Bridge Fire

Post by **dima** » Mon Sep 16, 2024 3:45 pm

Old RV park at Cow Canyon saddle probably burned. And Thompson Ranch. Iron Fork below where the two forks split burned; above, it did not.

Post by **dima** » Mon Sep 16, 2024 3:47 pm

East Fork rd and GMR (both sides) are fine, except the teeny bit at their junction at Cattle Cyn. Most of GRR very burned.

Post by **dima** » Mon Sep 16, 2024 5:27 pm

Here's the sensed burn map all by itself:

Post by **HikeUp** » Mon Sep 16, 2024 11:31 pm

Rattlesnake and Iron are the 2 most "remote" peaks...will this ease the way?

My time up Rattlesnake in Dec 2008, the brush was thick but the trail was clear - I assume someone had brushed the trail at some point that year. I can envision a very difficult trudge otherwise. Now maybe it will be a cinch.

Looking south from near Rattlesnake Peak...do you see a trail? There was one, but???

Post by **Uncle Rico** » Tue Sep 17, 2024 6:20 am

How many years do you suppose Rattlesnake will be closed off?

The over-under in Vegas is a decade.

Station Fire redux.

Girl Hiker · Post by **Girl Hiker** » Tue Sep 17, 2024 7:39 am

I climbed Rattlesnake, I think in 2015. Not sure if I did a TR anyways it was pretty clear. Not easy but a good steep climb with a few poodle dog bushes at the top.

Post by **Sean** » Tue Sep 17, 2024 7:44 am

It's been four years since the Bobcat Fire and everything has reopened except for Chantry, which reopens this October. So, my guess for the Bridge Fire area is three or four years, with Baldy and Mtn. High ski zones reopening sooner. Even after the Station Fire, areas were reopened within a few years, like the Strawberry Peak Trail. But so many trails were affected that it took many more years for crews to fix the pathways. In fact we still haven't finished restoring them all. It's different for trails in the high country, they rely more on sawyer crews clearing the dead trees, and less on trail crews fixing tread and clearing brush.

nihaody · Post by **nihaody** » Tue Sep 17, 2024 8:31 am

dima wrote: ↑Mon Sep 16, 2024 3:45 pm Old RV park at Cow Canyon saddle probably burned. And Thompson Ranch. Iron Fork below where the two forks split burned; above, it did not.

https://recovery.lacounty.gov/bridgefire/

Looks like the RV park and its water tower burned and / or were damaged. Several structures at Thompson. It appears they're actively doing assessments (e.g. Thompson Ranch structures weren't on here initially) so I would expect more dots to pop up through the canyon.

Post by **dima** » Tue Sep 17, 2024 8:37 am

That is a VERY good link. Thanks. The remaining question mark is Widman Ranch, which isn't on that map (yet?) It's in a wider part of the canyon, so maybe it survived. If they're all gone, upper Coldwater Canyon becomes accessible, which would be excellent.

Post by **Sean** » Tue Sep 17, 2024 10:33 am

NewsPlus article by Don Fish Jr., who drove through Wrightwood yesterday. He gives a survey and provides photos.

Post by **Sean** » Wed Sep 18, 2024 2:29 pm

Here's an LA Times article detailing all the trails that burned. I was able to read it via a FB link but you might need a subscription via normal browsers. Looks like Vincent Gap to Baden-Powell survived but the mine burned. Grassy Hollow visitor center burned, and the PCT along the Blue Ridge burned. I'm guessing we lost Blue Ridge and Guffy campgrounds, maybe Lupine too, which is a shame. The East Fork, of course, is pretty much toast to the Bridge to Nowhere.