HikeArizona.COM

Well, here we go...

A fire out past Doney Park, northeast of Flagstaff, is fairly close to where I spend my summers. I was going to move my car there tomorrow. But I guess I won't be moving it there just yet. I'll park it somewhere else.

And... a friend and I were going to start a little bicycle tour over by Prescott, on Thursday. But part of our route is under a closure, due to the Crooks fire.

@DixieFlyer
Do you know more, lightning, human?
I'm not seeing it on inciweb.

We've got a small one burning in the Superstitions in Bull Basin near the base of Government Hill. Sawtooth incident, which is weird they are calling a fire Sawtooth again but its 22 acres as of last night. Does not look that hot on GISsurfer, hoping for some good rain in that area to burn it out, lots of fuel in Bull Basin.

In addition to the Walnut fire, there are (edit) 5 other fires sparked by lightning from recent storms that may affect those with hiking plans
-Munds Mountain, east of Sedona, west of I17 (Committee Fire)
-on the south side of government hill, in the superstitions, north of US60 (Sawtooth Fire) (edit: blackout beat me to this one)
-in Water Canyon, east of Greer, south of Eager (Water Canyon Fire)
-near Tiyo Point, north rim of Grand Canyon (unnamed?)
-near Wikieup (southeast of Kingman) along highway 93 (Big Sandy Fire)

@nonot
The one near Government Hill they are calling the Sawtooth Incident.

@Alston_Neal
according to the Tonto NF, the fire was lightning caused. It is now 85 acres and 75% contained, again per the Tonto NF

the Walnut Fire is now 100% contained

....and coming in last place (amongst az national forests) ... TONTO!
Rescinding fire restrictions tomorrow 7/22.

-
A little 'self-help' by the citizenry....

MARIEL, Ore. – Deputies with the Curry County Sheriff’s Office says a man suspected of arson was arrested after officials found him lashed to a tree by a trio of local residents. The CCSO says that on Monday, July 25 at about 1:46 p.m. they received a call for assistance in dealing with fires near the community of Mariel. Deputies say a Bureau of Land Management employee had seen a man starting fires while walking along a gravel road leading towards Mariel Lodge and Rogue River Ranch.
Curry County Dispatch reportedly notified local fire agencies and nearby sheriff’s offices and asked for help putting out the fires and locating the suspect. The CCSO says that while officials and residents contained the fires, three local residents of the area saw the suspect walking on the road near the fires. Officials say the residents attempted to detain the suspect, but the man became combative with the residents and they resorted to tying the suspect to a tree to detain him. Officials say an ambulance was called to help treat the man for injuries he apparently suffered from "falling down", and he was arrested by BLM Law Enforcement.

@hikeaz
That is in SW Oregon, which is much different than Portland.

DixieFlyer wrote: ↑Jul 29 2022 7:17 am @hikeaz
That is in SW Oregon, which is much different than Portland.

Yep.... Otherwise there would have been a crowd of folks cheering on the fire vs. extinguishing it.

@hikeaz

hikeaz wrote:Yep.... Otherwise there would have been a crowd of folks cheering on the fire vs. extinguishing it.

Huh, really?

It appears as if the Inner Basin will not reopen for hiking this fall

"Some portions of the Pipeline Fire burned area will remain closed for the foreseeable future for public safety. These areas -- which include Lockett Meadow -- will be reevaluated following the winter season to see which risks can be mitigated before public access will be allowed."

"The following roads will remain closed either partially or entirely: Schultz Pass Road (FR 420), Lockett Meadow Road (FR 552), Elden Springs Road (FR 556), FR 6064D, FR 418 and FR 522."

"The following trails will remain closed either partially or entirely: Weatherford Trail, Deer Hill Trail, Waterline Trail, Secret Trail, the Arizona National Scenic Trail, Sunset Trail and Secret Trail. "

https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DO ... 054645.pdf

I'm glad they've reopened the Inner Basin to hiking. This makes sense and the adjusted closure boundaries seem logical. The damage to the Lockett Meadow Road is extensive and repairing it before the surrounding hillsides stabilize would be a waste of time and money. I'm just glad they made the change now rather than waiting until the end of October when the previous order was set to expire.

I guess my memories of that area will remain untarnished by direct experience of its current state.

@DixieFlyer
This is going to disappoint the flocks of people during fall color time because as you know this is the ONLY place in AZ to see fall colors. lol

Pipeline closure update:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/coconino ... PRD1055848

00blackout wrote:This is going to disappoint the flocks of people during fall color time because as you know this is the ONLY place in AZ to see fall colors. lol

Yep, outside of Flagstaff Arizona is nothing but a vast desert wasteland that is devoid of fall foliage. In particular, there is no fall color in the White Mountains, on the Mogollon Rim, in Ramsey Canyon, in Ash Creek-Galiuro/Basset Peak, or at West Fork of Oak Creek.

@DixieFlyer
shhhhhhh ;)

Is there anything new or different between the Aug 18 and Aug 23 posts? Or am I just missing something?