[Bedivere]

Open this map full screen. Did I do this right? Is that the outline of the Buck Creek/Phelps Ridge fire? If so, anyone know how accurate that is? It looks like the Massie High Route escaped...? When this fire was in progress the FS made it sound like it was fairly low intensity which is why they were letting it burn but a recent TR on WTA makes it sound like the lower portion of the Buck Creek valley is all burned up and a mass of blowdowns. Anyone been up that way recently?

[rxmarcus]

I thought the Buck Creek trail was open now...am I wrong?

[Kim Brown]

Here's the WTA report, for reference.

[AlpineRose]

The Buck Creek trail has traditionally been popular with hunters and horse packers. I know there has been a horse camp set up in the vicinity of Pass No Pass. That bodes well for getting this trail cleaned up and the bridge fixed. I hope.

[KekistaniProphet]

It was a pretty patchy burn from what I hear, I believe massie escaped.

[Chico]

From GeoMac - "In order to give fire managers near real-time information, fire perimeter data is updated daily based upon input from incident intelligence sources, GPS data, infrared (IR) imagery from fixed wing and satellite platforms." The infra-red sources will be less accurate. And when they determine boundary they won't be going in and out of the burn area simply because it didn't burn. As such you end up with a "blob". Doesn't mean it burned. But areas adjacent did so they "smooth" the boundary line.

[Joey]

Nice map. If you turn off the trail layer on your map then the historical fire perimeters will be the top layer. The top layer is the one with the highest number in front of layer name. You can click the top layer and see a popup with all the attribute data the GIS server has for the thing that you clicked. That attribute data includes the fire name.

[cartman]

FYI, called the ranger station yesterday and they said the bridge over the Chiwawa River 2.5 miles from the Buck Creek TH is heavily damaged and "very scary" to cross, and that a fall into the swift-moving river would likely be fatal. This also likely means no maintenance has been done to the trails past there. If anyone has or gets any real time info would be great to hear it.

[Backpacker Joe]

Hey Cart, what's beyond that bridge again?

[Kim Brown]

[Sky Hiker]

Shangri La, no hold it that's the Napeequa

[teperilloux]

Such a shame. The trail accesses such beautiful terrain and scrambly peaks. I was planning to take a friend up there for their first time to explore points from high pass to fortress. Glacier Peak wilderness is my favorite, I may need to try some west side exploration instead.

[Bedivere]

Thanks for the responses everyone. Hmmm... I wonder what the river level will be like in another three weeks, which is when I'd be crossing it. IIRC, the river is in kind of a deep cut right there. I wonder if it could be more easily forded up- or down-stream? teperilloux - there are other ways into GPW...? you can approach that area from the North via the Suiattle R. (thought it's quite a bit longer), from the East via Lucerne/Holden, or via looping around from Phelps Creek and Lyman Lakes. I'm guessing you probably knew that already but thought I'd throw it out there just in case. Joey - thanks for the tips and for providing the app!

[Dale Wick]

The Chiwawa River bridge on the Buck Creek trail is broken in the middle. The old stock ford has not been brushed out for some time but would be the easiest way for the Forest Service to reopen the trail. Once the river drops (in August) the crossing will be safe enough once the old trail ford is opened up. It will probably be possible to cross on the bridge but I would rather get my feet wet. The fire did not impact the upper Chiwawa or Buck Creek areas so the Massie High Route is not affected. The fire was hot enough to kill many of the thin barked trees and brush. The fire perimeter map looks to be accurate. The trail is open but has not been logged out.