Cabin Loop - U-Bar now closed. 2-day backpack alternatives?

[mrbeermug]

Was planning to do the full outer cabin loop this weekend as an overnight backpack, but the fire east of Cragin Reservoir has closed not only bear canyon where Fred Haught trail meets U-Bar (easy enough to bypass to the south), but a ranger just mentioned that ALL of U-Bar Trail is now closed even though it's not posted anywhere on the forest service ranger's website closures listing. So, FYI to everyone.

Any ideas for an alternative overnight backpack for this weekend in the region that's in the 20-30 mile range?

[chumley]

@mrbeermug
To expand on this, I just spoke with the Mogollon Rim Ranger district and they will be updating their website to reflect this closure. It is due to the Hart Fire, a lightning-caused fire being managed for forest health across a 12,000 acre perimeter to protect the Cragin watershed.

The U-Bar trail is closed.
Houston Brothers is open.
Fred Haught is open (with the exception of the washout across Bear Canyon, which most users can easily bypass).

Also important to note: Forest Road 95 is closed from the junction with Forest Road 96 to Forest Road 139. This means that vehicle access from the north via 95 is severly restricted and requires a long detour. Access from FR 300 and the rim is open.

Updated with closure map:
download/file.php?id=8964

[ALMAL]

@chumley
I wonder what they consider to be the Cragin watershed? Seems like most of the U-Bar would drain east of the reservoir, into Barbershop/Dane, entering ECC below Cragin.
Or is it just all the same because it's close?

[chumley]

@ALMAL
I just repeat what I read. Lol.

Backburning to remove excess fuels in the Cragin Watershed Protection Project.

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6445/

[DixieFlyer]

I wonder what they consider to be the Cragin watershed?

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino ... prd3850490

[chumley]

Without seeing a map or the written text of a closure, who knows, but U— may be open east of the 139. Because that's definitely outside of the watershed project. Then again, some of the 12,000 acres they are managing the fire in may be outside the watershed project. It specifically states that they are doing fire ignitions along the U— trail.

[ALMAL]

@chumley
Prolly be too smoky to hike there anyway.@chumley

[chumley]

@ALMAL
Not usually a problem except overnight/early morning in the lower spots. Looked ok last weekend: [ photo ]

[wildwesthikes]

Sounds like it'll be closed for a while. Well this weekend a friend and I are doing a short, more camping oriented backpack from Babe Haught to Knoll Lake and back - starting from the Hatchery TH.

A good overnight route of about 14 miles, you could do a loop of Babe Haught to the lake, camp - and then loop around using FR300 / General Crook to Horton Tr and follow Highline Tr back to the TH.

Something like this: [ gps route ]

[rusty075]

Hart Fire Closure order was lifted Friday August 9th. U Bar is back open.

We hiked the east side of the Cabin Loop on the 9th/10th and all the closure signage is gone. Some backburning scars visible along the northern portion of U Bar, but generally the area looks pretty good.