Dolly sods Wilderness fire closure
Sept 22, 2016 17:57:23 GMT -5
Post by countryroads on Sept 22, 2016 17:57:23 GMT -5
www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mnf/alerts-notices/?aid=36692
Much of the lower wilderness is closed due to the "Red Creek Fire". I just returned from a short overnight trip into the north area. I was camped at the Dobbin Grade/Left fork crossing. Weird to find out when I returned home that there was a forest fire only a few miles south of me. At last report, the fire was still small. I hope they get it put out quickly.
Just wanted to give everyone a heads up for the this weekend. Yah never know, they may close all of the Sods.
The water from the left fork tasted like moss and dirt. I sure wished that I had a charcoal filter on this trip. I actually made a video this morning to show just how dry the Sods are.
On Labor Day afternoon, I made a trip out Blackbird knob trail and camped downstream of the right fork crossing. I smelled smoke and just thought someone was camped down that way. Imagine my horror at discovering a smouldering fire in the forest duff. Some really smart people (yes, I am being snarky) had made a fire ring at the base of a huge red spruce tree in an area of really deep duff and rocks. They had apparently tried to put it out, but I guess they did not realize that fires like this can smoulder for days before becoming forest fires. I poured a lot of water all over the smoking and hot areas. Four hours later I was doing it again. I then poured on more before I left. Forest service should have put out a campfire ban at least a month ago; too late now.
Much of the lower wilderness is closed due to the "Red Creek Fire". I just returned from a short overnight trip into the north area. I was camped at the Dobbin Grade/Left fork crossing. Weird to find out when I returned home that there was a forest fire only a few miles south of me. At last report, the fire was still small. I hope they get it put out quickly.
Just wanted to give everyone a heads up for the this weekend. Yah never know, they may close all of the Sods.
The water from the left fork tasted like moss and dirt. I sure wished that I had a charcoal filter on this trip. I actually made a video this morning to show just how dry the Sods are.
On Labor Day afternoon, I made a trip out Blackbird knob trail and camped downstream of the right fork crossing. I smelled smoke and just thought someone was camped down that way. Imagine my horror at discovering a smouldering fire in the forest duff. Some really smart people (yes, I am being snarky) had made a fire ring at the base of a huge red spruce tree in an area of really deep duff and rocks. They had apparently tried to put it out, but I guess they did not realize that fires like this can smoulder for days before becoming forest fires. I poured a lot of water all over the smoking and hot areas. Four hours later I was doing it again. I then poured on more before I left. Forest service should have put out a campfire ban at least a month ago; too late now.
