The Rough Fire finally contained

[kpeter]

Sierra NF Rough North Zone Post-Fire BAER Specialist Reports Released

Thank you Zac. The first PDF to the side of that link gives the trails report, with some photographs and maps. They are quite concerned about the fire exposing old logging roads that had been concealed and rendering them passable again.

[sekihiker]

Fortunately, most of the fire damage in the north part of the fire area is west of the trail heads leading out of the Wishon Reservoir area. The Spanish Mountain OHV trail, however, sustained major damage if you have ever depended on it to get into the back country. Most of the damage was to trails at lower elevations. I can hardly wait to see the trail to Spanish and Geraldine Lakes with hopes that the fire burned down and dead wood that was blocking it in many places.

[limpingcrab]

I can hardly wait to see the trail to Spanish and Geraldine Lakes with hopes that the fire burned down and dead wood that was blocking it in many places.

I went to Spanish and Geraldine Lakes two weeks ago and it was surprising how little change there was. A few spots got completely torched but for the most part it looked like it was a regular forest fire moving through the forest floor. Some of the trails that firefighters had used for access were much better because they cleared them but some trails were worse as the fire caused many trees to fall but didn't stick around long enough to fully burn them.

[sekihiker]

"some trails were worse as the fire caused many trees to fall but didn't stick around long enough to fully burn them

That's a shame. Several trails in the area appear to be no longer maintained by the FS. There seems to be extra heavy traffic on the trail out of Little Rancheria Creek and it appears that the Crown Valley Trailhead is not getting much use. This summer, I saw no tracks going to or from Crown Valley Trailhead where it meets the cutoff from the Little Rancheria Creek trail. Sometimes I get the feeling that the FS doesn't want people in the area. Based on the damage reported in the Rough Fire BAER Report, I would guess the FS will shut down the Spanish Peak OHV road unless it sustains minimal damage from next spring's runoff.

[zacjust32]

Several trails in the area appear to be no longer maintained by the FS

Earlier this summer me and a partner were en route to Spanish lake when we lost the trail and winded up at Garlic Meadow and the OHV trail before looping back around to the lake.

Sometimes I get the feeling that the FS doesn't want people in the area.

I meant to write them a strongly worded letter after finding the trailhead 30 minutes after dark (was fully prepared for it though).

The Spanish Mountain OHV trail is sponsored by Fresno 4x4 I think so I doubt it'll be closed soon if they have anything to say about it. Half a dozen picnic tables and a nice pit toilet at the top of the trail show their dedication, along with yearly trail clearing with FS before it opens to the public.

[sekihiker]

The Spanish Mountain OHV trail is sponsored by Fresno 4x4

I hope they don't have too much trouble cleaning things up next year.

By the way, I get a lot of wilderness permits from the Clovis FS office and they seem to be oblivious about trail conditions. I realize that they are clerks just doing their job, but it would be nice if the folks responsible for trail maintenance would let them know about conditions and closures.

[limpingcrab]

The trail from the Crown Valley trailhead is extra nice now, thanks to the firefighters. It goes back to the usual after Statham Meadow though.

One really annoying thing about the fire is that they're going to leave the entire Big Meadows and Buck Rock area of Sequoia National Forest closed until next summer so you can't snowshoe/snowmobile/ski out there all winter. At first they said it was to keep hunters from falling into ash pits and hot spots but those are obviously gone now. I think the current reasoning is they have to inspect any hazard trees near the road, but it still sucks. Thank you to everyone who sues over falling trees while they're camping...