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Howie S
climber
Mammoth Lakes, Ca
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Newcomb's and Mt. Waterman are classics filled with so many memories. Hopefully they'll both make it.
Many a climbing day at Williamson/Horse flats or long day spent running on the PCT/Silver Moccasin ended with a great meal at the Ranch...
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Redwreck
Social climber
Echo Parque, Los Angeles, CA
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From the Ranch's Facebook page: "Just spoke with Victor at Newcomb's Ranch and he said that Newcomb's was untouched the fire came up the road and all of the tall trees are Fine. They will be open for business as soon as the road is open down below. So come up as soon as the road is open...So HAPPY!!!"
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ME Climb
Social climber
Behind the orange Curtain
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Rokjox,
I do not post here very often as I am a climbing nOOb and don't want to embarrass myself too badly.
Many of the hills and mountains in Southern CA are covered in chapparal that need fire as part of their natural cycle. Clear cutting the hills and mountains is not an option as the denuded hillsides will then have the potential for mud and debris flows.
The Station fire was not a prescribed burn, but was "most likely caused by human cause." I do not know the conditions that are required for a prescribed burn as I am not a fireman(I was stupid enough to get into the wrong line), but I do know it has to do with wind speed and relative humidity. Prescribed burns during our winter our not usually an option. Typically if there is not rain we are suffering from low humidity and strong Santa Ana winds.
Last November, my neighborhood was ravaged by the Freeway complex fire. This fire was driven by the high winds. I live approx. 4 miles from where the fire originated. Within two hours we were nearly completely over run by fire. We were less than 10' away from 30'-40' flames dring out. The hills are growing back, but for the next 3-5 years we must be wary of mudslides.
Yes, I am one of those idiots who live in an "urban interface zone", but I enjoy seeing deer, racoons, coyotes, and such on a regular basis.
I am not trying to call you out, but just understand the topography of So Cal is not the same as Idaho.
Eric
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Gary
climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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Now, on to the bad news:
Wynne Benti reports that the historic Vetter Mountain Lookout has
burned. She references the Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout
Association web site: http://www.anffla.org/
Interestingly, the ENPLAN Wildfire map still shows no fire having gone
to the top of Vetter, but since the news of the lookout's burning is
posted on the ANFFLA web site, it is probably true.
As a whole, the lines around the southwest, west, and north seem to be
holding, but our dear San Gabriels still faces severe threats in the
northeast and even more so in the southeast.
In the northeast, fires are continuing to work around the northern
side of Bare Mountain. Hopefully, fire crews will be able to prevent
the fire from crossing Bare Mountain Canyon to the east, which would
then threaten the Winston Ridge-Pleasant View Ridge backcountry.
A much worse scenario is taking place on the southeast boundary of the
fire, where the entire length of the north-south running portion of
Devil's Canyon has been engulfed. Several new lobes now appear moving
up the eastern tributaries toward the heart of the San Gabriel
Wilderness Area, much of which is a vast ocean of thick brush. On the
ENPLAN map, the fire has topped the far western end of the long ridge
that extends west from Twin Peaks into Devil's Canyon. The
northernmost portion of the Devil's Canyon conflagration has reached
the 'elbow' where the canyon makes a 90 degree turn to the east before
heading up to the Waterman-Twin Peaks saddle, about two miles distant.
The Big Santa Anita Canyon drainage, containing historic Sturtevant's
Camp and the picturesque cabins from the 1900-1920s era, is coming
under greater threat as the fire has now advanced close to Newcomb
Pass and the ridge that runs westward from there up to the summit of
Mount Wilson.
As with yesterday, my view of the fire from Chatsworth is completely
obscured by smoke-haze, so no new photos. However, plenty of other
folks from all around the fire have been posting photos on Flickr.
Just go the the Flickr site and type in Station Fire in the search
window and you'll find plenty of pix.
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Fletcher
Trad climber
Shivasana
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That's a great note about Mike Hoover's Solo and Pacifico. Good editing, I had no idea. I played around trying to learn some aid up there a while back. Beautiful spot just to hang out.
Sounds like Newcombs made it! Hooray!
Eric
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Gary
climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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A mammoth forest fire that killed two firefighters and has burned more than 147,000 acres was an act of arson, authorities said Thursday as they launched a homicide investigation into the deaths.
Officials said they determined that the largest brush fire in the history of Los Angeles County was the result of arson after investigators examined forensic evidence from scorched landscape off Angeles Crest Highway, north of La Cañada Flintridge. The spot is believed to be the source of origin.
A source close to the investigation said investigators found incendiary material near the point of origin. The source, who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to discuss the matter, would not be more specific or identify the material.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca said investigators don't want to release details out of fear it could hurt their ability to find and prosecute an arsonist.
Baca stressed that the homicide probe is still wide open, saying investigators believe the fire was set deliberately by someone intent on triggering a devastating blaze but that there is a possibility it could have been sparked accidentally by a negligent person. Either way, the sheriff said the department could pursue homicide charges.
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-fire4-2009sep04,0,3921660.story
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Gobee
Trad climber
Los Angeles
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Sewellymon, here's that roof bolder,
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drljefe
climber
Old Pueblo, AZ
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I hope the relentless hot air blowing out of the northeast will shut up, I mean, let up.
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Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
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I put up a few hand drilled routes on some of the spires down slope and to the west of the main area at Pacifico back in the early 80's. One was on a pyramid shaped formation that had one or two bolts and some tied off chicken heads. I also remember a route down slope in a drainage that finished by climbing a hand crack out a giant boulder. And of coarse there are all the other routes on the main formation, my favorite is a shallow dihedral with a small overhang at the top that is probably 60-70 feet long on the east side of the main formation. Fun place but getting there is hit or miss as to whether the gate will be open off the Forest Hwy or the gate on the Horse Flat side.
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Gary
climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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Rpkjox, do yourself a favor and stop posting about issues about which you are totally ignorant.
Fire is part of the ecology of the San Gabriels. Fires don't need to be stopped here, they need to burn.
I've asked twice before if you'd ever been to the San Gabriels or had any knowledge of their natural and human history. You won't answer. We all know why you won't answer.
You are spouting utter nonsense.
Take it easy.
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ontheedgeandscaredtodeath
Trad climber
San Francisco, Ca
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Just ignore him. Every few months or so he melts down and posts bizarre wolf and anti-California rants on thread after thread. It must be cathartic. Just part of the melodrama.
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Fletcher
Trad climber
Shivasana
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I've not been up to Pacifico in six or seven years, but I heard that even prior to the fire the road up there from the Horse Flat side may have been washed out in spots or cover by a slide. Take a hard left on that road in good conditions and you'll go for a ride!
Eric
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Fletcher
Trad climber
Shivasana
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That's good to hear about the road. Suppose I won't be going up there anytime soon though!
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Gary
climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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But what is your point?
That you're pontificating from a stand point of ignorance.
But then again, that's why the Internets was invented.
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Gary
climber
Desolation Basin, Calif.
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Funny, there seems to be a bunch of guys trying to put it out??? What Retards!
Who's the retard? I'm starting to think you rode the short bus to school. You could not be anymore wrong. They are trying to protect structures: houses, the observatory. They are not trying to put out the fire.
You think there might be anything else you're misinformed about?
And stop calling me Shirley.
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Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
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Not much time has been spent trying to put it out, the bulk of the manpower and resources are simply spent preventing loss to property and life. On the morning news one of the PIO's at the command post gave the statement saying that "most of the fire is in the back country now, it can burn all it wants back there". You see, the trend has changed from trying to put it out to let it burn itself out for the most part because what does not get burned now will will just grow and and become heavier fuel for next years fire.
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Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
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Gary, we must have been typing at the same time. You said it shorter and clearer than I did. I should have waited.
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Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
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Wilson Cam is back up and running with some great shots every two minutes.
http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~obs/towercam.htm
Looking ugly in the back country over toward chilao and Waterman.
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