The 395 and Owens Valley-Eastern Sierra Region

That's the Sequoia National Forest, also in California, no es bueno.

Maybe go to another state? Maybe camp on BLM land? There are tons of options.

 

BLM and national parks are still open. Just follow the fire restrictions when you're enjoy the outdoors.

 

We were going to Mammoth for downhill mtb the week after Labor Day, but just heard from the mountain yesterday:

"To Our Mammoth Family,

"We would like to inform you that per the U.S. Forest Service, the Inyo National Forest goes into full closure tomorrow, August 31, through at least September 17. What this means is that the Mammoth Bike Park, Via Ferrata, Adventure Center and Scenic Gondola are now closed for the summer season. Camp High Sierra is now closed as well and Tamarack Lodge will be closed through at least September 17. While there are no fires threatening Mammoth Lakes at this time, wildfires continue to spread across the west and firefighting resources are extremely limited.

"If you have activity reservations, event tickets, or lodging reservations for Camp High Sierra during this time, you will be granted a full refund. Our team is working on your cancellation (no need to contact us) and will send you a confirmation email showing that a refund of your full deposit will be made to your original form of payment within 5-7 business days.

"If you have lodging reservations for Tamarack Lodge, please call 800.MAMMOTH and our team will assist you with rebooking or refunding your reservation. For more information about Mammoth Mountain’s operations, please visit our Hours of Operation page.

"Our thoughts are with the firefighters and communities across the west affected by these horrible fires. We continue to send resources to the Tahoe area to assist wherever we can."

Thank you for your understanding,
Mammoth Mountain

 

I was curious how this would pan out for operators on FS lands. This is gonna make a lot of folks mad.

 

yep. gonna make a lot of people madder. just another barb in the quiver of blame.

 

It's a really shitty situation, but I can't blame the Forest Service. As long as people keep messing up and starting fires, which have these kinds of consequences, they have to do what they have to do to protect the lands, and the people that work them. Recreation on these lands is a privilege, but people are abusing it. as another poster said, this is why we can't have nice things.

Its very frustrating.

 

They closed things down earlier this year on behalf of the covid boogeyman. I understand it screws up people's holiday plans but it is what it is.

Fortunately I usually don't schedule my trips on holidays.

 

It's not about the bad players but the fact there are no resources to fight new fires and worse, no resources for rescue.

 

This. Any new fire that starts pulls resources that are already stretched thin. With 16 current fires (6 of them over 100,000 acres) and the current conditions, a new fire can get out of control really quickly. Just look at what is happening with the Caldor fire.

 

If it wasn't for the bad players, the resources wouldn't be spread so thin. They understand that the labor day weekend is going to bring in a lot of people, raising the risk for bad players to create more problems, (fires, need for rescue, etc) and require those resources. Obviously they think this is a big enough and serious enough concern to close down the lands for several weeks.

Edit to Add: climate change is definitely setting up conditions where these kinds of fires are more likely to occur. but the people are still responsible for their actions.

 

This season none of the large fires appear to have been started by bad actors (Caldor cause is still unknown at this point though). Almost all lightning started except for Dixie which is believed to be wind downing a tree on PG&E equipment. The resources got all used up on fires that would have started even if the forests had been closed the whole summer.

But yes, now that the resources are spread so thin it is nearly impossible for them to respond to anything new and having large crowds up narrowing winding roads potentially needing evacuation just isn’t a good idea. And more people of course means more of a chance of a human caused fire as well.

 

If you want to get a good picture of the fires in Tahoe, give @staylocal.tahoe on IG.

edit: There's also @staylocal.reno although it's not as extensive.

For those paying attention, they are making evac plans for Gardnerville, NV.

 

Nothing to like about that.

 

My brother lives near the base of Sierra at Tahoe and we got word that his house is still there. Based on the videos I saw I'm amazed that it didn't burn. The Caldor fire is no joke.

 

When they said last week it was threatening the Tahoe basin I was like no way. Then took the ruler to the map and the fire had already moved 25 miles and Tahoe was only 9 miles away from the front. That changed my mind. Now we only hope they can get it under control before it rolls over the Sierra's into Minden/Gardnerville and doesn't spread beyond that.

 

We're racing in Yerington this weekend, more specifically Smith Valley north of Walker River Resort. I'm checking hourly as I expect the race to be cancelled due to resources. But nothing yet.

 

Say hi to 5-OH!

That they were prepping plans for Gardnerville's evacuation is crazy to me.

 

Things were looking better during the past couple days but looking at the local webcams in Owens Valley it looks horrible again.

 

I can't see the Sierras and I can barely see the White's. It's getting old... It probably isn't going away any time soon.