NORTHWEST:
Small fire in the Glacier Peak Wilderness caused by recent lightning storms.
Photo courtesy of Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
--Recent lighting storms have triggered multiple fires in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. To see pictures of the fires click here. Below is the news release we received from forest officials:
Lighting Storms Ignite Fires on Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie
Everett, Wa. July 27, 2009 — Lightning storms passed through the North Cascades Saturday igniting seven fires on the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. All of them are less than a half acre in size.
The Jumbo Fire is four miles south of Darrington. Fire managers deployed eight repellers and a Type-1 helicopter to fight the fire and expect to contain it by tomorrow evening.
The French Fire is nine miles west of Darrington. Forest Service firefighters secured it Monday morning and expect to have it contained tomorrow evening.
Fire managers will monitor the Higgins Fire, nine miles west-northwest of the Stillaguamish River on the south face of Mt. Higgins, and the Gee Fire, seven miles southwest of Concrete.
Firefighters have contained Depression Lake Fire, south of Baker Lake. They expect to contain the Diobsud Ridge Fire tomorrow, five miles north of Marblemount.
The Necklace Valley Fire west of the Foss River and close to the Necklace Valley Trailhead is contained.
“I expect more fires from this weekend's lightning to pop up, so we will be running detection flights for the next several days,” said Britt Davis, North Zone Fire Management Officer for the forest. “Lightning-ignited fires smoldering since the weekend could become active and visible as weather conditions grow warmer and drier. Crews will continue to respond to fires as they are detected,” he added that because of the dry fuels and hot weather the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie has bumped the fire danger rating from Moderate to High.
According to the National Weather Service, the hot, dry weather has potential for isolated lightning strikes through Wednesday, with more lighting storms moving through the Cascade crest this weekend.
Report any new fires on the state wildland fire hotline at 800-562-6010.
--The road to Artist's Point above the Mt. Baker Ski Area is now open. Besides providing access to some of the most amazing alpine scenery that you can drive to in the lower 48 it also provides access to the Lake Anne/Fisher Chimneys on Mt. Shuksan as well as the Ptarmigan Ridge and the Park and Mazama Glaciers on Mt. Baker. Click here for pictures of the road work.
--Webcams for Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, Leavenworth, and Highway 2.
--The Tieton River climbing areas have been closed for the season due to nesting raptors. To read more about this closure, click here.
--We have recently received a couple updates regarding current Squamish conditions. Click here to read more.
--Below is another update from our friends up north about the current conditions in the Bugaboos:
Climbed the Cooper-Kor on the East Face of Pigeon today. Presently travel is good on the Bugaboo Glacier. Pigeon East Face is still weeping so we had some very entertaining summer waterfall climbing.
Pigeon West Ridge is almost pure rock now. A little snow and a couple of icy steps on the North side getting to the last pitch is all that needs to be negotiated.
Bugaboo-Snowpatch col is beginning to look less and less like a moderate ski run and is starting to show its true self. Lots of perched rocks on the Bugaboo side and the Schrunds are starting to yawn.
Crevasses generally are starting to open up all over the Bugaboos and the bare ice is getting harder to avoid. Road is in pretty good shape.
Larry Stanier
ACMG/IFMGA Mountain Guide
SIERRA:
--For information regarding wall closures due to falcon nesting in Yosemite National Park, click here.
--We recently stumbled upon a very interesting and entertaining blog written by Bruce Willey about climbing in the Sierras. To read this nice piece of writing click here.
--Webcams for Bishop, June Lake, Mammoth Mountain, Mono Lake, Tioga Pass, and Yosemite National Park.
ALASKA RANGE:
--Webcam for Denali National Park.
--The snow is melting very fast in the Alaska Range this year. This is in part due to the ash on the glaciers from the Redoubt volcano. All of the major landing strips are melting out. Strips on the Kahiltna, the Ruth and on the Pika are all in poor shape. Access to the range will be limited in the very near future.
--The snow is melting very fast in the Alaska Range this year. This is in part due to the ash on the glaciers from the Redoubt volcano. All of the major landing strips are melting out. Strips on the Kahiltna, the Ruth and on the Pika are all in poor shape. Access to the range will be limited in the very near future.
ALPS:
--The climbing season in the Alps has begun and we are accepting applications for our 2009 climbs of Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and the Eiger and many other peaks in France and Switzerland. Please call our office (360-671-1505) for current availability.
RED ROCK CANYON:
--The late exit and overnight permit number for Red Rock Canyon is 702-515-5050. If there is any chance that you will be inside the park after closing, be sure to call this number so that you don't get a ticket.
--The scenic drive currently opens its gates at 6 in the morning.
JOSHUA TREE:
