Update from Lassen National Forest on August 7, 2009: Pacific Crest Trail section near Hat Creek is closed:
The Lassen National Forest is closing a portion of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) through an area that leads into the Hat Creek Fire Complex southeast of Burney along Highways 89 and 44. “We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to gain control of a several large, active fires on the forest” said acting Forest Supervisor Christopher O’Brien. “This temporary closure is to protect public and increase firefighter safety during the ongoing fire suppression operations.” The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is closed north starting from Forest Road 32N12 just off Hwy 44/89 near the Vista Point and Twin Bridges Campground. It reopens again near Baum Lake and Cassel Road just north of the community of Cassel, approximately 2 miles east of the junction of Highway 299 and Highway 89 (a.k.a. Four Corners). Please be advised there is another wildfire under Cal-Fire jurisdiction at the northern end of this PCT closure area. For current fire information on the Cassel Fire call 530-225-2510.
Here’s what the Pacific Crest Trail Association recommends for Section O Pacific Crest Trail hikers regarding the Sugarloaf Fire:
Although trail is not officially closed at posting, PCTA suggests leaving the trail at Highway 36 in Chester, entering trail once again at either Burney Falls or Castle Crags State Park. Northern California Interagency Incident Management (NorCal) Team II assumed command of the Hat Creek Complex to manage the three fires for the Lassen National Forest. The Sugarloaf Fire is burning near the Old Station community where approximately 100 structures are threatened. Fire managers expect that the fire will be 100% contained on Monday, August 17. Objectives for fire managers are to keep the fire within existing fire containment lines while minimizing fire suppression impacts to riparian and cinder cone areas. Old Station Campground and Visitor’s Center closed.
The portion of Pacific Crest Trail Section O that’s affected includes Lassen Volcanic National Park and a good stretch of the PCT in Lassen National Forest. Inciweb has the latest details on the Sugarloaf fire and related Butte fire and Brown fire, together known as the Hat Creek Complex fire . (Look in right sidebar for updates.) On a personal note, we’ve had periodic wildfire smoke from the Sugarloaf fire fill the skies around Mount Shasta. Steph and I saw the fire in its early stages when we hiked to the top of Mount Shasta’s Grey Butte from Panther Meadows last Sunday.
Leave a Reply