PCT from Soledad to Mount Gleason
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:30 am
My evil twin Jake wanted to take a longish hike on Saturday, perhaps documenting damage from the Station Fire around the Pacific Crest Trail south of Acton. He mentions that that though passable, the trail suffers from cover by slides, small rocks, charred timber and leaf litter. He very reluctantly suggests that it be left untraveled until the hillsides stabilize and the trail is restored. Note that he is the furthest thing possible from a Forest Service shill and genuinely concerned for the safety of other hikers. After seeing his pictures, I am more conflicted than ever regarding the natural, rejuvenating effects of forest fires, and how a small fire behind Angeles Crest Station was allowed to destroy so much of our wilderness.
Acton Fire PCT burn area, photographed on March 29 2008.
The same area, this past Saturday (~27 months of recovery).
The Three Sisters.
General condition of the PCT above Mill Canyon as a result of the Station Burn.
It's like this from canyon bottom to top.
The view down canyon.
North Fork Station and Picnic Areas were saved.
The surrounding area, not so much.
PCT and 3N17.6 below "Indian" peak (4542').
Same area, March 29, 2008.
The view north from North Fork Saddle.
Trail and hillside condition above Iron Canyon.
At least we'll get stabbed before we need to bash through brush.
Looking towards Gleason and Lightning Point.
Similar view from 3/29/2008.
Messenger Flats C.G. was preserved.
Indian Ben Saddle (center-left), Mendenhall Ridge Road and char-broiled Pacoima Canyon.
Similar view, March 29, 2008.
Flanks of Mount Gleason.
This breaks my heart; Odocoileus Hemionus (Mule Deer).
These critters didn't stand much of a chance escaping the fire.
Summit of Mount Gleason (6502').
Center structure lost its roof to the fire.
Same area, March 2008.
Pacific Crest Trail, heading towards Soledad from Gleason.
Jake's GPS track and elevation profile.
Acton Fire PCT burn area, photographed on March 29 2008.
The same area, this past Saturday (~27 months of recovery).
The Three Sisters.
General condition of the PCT above Mill Canyon as a result of the Station Burn.
It's like this from canyon bottom to top.
The view down canyon.
North Fork Station and Picnic Areas were saved.
The surrounding area, not so much.
PCT and 3N17.6 below "Indian" peak (4542').
Same area, March 29, 2008.
The view north from North Fork Saddle.
Trail and hillside condition above Iron Canyon.
At least we'll get stabbed before we need to bash through brush.
Looking towards Gleason and Lightning Point.
Similar view from 3/29/2008.
Messenger Flats C.G. was preserved.
Indian Ben Saddle (center-left), Mendenhall Ridge Road and char-broiled Pacoima Canyon.
Similar view, March 29, 2008.
Flanks of Mount Gleason.
This breaks my heart; Odocoileus Hemionus (Mule Deer).
These critters didn't stand much of a chance escaping the fire.
Summit of Mount Gleason (6502').
Center structure lost its roof to the fire.
Same area, March 2008.
Pacific Crest Trail, heading towards Soledad from Gleason.
Jake's GPS track and elevation profile.
but the comparison shots help people see the true effects of "fire storms". Let's hope for some great recovery, the sooner the better. There's very similar damage in the a couple of areas of the San Diego sections of the PCT from the 2002 fires. It's like walking through a "ghost town" after a nuclear detenation. 