Rifle conditions (forest fire)

Does anyone know what the air quality and conditions for Rifle look like? Just heard there was a big forest fire and unfortunately just flew in for a trip ...

Best place for updated forest fire info is the Watch Duty app. Looks fine for your trip right now. 

The Watch Duty app looks great! Thanks for lmk!

Did you make it out to Rifle Justin? I’m curious to see how the smoke is.  I have a few days off and trying to decide between Maple and Rifle, with Lime Creek and Wild Iris as back ups.

Luigi M wrote:

 God help us all 

I just had a quick chat with The Big One. 

They said that they've exhausted themselves in repeated attempts to help, tired of all the willful ignorance, childish squabbling, and doomspray posturing. 

They informed me that, at this point, they've done all they are able, and it's entirely on us to figure it out by ourselves.

-----

Justin, hope your trip goes well. I'm sure you'll be able to find somewhere in Colorado, if not Rifle, to enjoy some time amidst the splendor. It's been pretty toasty this week after some cooler moisture the weeks before, but it's been pretty nice in the shade in Boulder Canyon this week. People are getting roasted if climbing in the sun though.

Windy.com is a great forecasting tool with lots of info layers. iirc, there's air quality forecasts too. Def recommend you giver a look if not already familiar.

It'll certainly be possible to find better condies than you'd find at the Greenbelt or Reimers, right now. 

"It's a metaphor, Ricky... It's a metaphor for a mystery that absolutely transcends all categories of human thought, including being and non-being, but that's too many words for the back of a quarter."

God is whoever you're performing for.

----

Windy's air quality visualizations look pretty believable.
Summarily, it won't be good air quality this week in Rifle, but it shouldn't be too terrible, and doesn't look like a major health risk unless you're closer to Utah or have respiratory sensitivity.

Air quality gets notably better once you are east of Vail. Indy Pass, Summit County, and the Front Range seem like the place to be this week.

If you want to get on steep and hard stuff, but need better air than Rifle, there's always The Dungeon at Staunton, Haus Rock and other high country crags.

Enjoy!

Just got back from rifle! Some days the smoke was not noticeable and didn't affect my climbing, but on others it was definitely a burden because I could feel it in my eyes and lungs. The park was surprisingly empty though!