Fire Near The Needles

Just a heads up, there's a pretty big fire (The Castle Fire) just below in the drainage that sits between The Needles and Hermit Spire. The Forest Service and CHP evacuated folks that were camping at the Needles Trailhead campsite and also over at the Quaking Aspens Campground and the pack station out near Hermit Spire. It's grown to 15,000 acres. The fire appears to be heading northeast. But that all could change! I'd cancel any plans you had at going to The Needles this weekend and possibly next. We here in Kernville are experiencing lots of smoke....visibility is less than 1/4 mile.

https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7048/

That's the Freeman Creek Drainage, home to the largest never-been-logged grove of giant sequoia's outside of a National Park. 800 giants in all.

I took my French nephew Thomas there about 5 years ago. A beautiful, undisturbed, place to wander about...

Uh oh.  Lots to burn up there and not much in the way of roads or access to fight it.  They had similar problems with the fire that burned down canyon of Camp Nelson a couple of years ago. From best I can tell from Inciweb's map, this looks like it might be NE of the Freeman Grove.  

Dave's inciweb link says the starting point was between Jerky Meadow and Castle Rock. Judging by an online map I found that's roughly 3.5 miles NNE from Freeman Grove. If it keeps going NE at least those trees will be saved.

Go to Dave's link there, and zoom out on the map to see all of the wildfires burning across the western U.S. It's insane.

If only Gavin would let us rake those slopes in the national forest!?!?! 

Map of fire depressing it is 

Is this the fire that is smoking out the Whitney area

Yes

A little update for those interested in doing something different up in and above the Kern River Valley. I was given an update from one of the captain's in the Kern District:

"There is a soft opening for going up Sherman Pass Rd. You can go up the road until Cherry Hill Rd but they have the gate locked leading the rest of the way to Sherman Pass. However, the gate is open heading out on Cherry Hill Rd and out past Big Meadow."

For those interested, this will allow access to Church Dome and western trailheads leading into the Domelands. I will tell you this....the smoke is moderate to heavy at time (heavier in the morning hours). Kernville itself is pretty bad as well. 

How si the fire at the main Needle area itself? 

Dave, any idea if there are restrictions heading up 190 toward Camp Nelson/Ponderosa?

Dave, why is the Sherman Pass road closed? 

From today's inciweb report

24 Hour Period:

CASTLE FIRE:

All active fire edges will continue to see growth with the increase in temperatures and instability. Most of the growth will occur on the west side of the fire following the Clicks Creek Drainage in heavy stands of timber with no recent fire history. The community of Ponderosa and the Freeman Sequoia Grove will continue to be threatened until current fire lines are secured. Fire movement on the southeast side will potentially impact the areas of Bonita Flat, Lion and Little Horse Meadows The fire will continue movement north deeper into the Golden Trout Wilderness in the Cold Creek Drainage potentially reaching Kern Peak.

SHOTGUN FIRE:

Expect all active fire edges to have growth.

Hi Gang! The FS has restricted access up to the Ponderosa area. All residents have been advised to evacuate until the restriction is lifted. The main reason that access to Western Divide Hwy/Lloyd Mdw Rd and Sherman Pass Rd is due to fire behavior based on what the district lead was quoted. 

Sadly, we have a new threat up by the Mammoth Pool, just west of the reservoir. Threatening Shuteye! As if the Cedar and French Fires a few years ago weren't enough. Frickin' buffalo hunters!

Dave Dalywrote:

...Frickin' buffalo hunters!

Hey Dave, fill me in on what you mean by this. I'm clueless...

Kristian Solemwrote:

Hey Dave, fill me in on what you mean by this. I'm clueless...

This was lost on me as well.

Guy Keeseewrote:

Dave, why is the Sherman Pass road closed? 

Guyzo, 22S05 on this fire map is the Sherman Pass Rd. Fish Creek CG is marked...

Castle Fire 9.06.2020

Kennedy Meadows road, 22S05 from the 395 is closed just past Kennedy Meadows store at the bridge.

All of Inyo, Sequoia and Sierra National Forests are closed. 

So that includes the Needles and all the FS roads in the area.