[pct-l] Clover Fire Detour- a BAD idea

[kmurray at pol.net]

Halfmile said:
"I was going to wait until I had more information but after reading
POD's  journal on Postholer ( http://postholer.com/missdarkness ) I
have decided to create a Clover Fire possible detour map in case some
hikers find it useful.

I have not hiked these trails (other than the PCT) and have no idea
what the detour might be like.

The possible detour would be:

About 1.2 miles S of Kennedy Meadows Campground take dirt road E to
the trail to Wildrose Meadow.

Continue past Wildrose Meadow to Dutch John Flat.

At Dutch John Flat take Haiwee Trail W back to PCT. You should join
the PCT about 2.5 miles N of Clover Meadow (where the fire probably
is).

A printable map showing the detour area is here:

www.pctmap.net/pctdownloads/clover_detour.pdf

If anyone has any better suggestions let me know.

Good luck.

-Halfmile"

This is a BAD idea.  I am familiar with this route.  This requires a ford
of the Kern River, in a place where it is quite steep.  This is often a
raging inferno during snowmelt, which it now is.  If one gets across, then
you are in the area of the fire.  There is a tremendous amount of very
dry, burnable stuff in the area, this area is long overdue for a burn. 
Thus, the fire could easily get going in this exact direction, and a
person could get trapped between the fire and the river.

Also, going north on the PCT here is a BAD idea.  I've done this exact
backpack each summer for the last ten years, usually camping just short of
Clover Meadows.  The trail runs up canyons, with steep canyon on either
side.  It would be very tough to cross-country this area, with the
predominant whitethorn and manzanita scrub brush dominating.  There would
be no "bail-outs", if the fire turned towards you, and the wind IS
predicted to be coming up today.

Far, Far better to bypass this section.

Alternatively, there ARE alternative trails about 10 miles to the west,
staging out of "Blackrock" trailhead, plus there is an open USFS ranger
station at that location.   One could get the appropriate map (Tom
Harrison Golden Trout Wilderness) at the Store, catch a ride to Blackrock,
and head north from there.  The trails end up merging with the PCT up in
the Trail Pass or Cottonwood Pass area.

Good luck to everyone.

Ken