Camping Sites

looks like epicenter is under owens lake per USGS earthquake map

 

12 aftershocks, one was 4.6 but we didn't feel any of them in Big Pine. Even the main one was a loud bump with only 1 or 2 seconds of rocking, felt the Nevada one more. Haven't heard of road closures yet but I am sure some will be, lots of reports of rock slides.

 

[Sheriff Update 2:14 pm: Whitney Portal area is closed and campgrounds are being evacuated due to rock slide south of the main parking lot. No injuries reported at this time. It is unclear at this time if the main Mt Whitney trail has been affected. It is believed that this slide was triggered by the recent 5.8 earthquake near the Lone Pine area.

Onion Valley Road: open, no reported damage; Horseshoe Meadows Road: closed, debris/rocks in the road; Glacier Lodge Road: open, no reported damage

We are assessing a reported rockslide on Whitney Portal Road and reported debris on Horseshoe Meadows Road. No additional information is known at this time.

My Update:
I live on Glacier Lodge Rd - The down hill traffic was insane. Everyone must have been evacuating.

 

Thunder storms came thru today:
#butterfire - lightning fire @3:38PM - Mcgee Creek above Bishop no other updates

Going to be a rough night....

Onion Fire - Onion Valley Rd - Independence

Dome Fire - just west of 395 North of Alpers Canyon Rd

 

Depending on how the fire fighting goes, Buttermillk BLM area will probably closed this weekend.

 

Camping Update:
Whitney Portal Road has been closed to the public. All campgrounds above the closure have been evacuated and will remain closed until further notice.
https://www.sierrawave.net/whitney-...ts-underway-area-closed-until-further-notice/

Fire Update:
Neighbor's Tacoma Sport fire coordinator's rig came back at 2AM. I don't see any official announcements but safe to say everything is contained with no expected flare ups.

What's Open:
The State of the Inyo, current as of 06/25/20
Mono Lake Ranger District
Roads open: Monitor Pass (Hwy 89), Ebbetts Pass (Hwy 4), Sonora Pass (Hwy108), Bodie Rd. (Hwy 270), Lundy Lake Rd. Hwy 120 E (Benton), Hwy 158., Saddlebag Rd.
Tioga Pass (Hwy 120 W) at Yosemite National Park Boundary is open to vehicular traffic w/ day use reservation or proof of overnight accommodation in the park required.
Campgrounds open: Lundy Canyon (county), Tioga Lake, Junction, Saddlebag Lake, Sawmill Walk-in, Ellery Lake, Big Bend, Aerie Crag, Silver Lake, Reversed Creek, Gull Lake, June Lake, Oh Ridge.
Campgrounds closed: Saddlebag Lake Group. Aspen, Moraine, Lower Lee Vining , Hartley, Obsidian Flat Group, Glass Creek, Big Springs, Upper Deadman, Lower Deadman.
The Mono Basin Visitor Center is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call daily, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, 760-647-3040 or 760- 647-3044.

Mammoth Ranger District
Roads open :
Reds Meadow Rd. opening June 26, Lake Basin Rd., Mammoth Scenic Loop.
Campgrounds Open: Brown’s Owens River (private). Mammoth Mtn. RV Park, Old Shady Rest, New Shady Rest, Pine Glen Family, Sherwin Creek, Crowley (BLM, no water) .
Campgrounds opening 6/26: Twin Lakes, Lake Mary, Lake George, Pine City, Coldwater.
Campgrounds closed: Upper Soda Springs, Pumice Flat, Pumice Flat Group, Reds Meadow, Agnew Meadows Horse, Agnew Meadows Group, Agnew Meadows Family, Minaret Falls, Pine Glen Group,
The Mammoth Welcome Center is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call daily, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, 760-924-5500.
The Devils Postpile Ranger Station will not open this summer. There will be a public contact station outside the Ranger Station.

White Mountain Ranger District
Roads open: McGee Creek Rd., Rock Creek Road, Buttermilk Rd., Hwy 168, North Lake Rd., South Lake Rd. (construction underway, M – F, 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, expect up to 30 minute delays), White Mountain Rd. Silver Canyon Rd. (4x4-high clearance expect winter damage), Wyman Canyon Rd. (4x4-high clearance), Big Pine Canyon.
Campgrounds Open: Horton (BLM), Goodale (BLM).Convict Lake, McGee Creek, Tuff, Rock Creek, Iris Meadow, Big Meadow, Mosquito Flat Backpacker, Pine Grove, Upper Pine Grove, East Fork, French Camp, Pleasant Valley (County), North Lake, Bitterbrush, Big Trees, Four Jeffrey (no water), Sabrina, Baker Creek (County), Sage Flat, Big Pine Creek, Taboose Creek (County), Tinnemaha Creek (County).
Campgrounds closed: Holiday, Aspen Group, Palisade Group, Rock Creek Group, Pleasant Valley Pit (BLM), Forks, Intake 2, Bishop Park, Table Mountain Group, Mountain Glen, Bishop Park Group, Willow, Grandview, Cedar Flat Group, Upper Sage Flat, Clyde Glacier Group, Palisade Glacier Group.

The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center is closed.

The White Mountain Ranger Station Visitor Center is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call daily, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, last call at 4:45pm, 760-873-2500 , 760-873-2501. 760-873-2503.

Mt Whitney Ranger District
Whitney Portal has been evacuated due to earthquake/rockfall.
Roads closed: Horseshoe Meadow Rd. at the forest boundary, Whitney Portal Rd. due to earthquake/rockfall.
Roads open: Onion Valley, Foothill Road, Division Creek, Horseshoe Meadow to the forest boundary.
Campgrounds open: Upper and Lower Grays Meadow, Onion Valley, Independence Creek (county), Tuttle Creek (BLM), Lone Pine, Boulder Creek RV Resort (private), Portuguese Joe (county), Diaz Lake (County).
Campgrounds closed: Whitney Portal Group, Whitney Portal , Whitney Portal Trailhead, Cottonwood Lakes, Cottonwood Pass, Horseshoe Meadows Equestrian. Kennedy Meadows.

The Eastern Sierra Visitor Center in Lone Pine is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call daily , 8:00 am to 5:00 pm last call at 4:45 pm, 760-876-6200. 760-876-6222.

Virtual wilderness permits are being issued at all visitor centers and through the Wilderness Permit Office, daily from 8:00am to 4:30 pm, 760-873-2483. Call volume has been significant, so if you have a permit later in the year, we advise waiting to call until your reservation gets closer.

Permits for day and overnight summits of Mt. Whitney will continue be cancelled until further notice (rockfall/evacuation).

The Inyo National Forest and Bishop BLM Field Office are in Fire Restrictions.

 

Is Whitney Portal Rd still closed? Heading to Alabama Hills tonight.

 

Is Alabama Hills open?

 

https://www.inyoregister.com/content/whitney-portal-area-still-being-evaluated

Highlight - 5 More cases and Inyo will be shut down again - please wear mask, distance and stay home if your not feeling well:
https://www.inyoregister.com/content/inyo-county-sees-‘spike’-covid-19-cases

Bacterial infection at hatchery stops trout stocking:
https://www.sierrawave.net/bacteria...y-halts-fish-stocking-in-southern-california/

South Lake road closing July 6 thru July 25 Mon to Fri:
https://www.sierrawave.net/south-lake-road-reconstruction-implementing-no-overnight-parking/

The State of the Inyo, current as of 07/01//20
[From the USFS: The Eastern Sierra Visitor Center in Lone Pine is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call daily , 8:00 am to 5:00 pm last call at 4:45 pm, 760-876-6200. 760-876-6222.

Virtual wilderness permits are being issued at all visitor centers and through the Wilderness Permit Office, daily from 8:00am to 4:30 pm, 760-873-2483. Call volume has been significant, so if you have a permit later in the year, we advise waiting to call until your reservation gets closer.

Permits for day and overnight summits of Mt. Whitney will continue be cancelled until further notice (rockfall/evacuation).

Upper Sage Flat Campground opens today.

Glass Creek, Hartley Springs, Big Springs, and Upper and Lower Deadman opened yesterday,

Lower Lee Vining, Moraine, and Aspen (Lee Vining Canyon) are opening tomorrow.

Group Camps remain closed.

We are in fire restrictions—no fireworks!]

Mono Lake Ranger District:
Roads open: Monitor Pass (Hwy 89), Ebbetts Pass (Hwy 4), Sonora Pass (Hwy108), Bodie Rd. (Hwy 270), Lundy Lake Rd. Hwy 120 E (Benton), Hwy 158., Saddlebag Rd. Tioga Pass (Hwy 120 W) at Yosemite National Park Boundary is open to vehicular traffic w/ day use reservation or proof of overnight accommodation in the park required.

Campgrounds open: Lundy Canyon (county), Tioga Lake, Junction, Saddlebag Lake, Sawmill Walk-in, Ellery Lake, Big Bend, Hartley, Glass Creek, Big Springs, Upper Deadman, Lower Deadman, Aerie Crag, Silver Lake, Reversed Creek, Gull Lake, June Lake, Oh Ridge.

Campgrounds opening July 2: Aspen, Moraine, Lower Lee Vining

Campgrounds closed: Saddlebag Lake Group. Obsidian Flat Group.

The Mono Basin Visitor Center is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call daily, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, 760-647-3040 or 760- 647-3044.

Mammoth Ranger District
Roads open:

Reds Meadow Rd (no shuttle this year—access limited to available parking, highly recommend horse trailers no more than 25’ in length)., Lake Basin Rd., Mammoth Scenic Loop.

Campgrounds open: Brown’s Owens River (private). Mammoth Mtn. RV Park, Old Shady Rest, New Shady Rest, Pine Glen Family, Sherwin Creek, Crowley (BLM, no water) , Twin Lakes, Lake Mary, Lake George, Pine City, Coldwater.

Campgrounds closed: Upper Soda Springs, Pumice Flat, Pumice Flat Group, Reds Meadow, Agnew Meadows Horse, Agnew Meadows Group, Agnew Meadows Family, Minaret Falls.

The Mammoth Welcome Center is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call daily, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, 760-924-5500.

The Devils Postpile Ranger Station will not open this summer. There will be a public contact station outside the Ranger Station.

White Mountain Ranger District
Roads open: McGee Creek Rd., Rock Creek Road, Buttermilk Rd., Hwy 168, North Lake Rd., South Lake Rd. (construction underway, M – F, 6:00 am to 8:00 pm, expect up to 30 minute delays, parking restrictions), White Mountain Rd. Silver Canyon Rd. (4×4-high clearance expect winter damage), Wyman Canyon Rd. (4×4-high clearance), Big Pine Canyon.

Campgrounds Open: Horton (BLM), Goodale (BLM), Convict Lake, McGee Creek, Tuff, Rock Creek, Iris Meadow, Big Meadow, Mosquito Flat Backpacker, Pine Grove, Upper Pine Grove, East Fork, French Camp, Pleasant Valley (County), North Lake, Bitterbrush, Big Trees, Four Jeffrey, Sabrina, Baker Creek (County), Sage Flat, Big Pine Creek, Taboose Creek (County), Tinnemaha Creek (County).

Campgrounds opening July 1: Upper Sage Flat.

Campgrounds closed: Holiday (summer closure), Aspen Group, Palisade Group, Rock Creek Group, Pleasant Valley Pit (BLM), Forks, Intake 2, Bishop Park, Table Mountain Group, Willow, Mountain Glen, Bishop Park Group, Grandview, Cedar Flat Group, Clyde Glacier Group, Palisade Glacier Group.

The Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest Visitor Center is closed.

The White Mountain Ranger Station Visitor Center is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call daily, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, last call at 4:45pm, 760-873-2500 , 760-873-2501. 760-873-2503.

Mt Whitney Ranger District
Roads re-opening: Whitney Portal Rd. re-opening July 2 by 5:00pm.

Roads open: Onion Valley, Foothill Road, Division Creek, Horseshoe Meadow .

Campgrounds open: Upper and Lower Grays Meadow, Onion Valley, Independence Creek (county), Whitney Portal (re-opening July 2), Whitney Portal Trailhead Campground (partially open), Tuttle Creek (BLM), Lone Pine, Boulder Creek RV Resort (private), Portuguese Joe (county), Diaz Lake (County)., Cottonwood Lakes, Cottonwood Pass, Horseshoe Meadows Equestrian.

Campgrounds closed: Whitney Portal Group, Whitney Portal Trailhead (partial closure due to rockfall), Kennedy Meadows.

The Eastern Sierra Visitor Center in Lone Pine is closed, but visitor questions are being answered via phone call daily , 8:00 am to 5:00 pm last call at 4:45 pm, 760-876-6200. 760-876-6222.

Virtual wilderness permits are being issued at all visitor centers and through the Wilderness Permit Office, daily from 8:00am to 4:30 pm, 760-873-2483. Call volume has been significant, so if you have a permit later in the year, we advise waiting to call until your reservation gets closer.

Permits for day and overnight summits of Mt. Whitney will continue be cancelled until further notice (rockfall/evacuation).

REMEMBER: The Inyo National Forest and Bishop BLM Field Office are in Fire Restrictions.

 

i hope so! I didn’t see anything that suggests it’s closed

 

Sorry I was late with the update this week

http://www.kibskbov.com/2020/06/death-valley-national-park-provides-reopening-overview/

DWP is opening up some areas and lakes

 

Iris Fire Update:
Closures: Iris Meadow Campground and Big Meadows Campground have been evacuated. The Rock Creek Road is closed. This evening, efforts to evacuate all campgrounds in the Rock Creek of the fire in the Rock Creek drainage are being implemented in a deliberate thoughtful manner by Mono County Sheriff and Inyo National Forest staff. This includes East Fork, Pine Grove, Upper Pine Grove, Rock Creek, and Mosquito Flat Campgrounds. Holiday, and French Camp Campgrounds. All resorts and cabins are also be evacuated.

All wilderness permit holders for trailheads starting in the Rock Creek Canyon are being cancelled through Sunday July 26th. This includes the Little Lakes and Hilton Lakes Trailhead. Exiting hikers will be escorted out.

 

I usually grab wood from the trailer by Mahogany's.

 

What do they charge?

 

I can’t remember exactly, but I think it’s like $30 for 30 pieces. You get to pick your pieces and can grab extra smaller pieces for tinder and kindling.

 

Is Leavvit Lake area open for camping?

 

There is no forest service notes on it, I'd call the ranger station but they are upgrading their phone system this week and you probably won't get and answer.

Also note that Mono County just jumped from 79 to 102 case of Covid so they are back at stage one lock down.....

 

Anza Borrego primitive camping opened a few weeks ago. The predicted temp was ~ L69 H90 so I took Jackie the Adventure Dog to Blair Valley for the night. We arrived at 7pm and left at 10am. It never felt "hot" the entire time. It was perfect weather. Had to close the side windows on my shell because it got a bit cool. Normally I avoide AB in the summer, but now I'll keep an eye on the weather.

 

Found a cool dispersed site at Big Sur. It's at the top of the mountain range overlooking the ocean on one side and the valley on the other. Coordinates are: 35.916552, -121.435045. Also did a little write up on it if you want to take a look.

https://thetrailhunters.com/camping/dispersed-campsite-big-sur-plasket-ridge-rd-10/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evQWqSDOXfk