[pct-l] Swarthout Canyon

Fri Apr 9 13:33:46 CDT 2010

Sorry if I unintentionally helped promote the highway being an alternate route - I personally don't think ANY highway route is a viable and safe alternative for the trail...
It seems to have become the bureaucratic "easy out" to close off entire areas because it is "too dangerous" for the public, yet not give any alternative that is more safe (in this case, the highway is probably much more dangerous than the fire area itself!) - this "easy out" MO has been readily apparent the last few years regarding many closures along the PCT...

The PCTA, & Nitro specifically, is diligently working to come to some agreement regarding SoCal closure areas - unfortunately much of the 'groundwork' to finalize alternatives for those areas can't be done yet due to snow cover...
Keep checking the PCTA website's "Trail Conditions" - that's probably where the first and most accurate info regarding alternate routes for the closure areas will appear...

Jim (PITA)

----- dsaufley <dsaufley at sprynet.com> wrote:
> Highway 138 should NOT FOR ANY REASON be used as an alternate route.  This highway is called "Blood Alley," and has so much traffic they are planning to put a freeway there. 
> 
> Please refer to the PCTA's Trail Conditions update for information on Section D:  www.pcta.org/planning/during_trip/Trail_con_SC.asp?sect=D
> 
> I've been waging a personal campaign to get any reference to Highway 138 removed from any reference directing hikers. Two PCT hikers southbound on their honeymoon, Jane and Flicka, were killed on Highway 138.  http://www.pcta.org/help/janeflicka.asp
> 
> www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaughter_alley
> www.thefreelibrary.com/'BLOOD+ALLEY'+FIX+UP+FOR+VOTE+HIGHWAY+138+WORK+PROPOSED.(News)-a0164362031
> www.wrightwoodcalif.com/forum/index.php?action=printpage;topic=3416.0
> 
> L-Rod
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net] On Behalf Of enyapjr at comcast.net
> Sent: Friday, April 09, 2010 10:01 AM
> To: Susan Goodwin
> Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: [pct-l] Swarthout Canyon
> 
> > ...where will the hikers be "re-routed" to this season?
> 
> There is no detailed description of a temporary reroute provided as yet - only a simplified
> "Through hikers can use State Route 138 as an alternate." - as seen on
> <http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/conditions/index.shtml> (scroll down to "Front Country
> Ranger District"...  At the moment the 'reroute' appears to be Hwy. 138, then Hwy. 2 to
> Wrightwood...  Whether the SBNF authorities and the PCTA can agree upon another viable
> temporary route is still undetermined - but the PCTA is still working on it!
> 
> Digging through the SBNF Forest Orders the latest one regarding the Sheep Fire area (10-1)
> states "This order is effective...through October 10, 2010." - so for the time being, it
> seems the PCT will be closed from I-15 to the western SBNF boundary for the 2010 season.
> See <http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/about/forder1001.shtml> and a slightly better map
> at <http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/documents/forder1001_closure_map.pdf>...
> Hopefully the SBNF will, at the minimum, open the short stretch (~ 1/2 mile) of PCT from the
> Acorn Trail to the western SBNF boundary - then thrus could be back 'on-trail' again until 
> Islip Saddle in Angeles NF, the next closure area (Station Fire)...  Many are also awaiting 
> word about the Station Fire reroute - the PCTA is working on that, too...
> 
> The thrus will make it to Wrightwood - it has a good reputation as being very hiker friendly, 
> especially because of the trail angels in the area such as yourself (Thank you!!)...   ;-)
> 
> Happy trails!!!
> Jim (PITA)
> 
> ----- Susan Goodwin <photosusan1 at hotmail.com> wrote:
> > 
> > Of course that was NOT our intention.....where will the hikers be "re-routed" to this season?
> > 
> > 
> >  
> > > Date: Fri, 9 Apr 2010 05:26:01 +0000
> > > From: enyapjr at comcast.net
> > > To: pct-l at backcountry.net
> > > CC: photosusan1 at hotmail.com
> > > Subject: [pct-l] Swarthout Canyon
> > > 
> > > > Just a quick note to let you know that the water cash (shelter) at Swarthout 
> > > > Canyon (near I-15 approaching Wrightwood) is FULLY stocked and will remain 
> > > > that way this year...
> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > > ...the Swarthout Canyon Cache. That’s a useful location, and I’ve
> > > > greatly enjoyed topping-up both me and my canteens there, in spite of the
> > > > resident mice and the fact that its precariously perched squarely atop the
> > > > infamous San Andreas Rift Zone. The cache should see lots of visitors soon.
> > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > 
> > > With all due respect...
> > > Per the San Bernardino NF website (and also PCTA) the PCT is still CLOSED from I-15
> > > to the western SBNF boundary... No official announcement has been made yet (that
> > > I'm aware of) regarding a temporary reroute or whether the PCT will be 'open' at all
> > > in the Sheep Fire area for the 2010 season...
> > > Unfortunately, at the moment, all you are doing is encouraging hikers to illegally 
> > > enter a closed area - not a good idea at this time, though I'm sure that is not your 
> > > intention whatsoever ...
> > > See SBNF <http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/documents/forder0906.pdf> and PCTA
> > > <http://www.pcta.org/planning/during_trip/Trail_con_SC.asp?sect=D>, the 2/11/2010 entry...
> > > 
> > > Happy trails!!!
> > > Jim (PITA)
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Support the Pacific Crest Trail Association and its mission:
> > > Protect, preserve, and promote the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail...
> > > Join, renew, or donate today: <http://www.pcta.org/>
> > > 
> > > "Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul." - Edward Abbey
> >  		 	   		  
> > _________________________________________________________________
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