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Fire in Waldo Canyon near Colorado Springs

Original Post
Mike Smyth · · Spartanburg, SC · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 70

Just a heads up to anyone who hasn't heard already. Wildfire is burning in Waldo Canyon near Colorado Springs. You might want to redirect any climbing trips close by if they are in your plans. 3,500 acres with 0% containment at the moment. We were climbing at Parachute Rock on Saturday when we saw the large billow of smoke growing. Rampart Range road is closed at the moment as well as Highway 24 between Colorado Springs and Crystola which is about 3/4 of the way to Woodland Park

Mike Smyth · · Spartanburg, SC · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 70
Wildfire in Waldo.
It isn't in Garden of the Gods but it's darn close.

Night time.

View from Colorado and 30th Street.
slim · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2004 · Points: 1,103

we saw this thing start up from devils head. it literally turned from a wisp of smoke into a billowing smokestack in about 15 minutes. really hot and really windy.

sunday a fire started up near rainbow falls as well. not good.

Mike Smyth · · Spartanburg, SC · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 70

Yeah, we heard about that one too. Also another one in Elbert yesterday and another down by Fort Carson off of 115. Sounds like they have Elbert and Fort Carson area contained. Haven't heard any updates to the one near Rainbow Falls yet

Derek Lawrence · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 695

The Rainbow Falls fire seems to be contained but apparently is still active
pinecam.com/phpBB2/viewtopi…

We watched this one start yesterday from DH and it was a little unnerving to see all the green pine trees between us and it...

Mike Smyth · · Spartanburg, SC · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 70

Just saw that update. Elbert is 600 acres and 75% contained. At least the C-130's are rolling strong up there today.

slim · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2004 · Points: 1,103

i was a little nervous camping there saturday night. i could tell the waldo fire was pretty far away, but it seemed like there was a pretty strong wind coming from that direction during the day on saturday. you could smell it that evening.

Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520

Heading to Devil's Head this Saturday, so we will see how it is progressing. If it's too close we will mosey on north to Golden Gate State Park.

Mike Smyth · · Spartanburg, SC · Joined Jun 2011 · Points: 70
Stich wrote:Heading to Devil's Head this Saturday, so we will see how it is progressing. If it's too close we will mosey on north to Golden Gate State Park.
If Rampart Range Road is open by then. They had Rampart Range shut down as of Saturday
Sir Wanksalot · · County Jail · Joined Sep 2011 · Points: 10

Is the North entrance (hwy 67) for RRR open, or is the whole road closed from north to south?

Derek Lawrence · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 695

Northern portion of RRR was open as of yesterday

Squish · · Lakewood · Joined May 2009 · Points: 135

A friend of mine and I were hiking around Topaz Point yesterday. We saw the smoke bellowing from there. We entered Rampart through Sedalia...

Andy Librande · · Denver, CO · Joined Nov 2005 · Points: 1,880
Derek Lawrence wrote:The Rainbow Falls fire seems to be contained but apparently is still active pinecam.com/phpBB2/viewtopi… We watched this one start yesterday from DH and it was a little unnerving to see all the green pine trees between us and it...
We were at Devil's Head yesterday too and here are some photos from the Trout Creek Fire which appeared to be completely out when we left at 8:00pm:

andylibrande.com/news/2012/…

erik wellborn · · manitou springs · Joined Apr 2008 · Points: 355
The Good Life Denver · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Nov 2009 · Points: 5

We were about 9 hours into the Big Mountain Adventure Race on Saturday tackling the mountain biking section when we came around a bend and saw the huge plume of smoke WAY too close for comfort. Apparently the fire started roughly 2 miles northeast of the race start/finish.

Feeling very lucky that we were at the farthest southwest point of the race and the wind was blowing north/northeast...as out-orienteering and out-racing a wildfire after 9 hours of running/hiking/biking in 95 degree heat was not going to be a great experience.

I hope that the firefighters and residents in the area continue to stay safe. As we were driving out from Green Mountain Falls on 24 we could see flames going up about 150 feet in the air...

Glenn Schuler · · Monument, Co. · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,330

Looks like Armageddon on the north end of town. The fire has moved into Colorado Springs and many homes are burning. If there was ever a time to prey, now is the time.

Mike Lane · · AnCapistan · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 880
GabeO · · Boston, MA · Joined May 2006 · Points: 302

The neighborhood that burned is all over the news, but how are things looking this morning?

GO

Glenn Schuler · · Monument, Co. · Joined Jun 2006 · Points: 1,330

Not good at all. Appears to be working its way down into Rockrimmon and moving north into the Air Force Academy.

Tim Stich · · Colorado Springs, Colorado · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 1,520
GabeO wrote:The neighborhood that burned is all over the news, but how are things looking this morning? GO
The smoke is obscuring views of the hillsides this morning, so we can't really tell. The huge pyrocumulus cloud is gone, however, so there is less burning currently. This will change as the day goes on.
GabeO · · Boston, MA · Joined May 2006 · Points: 302

Shit. Good luck.

GO

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Colorado
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