The official report doesn't tell the full impact on Whitney hikers. As we drove up to the Portal Monday night, the 18th, smoke and some ash were pouring over the Crest and down the canyon and the two to the north, and drove about half the campers out of the Portal sites by the next morning. Cleared a bit with the evening breeze up from the Valley, and was gone by morning, but smoke from this fire not all drifting down the Kern drainage by any means. Since its being managed for ecological impact, not fought for full suppression, this could continue for some time. I would check the webcam and by phone with the interagency Visitors Center for actual conditions on the trail if the smoke is of concern.
Last edited by saltydog; 07/20/11 07:57 PM.
