Granite Mountain Wildfire?
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Green, for now everything is closed presumably due to the risk of flash floods ripping away soil from now mostly barren hillsides and killing or injuring hikers and climbers. News reports have said that crews with the Forest Service are currently working to stabilize as much as they can with erosion control/ new plantings. But it seems the Mountain will likely be closed for a while longer. Here's a link to the Prescott National Forest site with closure information. |
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any local news other than above link as far as closure status? |
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is it too early to talk of passing the hat 4 restoration? I hope the monsoons are merciful, hang in there GM :{sniff} |
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I called the forest service about two weeks ago with regards to closure status. The guy on the phone was not super helpful but said it is closed until crews clean up the trails and restore safety. He would not estimate when this would be happening and kind of said "it will happen when they do it". Maybe the forest service would be open to some help from some chainsaw and shovel wielding dirtbags to help clear the area? |
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they have been waiting until the end of monsoon season to assess the trail damage and what is required for cleanup. This could be as late as end of September. |
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Just wanted to give an update on this, for those that are curious. |
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Has anyone heard anything new? The forest service site still shows the area being closed. |
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Noel Fletcher at the Prescott National Forest |
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Thanks for the update Scott! |
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I was able to get up there on friday afternoon and there is noticeable damage from erosion caused by the previous rains.. |
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Thanks for sharing the photos MacM. It looks like a different world down there.... |
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So what about access with the current federal shutdown? I called the forest service office in prescott and they are not working. Hoping to get out there this weekend. |
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Micah Kurtz wrote: So what about access with the current federal shutdown? I called the forest service office in prescott and they are not working. Hoping to get out there this weekend.granite mountain isn't a national park, access is now "unlimited"... I would still respect the falcons however.. |
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Larry Coats wrote:And let's hope the juniper in the above news clip is indeed this old specimen....With a most heavy heart, I am sad to report that this juniper is nothing but a big charcoal stick now. |
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It looked like lightning got it. Its literally in three big pieces spread all over, and the granite up there is shattered into pieces as well. |
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That makes me really sad. |