HikeArizona.COM

Coming down from Catalinas today and saw big smoke--- so far it's about 22K acres that I can find out and it has backed into the South Fork of Cave creek. That fall spectacular may be gone. The research center has been evacuated. Appears human caused. Forget the guns--need to take people's lighters and matches away from them when it's dry like this.

Perimeter Map http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=773
Inciweb http://www.inciweb.org/incident/article/2225/11545/

This photo just breaks my heart-

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/photograph/2225/67/


By way of explanation I find it sad this little one might be running as his habitat is burned, and may or may not be alive to see another day; or even survive if his mother has been driven off by the fire activity.

?

Sorry everyone I've been out of town. Is the Murphy Fire completely contained and stopped burning?

RedRoxx44 that picture is extremely sad, makes me worry about all the other animals out there? Where will they find food, and shelter.

Jim_H wrote:?

Jim H: I believe RedRoxx is referring to the photo of the bear cub that is running from the camera.

Redroxx: thanks for the link...those 140 or so photos were very useful to see. Finally we can get a feel for the severity of the burn in some areas. I was most anxious to see the Rustler/Barfoot/Onion saddle burns.

Cheerycow wrote:

Jim_H wrote:?

Jim H: I believe RedRoxx is referring to the photo of the bear cub that is running from the camera.

Redroxx: thanks for the link...those 140 or so photos were very useful to see. Finally we can get a feel for the severity of the burn in some areas. I was most anxious to see the Rustler/Barfoot/Onion saddle burns.

I knew that. I was alluding to the fact that the animal is alive, and well enough to run from humans. If the heartbreak stems from the fire's affect on the animal by the assumed destruction of it's habitat, why are we so upset over the affects of the fire resulting from human mismanagement, but are ourselves or as a society, unwilling to see fire used regularly to maintain a fire=dependent ecosystem? A bear running from a large, hot, and probably very rare and therefore unnaturally destructive fire in it's territory in this part of Arizona is not something that breaks my heart. A truck load of fire boys pouncing on every little ignition to suppress it, and then allow fuels to build up to obscenely high levels, that breaks my heart.

The BAER team has completed a map on the "Soil Burn Severity". It's posted on the Inciweb site under the maps header on the Horseshoe 2 incident page, its kind of hard to read the names of landmarks on the map.

I am sorry to see a loss of any habitat of any sky island however it has occurred. Man's stupidity or whatever.

It will be back, though, it just won't be exactly the same.

Jim_H wrote:

Cheerycow wrote:

Jim_H wrote:?

Jim H: I believe RedRoxx is referring to the photo of the bear cub that is running from the camera.

Redroxx: thanks for the link...those 140 or so photos were very useful to see. Finally we can get a feel for the severity of the burn in some areas. I was most anxious to see the Rustler/Barfoot/Onion saddle burns.

I knew that. I was alluding to the fact that the animal is alive, and well enough to run from humans. If the heartbreak stems from the fire's affect on the animal by the assumed destruction of it's habitat, why are we so upset over the affects of the fire resulting from human mismanagement, but are ourselves or as a society, unwilling to see fire used regularly to maintain a fire=dependent ecosystem? A bear running from a large, hot, and probably very rare and therefore unnaturally destructive fire in it's territory in this part of Arizona is not something that breaks my heart. A truck load of fire boys pouncing on every little ignition to suppress it, and then allow fuels to build up to obscenely high levels, that breaks my heart.

yes the animal is alive but it appears to be a cub. A little cub all by itself. Hard to defend itself and still very young. Breaks my heart.

Joe took the link down on the main page for the fire perimeter map, anybody have it? I would just use the Inciweb link but my work computer won't let me install Google Earth.

joe bartels wrote:http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=773

Thanks Joe!

Saw somewhere most trails to reopen this weekend, would like to see what Rustler Park looks like--might take a trip up there Sat.

Let us know, take some pics.

@RedRoxx44
Yeah, I think I might drive down Saturday morning. I like to camp in West Turkey Creek by Sycamore CG. So I'll go in there first and look around, then maybe up over the mountain. Rustler Park will remain closed according to FS. Might camp Saturday night in West Turkey (or along Pinery Canyon Rd), depending on how I feel and what I see. One of my favorite hikes there is to go up Mormon Canyon, take the Crest over past Paint Rock to Monte Vista, then back down Morse Canyon. Might be pretty tough right now.

Looks like Barfoot Lookout will be rebuilt. Maybe Atascosa too?

http://narcamoorecraig.blogspot.com/201 ... -burn.html

When at Sycamore Canyon in the Parajita last Sun could see the rockwork for I believe the tank at Atascosa lookout along with some radio antenna looking stuff up there.

Not sure about the Chiricahuas now as Brian has a somewhat difficult old mine route access to part of Tonto Creek he wants to look at and it will be hot enough for some swimming still up there so may do that. Besides I'll probably be depressed by what I would see.

@RedRoxx44
Might as well head for the Anchas (or Mazatzals). Probably will be a lot of folks checking out the Chiricahuas, which by my guess you wouldn't like. Plus, you know we are going to be depressed by what we see.

I'd love to hear of anyone's observations after their visit.
I plan to call the Ranger office this week to ask about specific access to various areas in the hgh country, especially about whether one can get up the 4x4 road to long park...(generally when Rustler is closed one cannot access the 4x4 road).

RedRoxx44 wrote:Not sure about the Chiricahuas now as . . . I'll probably be depressed by what I would see.

My sentiments exactly, not sure I'm ready to see Rustlers Park denuded. I did hear a few trees survived but it can't be good.