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East/Norse Peak Fire, Do not wear white up there!
- Eric Lindahl
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- skykilo
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Are you careful enough to change pants and/or jackets without cross-contaminating your vehicle or couch, etc? It seems like this could lead to domestic conflict. Perhaps it's better to just learn to live with the stains on your ski garments when they happen.
There is an area at about 8,000 ft AMSL just above the lab here where we climb often in the summer. Saw two trees fall across the trail on separate days within the last month or two. This was from a fire in 2011. These hazards persist!
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- Pete_H
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- RonL
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Wife: there is something really bad and chemically smelling in the laundry room. Did something spill?
RL: it's my socks
Wife: frowny face
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- Lowell_Skoog
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This photo was taken by Chuck Hessey in 1959 from the shoulder above the run now called Exterminator. A lot fewer trees back then!
I'm guessing there were huge fires in the old days. Fire suppression has enabled the trees to grow back in.
I'm not advocating for that sort of destruction, but you can sure see why folks thought Crystal Mountain was a good place for a ski area!
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- Norseman
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- Eric Lindahl
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I have heard that the slopes of the Crystal drainage were denuded of trees for structures and mine supports around the turn of the last century.
I often see really nice slopes where its obvious that fire had done its job of clearing decades before. I usually give thanks for that.
Cool picture Lowell. Thanks.
On another note, psa: There is a ~16" diameter fallen tree across the Bullion Basin trail about 1.5 miles up the trail. Its about hip level at the highest point. Unless we have a better than average snow year I think it will be a pain for every one who skins up there. Might be able to get around it ok once several feet of snow falls. But I am hoping the forest service or who ever is responsible will get up there with a chainsaw and take care of it........
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- skibacks
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- r1de
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On another note, psa:  There is a ~16" diameter fallen tree across the Bullion Basin trail about 1.5 miles up the trail. Its about hip level at the highest point. Unless we have a better than average snow year I think it will be a pain for every one who skins up there. Might be able to get around it ok once several feet of snow falls. But I am hoping the forest service or who ever is responsible will get up there with a chainsaw and take care of it........
Isn't this whole area still closed?
www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mbs/alerts-notices
Please tell me I'm wrong.
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- Norseman
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Isn't this whole area still closed?
www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/mbs/alerts-notices
Please tell me I'm wrong.
That is a closure that will be flat out ignored by the touring crowd (I hope). Good f'n luck enforcing it.
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- Kiddch
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Lots of interesting questions I can think of here, but maybe don't ask/don't tell is the approach, let people do what they are going to do? I guess we may not see many trip reports (cough....evidence....cough) out of those areas for a while.
Seriously, stay safe. When is the last experience the bc community has with widespread fire damage in that popular of a touring area, and how stability is effected?
Having already toured East Peak and Cement and Bullion Basins I was hoping to check out Blue Bell next. We'll see. Ridge from Crown Point to Three Way may get busier for a little. Hope this doesn't drive too much more traffic into south facing aspects where risks can be harder to manage.....
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- CBAlliance
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Not really clear on what would be assessed, or what sort of standards are required to re-open an area. We will come up with some sort of official missive soon to hopefully let the FS know how valuable these areas are to the ski community, but that's the word currently.
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- Robie
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- Kneel Turner
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- Eric Lindahl
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- Skier of the Hood
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- CBAlliance
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removal in camp and picnic grounds, in administrative sites, and along roads open to the public.)" I can't find much of any official directives on hazard tree management away from developed areas. However, the FS does have some broad "public safety" powers to close areas. The FS guy I spoke with indicated they are specifically concerned with 72 road. I agree with Randy that this appears to be basically a CYA effort.
As far as East Peak/Boullion goes, research reveals that there is no posted signage, there are plenty of people using the area, and the FS seems to have no interest in enforcing the closure.
If anyone thinks we should raise a fuss with the FS, let me know. In the meantime, try not to get hit on the head with any trees.
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- Kneel Turner
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- Charlie Hagedorn
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