SummitPost.org

For those of us that would like to climb - can you confirm the climbing is a no-go for a few weeks? I can't get a straight answer so far. Danke.

My new job has me setting up fire camps. Was talking to a riverside city fireman at the mountain fire camp and he figures closure will be in affect for the rest of the season, but this is coming from someone with no authority on the subject.

What I know for a fact is
-Humber park was closed 2 days ago
-fire started at 243/74
-the fire burnt the area south of the ridge between tahquitz and red tahquitz then looped east of red tahquitz into tahquitz valley, skunk cabbage meadow, and laws camp area
-saddle junction did not burn and the fire stopped around wellmans divide/hidden lake divide

- the area around tahquitz rock did not burn

From ST (Thanks Alois):

Every trail head from Black Mountain to Ernie Maxwell Trail is cordoned off with tape and warnings about fines are posted. The closure includes Marion Mountain trail, Fuller ridge trail, Deer springs trail, Devil's slide trail, all access to Tahquitz and Suicide, South ridge trail as well. Humber Park is completely cordoned off with orange cone and closure signs.

In fact all of the San Jacinto mountains are closed to hiking.

Have not a clue how long this will stay in effect. My guess is, the authorities will take their sweet time.

Burchey wrote:From ST (Thanks Alois):
My guess is, the authorities will take their sweet time.

yeah

Well what's to say about this...

We are bummed, no place to go to keep in shape. Pen suggested we switch to running on pavement around town and that's what we will do.

Considering how touchy some local people are about the subject, my feeling is that Tahquitz and Suicide both will be closed for considerable time. Who knows, they both might stay closed till winter. Some friends who live in LA keep saying that closure of several months is entirely possible and probable considering how long the Station Fire area in San Gabriels was closed. So guys and ladies, find yourselves some cragging alternatives.

If/when anything changes, I will post here.

Soooo sad!

Thanks Alois, running on pavement is the worst, but sometimes you have to make do. I've got my fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.

I can't do the pavement... guess its time to go run the Ramona trail to Thomas mountain...

Tahquitz is still closed, but it looks like Suicide Rock is open. For the hikers, the West side of San Jacinto is open to the summit.

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOC ... 430238.pdf

Pen and I hiked to Suicide via Deer Springs trail yesterday early morning. You cannot see any damage in the alpine cirque between Tahquitz and Suicide, that's the good news. The bad, Tahquitz is still closed.

Humber Park is closed before you get to the Suicide TH.

Suicide is only open via Deer Springs Trail which is 3.5 miles OW and ends on summit of Suicide. One can easily downclimb the left (facing down) side to the base. Some people were actually hiking to Suicide (to climb) when we were returning.

Both Tahquitz and Suicide Rock are open to both hiking and climbing, I specifically asked today (Sunday 08/18/2013) at the Forest Service Station. However there are still quite a few closed trails, both South and North of Idyllwild, so make sure whatever you want to do is one of the open approaches. Suicide Rock via Deer Springs Trail is open, and also Tahquitz via Devil's Slide Trail and also South Ridge Trail are open. I hiked this morning to the top of Suicide Rock and could not see any recent fire damage looking over Tahquitz.