What is open on the west side for backpacking this weekend?

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oleander
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What is open on the west side for backpacking this weekend?

Post by oleander »

What is open for backpacking this weekend on the west side within 4.5 hours of Bay Area?

From a quick look it appears Desolation & Carson Pass are closed, but Highway 4 is open. However, those are USFS websites and I don't want to bet too much that they are up to date.

Yes, happy to backpack without my stove.
Yes, monitoring smoke maps carefully.
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Re: What is open on the west side for backpacking this weekend?

Post by Wandering Daisy »

Tahoe and El Dorado NFs are both open. "Dispersed" camping is allowed in Granite Chief Wilderness and "within 500 feet of the PCT" . In El Dorado, PCT both north and south of Hwy 88 are open. Check out their websites. Hwy50 over Echo Pass is closed for construction. There is a fire west of Desolation; you need to look at a map for that. Anyway, all info is on the websites.
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Re: What is open on the west side for backpacking this weekend?

Post by balzaccom »

You might also check special regulations. Many of the national forests are open, but do not allow ANY source of ignition--nit stoves, fires, or even cigarettes.
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Re: What is open on the west side for backpacking this weekend?

Post by CAMERONM »

The winds can shift overnight; it has happened to me several times, and it is no fun being in smoke. All of a sudden, everything is smoky, and you can't know how far away the fire is. Smoke behavior is way more quirky than a 5-7 day weather report.
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Re: What is open on the west side for backpacking this weekend?

Post by Harlen »

Okay, so some Forests have opened with restrictions:
The regional fire restriction order, 20-14, prohibits all ignition sources in all areas and elevations of the forest. This includes campfires, propane or gel fuel cookstoves and all smoking materials.
USFS-- Stanislaus NF

I'm game, we're interested in the Cherry Creek area, and north east from there. How do we eat our fish? :( I'll ask at the fishing hole.
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Re: What is open on the west side for backpacking this weekend?

Post by balzaccom »

Harlen wrote: Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:26 pm Okay, so some Forests have opened with restrictions:
The regional fire restriction order, 20-14, prohibits all ignition sources in all areas and elevations of the forest. This includes campfires, propane or gel fuel cookstoves and all smoking materials.
USFS-- Stanislaus NF

I'm game, we're interested in the Cherry Creek area, and north east from there. How do we eat our fish? :( I'll ask at the fishing hole.
Sushi.
Check our our website: http://www.backpackthesierra.com/
Or just read a good mystery novel set in the Sierra; https://www.amazon.com/Danger-Falling-R ... 0984884963
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Re: What is open on the west side for backpacking this weekend?

Post by maverick »

Let's stay on topic please. :)
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I don't give out specific route information, my belief is that it takes away from the whole adventure spirit of a trip, if you need every inch planned out, you'll have to get that from someone else.

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