Shenandoah National Park Fire

[Dalton Terrell]

I don't think anyone has posted here about this yet, but there is a 3,000 acre fire in Shenandoah National Park. This might mess up your weekend brook trout plans, depending on where you're going, miles 65-79 and  at least 12 trails are closed. See the Washington Post article on the fire here. Unfortunately, it looks like the Park Service's page on conditions is not functioning.

Hopefully we get some rain out there (and here) soon.

Dalton

[GSFeder]

Gene, this is why Beth doesn't like you smoking those cigars!  

Actually, no laughing matter.  This guy was sentenced to 20 years in jail and fined $60 MM for starting a fire so he could take a selfie video. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3532073/Man-deliberately-started-California-wildfire-destroyed-12-homes-100-000-acres-forest-SELFIE.html

Cheers, 

-- Greg

Sent from my iPhone

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[TurbineBlade]

Oh, I've given up!  Gave up cigars and drinking, but not for fear of forest fires -- just clean living ;).  For boat fishing, we still bring fried chicken though. 

It's odd how we've come from "only you can prevent forest fires" campaigns to college courses in fire ecology. 

BTW, this is a great Simpsons clip.  If you don't grasp the humor, I can't help you ;). 

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

Actually, the above clip may be the best dichotomous key to humans ever conceived. 

Gene ("birds" are my favorite food)

On Wednesday, April 20, 2016 at 9:10:07 AM UTC-4, Greg Feder wrote:

Gene, this is why Beth doesn't like you smoking those cigars!  

Actually, no laughing matter.  This guy was sentenced to 20 years in jail and fined $60 MM for starting a fire so he could take a selfie video. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3532073/Man-deliberately-started-California-wildfire-destroyed-12-homes-100-000-acres-forest-SELFIE.html

Cheers, 

-- Greg

Sent from my iPhone

On Apr 20, 2016, at 8:41 AM, Dalton Terrell <daltonb...@gmail.com> wrote:

I don't think anyone has posted here about this yet, but there is a 3,000 acre fire in Shenandoah National Park. This might mess up your weekend brook trout plans, depending on where you're going, miles 65-79 and  at least 12 trails are closed. See the Washington Post article on the fire here. Unfortunately, it looks like the Park Service's page on conditions is not functioning.

Hopefully we get some rain out there (and here) soon.

Dalton

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[Andrew R]

Hey Dalton,

Is there any word on what the public can do to help with the situation (donations, etc)?

[Charlie Church]

The trails around the white oak area are closed too due to a missing person. 

[Dalton Terrell]

Andrew,

I reached out to the Park Service, I'll share if they have any input on what we could do to help. My guess is that we/they just need to wait it out and hope some rain puts out the fire soon.

Others,

It looks like NPS has their alert page working now. The following trails are closed from the fire, in addition to Cedar/White Oak for the rescue:

ROCKY MTN FIRE 2016 CLOSURES (April 19, 2016)

• Skyline Drive from Swift Run Entrance (mile 65) to Loft Mountain (mile 79)
• Loft Mountain Wayside (mile 79.5)
• Appalachian Trail from Powell Gap (mile 70) to Doyles River Overlook (mile 82)
• Brown Mountain Trail
• Big Run Portal Trail
• Rocky Mountain Run Trail
• Rockytop Trail
• Big Run Loop
• Austin Mountain Trail
• Lewis Peak Trail
• Patterson Ridge Trail
• Madison Run Spur
• Madison Run Fire Road
• Rocky Mount Trail
• Gap Run Trail
• Onemile Run Trail

For more information about this fire, click here.

Dalton

[Greggory DiSalvo]

I hiked and camped at the Big Run Portal and Rocky Mount Trail junction this last weekend.  Fished Big Run with limited success, but woke up Sunday morning to a nice smokey smell.  Air seemed hazy.  It wasn't until we were hiking Patterson Ridge trail back that we saw the actual smoke cloud.  We figured it was a controlled burn, but did find it odd that they'd schedule one for a free park admission weekend.  Anyway, I believe all those trail around Loft Mountain and Ricky Mount are now close and they've been escorting hikers out and providing transport for any AT hikers around the closed portions.  

Anybody know what a wildfire does to brookie streams?  I know they are sensitive fish. 

-Gregg

[Evan D]

Here's an article to help answer questions regarding trout and wild fires.  Its a lot of info, that I admit I haven't gotten all the way through yet.  But enjoy!

http://www.montana.edu/mcmahon/Fish-fire%20TAFS%20Feb'11.pdf

[Greggory DiSalvo]

Thanks!

[Dalton Terrell]

Someone in the Superintendent's office saw my email and forwarded it along today but no update yet on how fishermen and fisherwomen in DC could help.

Additionally, it looks like the fire grew significantly today, SNP's Facebook page said it grew to 5,600 acres today from about 3,000 yesterday. Yikes!

Dalton

[Andrew Sarcinello]

For those of you who use Facebook, the park's page has been posting detailed trail closure information, both for the fire and missing person search.

I think Big Run may be in the burn area which is unfortunate, I've been wanting to try that one for a while.

They are letting it burn as much as it wants in a certain area, and have set boundaries of where they will (hopefully) not allow it to pass.

[Dalton Terrell]

This has been updated with more closures, stay posted here for updates: https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/alerts.htm
ROCKY MTN FIRE 2016 CLOSURES (April 19, 2016, latest update April 21)

• Skyline Drive from Swift Run Entrance (mile 65) to Blackrock Gap (mile 87.5)

• Loft Mountain Wayside (mile 79.5)

• Appalachian Trail from Powell Gap (mile 70) to Blackrock Gap (mile 87.5)
• Blackrock Hut

• Brown Mountain Trail
• Big Run Portal Trail
• Rocky Mountain Run Trail
• Rockytop Trail
• Big Run Loop
• Austin Mountain Trail
• Lewis Peak Trail
• Patterson Ridge Trail
• Madison Run Spur
• Madison Run Fire Road
• Rocky Mount Trail
• Gap Run Trail
• Onemile Run Trail

• Browns Gap Fire Road
• Madison Run Fire Road
• Doyles River PATC Cabin
• Furnace Mountain Trail
• Trayfoot Mountain Trail
• Jones Run Trail
• Doyles River Trail

Additionally, it appears that they found the remains of the woman that they were searching for near Whiteoak. May she rest in peace.

Dalton

[TurbineBlade]

I read the article.  That's very unfortunate and sad -- 

Gene

[Andrew Sarcinello]

Here's a page with a map of the fire:

http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/4689/

The SW edge is pushing through the Big Run drainage. Anyone planning to fish there this year should pay close attention to how much farther the fire makes it.

[Andrew Sarcinello]

FYI all trails have been reopened in the burn area.

[Dalton Terrell]

Thanks for the update, Andrew. I saw that on their Facebook yesterday but didn't see that info on their website or anywhere else. Time to get back to those western slope streams with these good water levels.

Dalton