General updates
I am still recovering from GenCon.
We are looking at trail conditions on the CDT with all the fires (*more below after everything else). Grateful we were not in the Bob when the fires broke out. We would have been caught smack in the middle of the fire.
Otherwise this post is just miscellaneous updates.
I’m getting over a bad cold. Visiting grandchildren and getting ready to participate in first day of school and birthdays. Really enjoying the visit.
But in our down time we are looking at how and where to get back on the trail.
Tomorrow we are picking up new shoes for Happy.
Monday my replacement stuff sack for one that tore comes in.
Our youngest is being published.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p77QLqsYrxnu4i1c/?mibextid=WC7FNe
I am feeling so much better as I recover from this cold. While I rest I am trying not to gain too much weight while off trail. Having such a great time visiting family.
That is what has been happening with Happy & I.
We expect to drive up to Lander and start hiking at Atlantic City/South Pass City and head north.
Will see Thursday.
Fires/commentary
*Fires and other events are ingrained into the PCT and CDT experiences now.
For example, on the PCT this week Stehekin was evacuated. In places fire there was and is down to the waters edge. Lassen had another fire and is closed again with no walk around.
On the CDT Ghost Ranch had a fire closure on the way there and the roadwalk was so dangerous the forest service paid for a free shuttle to take hikers around it.
An area of Oregon we had hiked through that was hit by fire before we hiked it had another fire sweep through and it is burned down to the ashes now. Bleak. Like another planet.
Not just fire damage. Fire devastation. This was it before the fire.
Now it is just ash.
The CDT has fires breaking out all over. 2024 has had more than 90 relevant fires (the link is a list).
The current fire map (August 10, 2925 at 8:30).
Currently there is a lot of flame. Luckily there are rainstorms. Rain often dramatically changes the course of fires and the risk. But I’ve learned, not always. The Spotted Bear Fire hit after rainstorms dropped almost 3/4 of an inch of rain.
Anyway, the constant fire closures changes the character of hiking long trails.
It is no longer just a matter of a road walk or two changing the route. Many of the fires have no safe walk around. Many trails are really constrained by hiking parts of them in wet seasons or skipping parts.
Here you can see the burned area above after a second round of fires.
There are so many fire damaged areas, changed vistas and miles of blow downs from fire and beetle damage.
It has changed the experience and nature of a hike.
When there is cell service you can sign up with the trail associations and you’ll get warnings and updates. But there are a couple of long hauls (like the red line through the Bob) that have no cell service for days.
If we had not turned back, Win and I would have been smack in the middle of the Spotted Bear route in the Bob when it was engulfed by fire.
(As a side note, I’m going to keep closer watch on my daughter’s audit schedule. Every time she has an audit we almost end up in a fire on trail.).
One thing you can do is use a service like Garmin that you can check everysooften for fire updates. That pings off satellites and is always in service.
But the western long trails are no longer walks through untouched old growth forests. Which has changed everything.