PDF Map

Document with description of closure boundaries

However, there are some previously closed areas that are now open…including the north side of Mt Waterman and the moving the closure line north of the ACH a bit west past the Winston Peak / Winston Ridge area. Additionally, it appears the south border has moved further north in the Monrovia Peak area. I can’t offer specifics as I’ve just glanced at the pdf map at moderate resolution. The text document offers more specifics. Any comments on specific changes are appreciated.

Do you recognize this face? Let us know.

http://gis.dpw.lacounty.gov/roadclosures/main.cfm

The forecast for the next 7 days shows that temperatures are finally coming down to the mid-70s and will be falling to the lower 70s by Sunday. Let’s hope this trend stays because I am really looking forward to some snow, or at least some form of weather to hike in.

This can only mean that it’s time to kick up the training for the winter months. That’s where the real fun will be. Up in the mountains in the snow. Carving out a path and falling knee deep. Exciting times!

A beautiful day, not so beautiful burned areas…

Final Stats:

16 miles, 5200 ft

View more stats and maps

Set up another last minute hike with the meetup group, and just before 8 am off we were up the Old Mt Wilson trail, or ‘Old Faithful’ based on my hiking past.

The day was very clear, though a bit warm. Starting early lessened the extent of heat and sun exposure, but still the first 1.5 miles of the trail is uncovered. Luckily, we made this in good time and then got to some more shade.

Although I don’t have a picture of it, from the drive up it appears someone made an big effort to create a firebreak on Jones Peak’s SE ridge. And from what Ray said, apparently this continued all the way to Hastings Peak and the toll road.

We continued up, breaking at Orchard’s Camp and then on to Manzanita ridge. Here we saw some lady smoking. Seriously? Are people just that moronic / careless? No wonder these fires start. For some reason I didn’t say anything, but man that’s disappointing.

Up and away to Mt Wilson it was. On the toll road, we got our first glimpse of burned area – the east side of Lowe, Markham, and San Gabriel Peaks.

(I suggest taking a look at my photo album below as I took in more zoomed shots of here and the rest of the burned areas I could see.)

Getting up to Mt Wilson, we traversed across to the eastern end. Here we got some expansive views on a really beautiful day. Unfortunately much of that clarity gave sobering views of the burned areas:

And many more. The whole area is just toast. Waterman and Twin Peaks look alright, Devil’s canyon and the San Gabriel Wilderness are at least partially burned. AW’s west ridge idea now looks feasible . Triplet Rocks area still has brush .

Barley Flats and Lawlor were just annihilated. Strawberry too, although I didn’t get great views of it. The album describes better than words.

The top of Wilson’s Peak was relatively untouched. When I got to the north side, I could smell the charred wood / brush pretty strongly. You could see evidence that at least some fire got right up to the paved road, as some trees’ bases were burnt. But the area was not affected collectively. It looks like a nice job fighting off the fire very close to buildings.

And then we headed back down the same way.

WRIGHTWOOD, CA – Firefighters are dwarfed by towering flames as they set a backfire to try to stop the 3,500-acre Sheep fire from reaching the town of Wrightwood, a half-mile away on October 4, 2009 near Wrightwood, California. The wildfire began near Lytle Creek and is threatening the mountain ski community of Wrightwood and other communities. Strong erratic winds and a steep terrain is driving the wildfire through the San Gabriel Mountains, charring more than 3,500 acres and destroying at least four homes so far. Approximately 1,000 firefighters are battling the blaze. (David McNew / ***** Images)

So it appears another weekend of ANF closure is in store.

I wouldn’t rely on the reopening for the following weekend either, as the forest service may decide to hold out until the coming heat wave passes.

9/19/09: Mt. Yale Loop – Starting from Sierra Madre trail will head up and connect to Jones Peak and go along the newly carved fire break to the Mt. Wilson Toll Road. From there head on up the ridge to Yale. Depending on time or how I feel, may just want to come back down the same way.

9/27/09: No hike – Will be busing/boozing it up with Ze. Will most likely end up biking somewhere with hills to work on cardio.

10/3/09: Mt. Wilson via Santa Anita Ridge – haven’t done this one. Will probably not do this one though if it’s hot. If it is hot, will probably do Mt. Wilson from Chantry Flats.

10/10/09: ?

10/17/09: Hike in the back country. Not sure where exactly. Also depends on what areas are burned out.

10/24/09: Baldy via Bear Flats – The warmup hike for C2C.

10/31/09: Baldy via Register Ridge – sneak in one more weekend at elevation.

11/7/09: The big day!!!