Mt Whitney Zone Forums General Discussion Predictions for extensions?

Anyone have high conviction on what will happen with the closure order that expires tomorrow (9/30/2020)?

it was already extended through at least 10/7 if i'm not mistaken (i know it was extended, just can't recall100% the new tentative end date/reevaluation date)

i also think i read somewhere that the portal store has been closed for the season at this point - which could be a clue that the forest won't be reopening anytime soon.

Joe Canale posted an email on the Mt. Whitney FB group. The email is from Inyo NF and says, “We just got word that the closure is being extended through Oct. 7” That’s not an official notice on a USFS website, but it’s pretty close.

I received notice from someone at the Wilderness Permit Office that the closure order is being extended through 10/7.

Given the fire conditions and current weather, unless we get some rain, I'd expect the closure to continue to be extended through Oct 31.

Forest Order 20-19 extended the closure for Inyo and six other National Forests through 10-8-20.

I am curious, does anyone know if they have done this before, that is preemptively closing forests to prevent fires? Not just closing them in areas with existing fires.

I wonder if this will become an annual thing were we can not count on the forests being open August-October.

In 2015, I had to climb Mt. Jordan from Shepherd Pass because the Rough Fire was burning at Roads End, where I had planned to start. 2020 is the only other time fire has spoiled my plans. It’s the only case I know of when they closed forests to prevent more fires. We shouldn’t have any more fires next year, since global warming is just a hoax created by the Chinese.

I think it was back in the 1980's. I was working for the FS and they closed the forest basically for the same reason: that being limited resources left to fight fires beyond what was burning at the time. I remember manning a closure on the June Lake loop road to only allow locals in.

I am in southern California and with National Forests being closed, and deserts still too hot, it makes slim pickings for hiking / camping.

I contacted Sequoia NP, and most trails in the park boundaries are open and accessible (for instance, they confirmed the Alta Peak trail is open). Same appears to be true for Yosemite (there is large section of park/trails closed south of the valley/Glacier Point, but most of of the trails up in Toulumne are open). The White Mountains are also open, and there is always Telescope over in Death Valley. Better than nothing...

Louie,

The northern section of Hoover Wilderness that is in the Toiyabe National Forest is open up by Virginia Lakes (just past Mono Lake). Plenty of hiking trails and peaks in that area. It is somewhat of a drive from socal, but it may satisfy the urge to hike! I may head up there and tackle a few peaks myself this weekend.

Heard back from Yosemite NP. They confirmed the trails located north of the valley in Toulumne, within park borders, are open. They specifically confirmed for me the JMT up through Lyell Canyon is open. Day hikes do not require permits, but overnight trips do. Unfortunately, it seems getting an overnight permit is pretty difficult right now. The Yosemite Conservency is not issuing permits, and the only way to get a permit as far as I can tell is to do so in person at one the ranger stations on the east side. Waiting to hear back from the park if the ranger station in Toulumne is open or not.

As far as Tuolumne and other areas of Yosemite NP, you need a day-use permit from Recreation.gov to drive in past the entry station (recreation.gov Yosemite day pass site). They are $2, and not too hard to get if you plan ahead.

Inyo National Forest is partially re-opened:

Open: The South Sierra Wilderness, the northern segment of the Golden Trout Wilderness, the Owens River Headwater Wilderness, and the Hoover Wilderness Areas for day and overnight use.

Wildernesses in the Inyo Mountains and the White Mountains, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, front country areas outside of Wilderness throughout the forest, developed sites, resorts, and recreation resident cabins are and have been open. This includes areas for activities such as dispersed camping, OHV, fishing, hiking and mountain biking in areas throughout the forest that are not included in the forest closure.

Closed:

Per Forest Order No.05-04-50-20-20, the following are closed:

The John Muir Wilderness and Ansel Adams Wilderness Areas
Inyo National Forest outside of wilderness within Madera County and outside of the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area. The most common destinations are Reds Meadow Valley and the Devils Postpile National Monument. This area remains closed due to the Creek Fire to the west. The Reds Meadow Road is closed at Minaret Vista.

... and these closures now last through December 31.

So Bob, the trail to Kearsarge Pass for day hiking is open? New Army Pass? Road to Horseshoe Meadows open?

Thanks

Paul

The John Muir Wilderness within Inyo National Forest is closed through December 31. That means both day-hiking and backpacking, on trail and cross-country. Kearsarge Pass and New Army Pass are in the John Muir Wilderness, so they are closed. As far as I know, roads, including the one to Horseshoe Meadow, are open.