the burn perimeter)
11B Strawberry Peak (in or at the edge of the burn perimeter)
11C Mount Lawlor
11D Barley Flats
11F Vetter Mountain (LO)
12A Mount Deception (in the burn perimeter)
12B Mount Disappointment (in or at the edge of the burn perimeter)
12C San Gabriel Peak (in or at the edge of the burn perimeter)
12D Mount Markham (in the burn perimeter)
12E Mount Lowe (in the burn perimeter)
12F Occidental Peak
12G Mount Wilson
15A Monrovia Peak
mattmaxon wrote:After watching this fire for some time now it has become readily apparent the fire fighting strategy is to not fight it
They let all of Yerba Buena Ridge burn to Riverwood ranch burn before trying to do anything
Haines Cyn and Pipe Cyn are now burning. Zero effort to fight it
All they are doing is structure protection
Very disheartening
They might as well go back to the station house and clock out if they are going to stand around and watch
Hmmm... maybe the fire guys know something about the dangers of this fire. Do you think it is worth putting boots on the ground and have them injured or killed trying to save decades-old chaparral? Some of the areas you mentioned are difficult to get to.
HikeUp wrote:I saw rather large flames on Mt. Lowes SSW flanks.
Oh, yeah; you've got that right.
I mean within a hundred feet of the peak or so, directly behind Inspiration Point in my picture (if it was at all in focus)!!! I need a digital SLR!!! Argh!
Anyway, it either came up Grand Cyn. to that point or is spilling over southward from Bear Cyn. and trying to get into the Eaton Cyn watershed. Looks like the entire Arroyo Seco watershed is toast except (maybe, hopefully) upper part of Grand Cyn.
HikeUp wrote:I saw rather large flames on Mt. Lowes SSW flanks.
Oh, yeah; you've got that right.
I mean within a hundred feet of the peak or so, directly behind Inspiration Point in my picture (if it was at all in focus)!!! I need a digital SLR!!! Argh!
Anyway, it either came up Grand Cyn. to that point or is spilling over southward from Bear Cyn. and trying to get into the Eaton Cyn watershed. Looks like the entire Arroyo Seco watershed is toast except (maybe, hopefully) upper part of Grand Cyn.
So, sounds like Switzers and Bear Canyon are pretty much toast? Crap.
I suspect the Angeles Crest 100 will be no-go on Sept 19 as much of the lower trail (Prieto, Millard, Sam Merrill) is gone. I work the Newcomb Saddle Aid Station. I'm hoping it is still there in the morning.
