| Archive for San Gabriel Mountains Discussion Forum Open discussion board for activities in the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California |
| mattmaxon |
Station "The Beast" Fire 9/3/2009The Beast is now mostly out of the urban interface though it is very stubborn over toward Magic Mtn, wind could push it down to Sand Cyn, Santa Clarita in a very short time.There is a bit of renewed vigor below Pacifico Mtn over Bare Mtn and SF Little Rock Creek The main action is in the SE claw of the beast. The fire has held at the head of Santa Anita Cyn so far OTOH it has made relentless progress toward Twin Peaks To see the actively burning areas at the head of SA cyn you'll need to shut off the "Last 12 hrs 0430 PDT 0903" layer by unchecking it It's a limitation I've yet to over come in GE if you got a clue as to how to deal with this let me know how Here is the latest info I have http://mattmaxon.homeip.net/data/...T/Map%208%200430%20PDT%200903.kml |
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| Kit Fox |
For the last three days i've been seeing the daily spot fires on the side of Bare Mountain. I've got a direct view of it from my house. | ||||||
| HikeUp |
No news good or bad yet on Stony Ridge Observatory...
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| cougarmagic |
Oh, that's the one on Mt Mooney, right? I love that place. | ||||||
| HikeUp |
Yeah, on a high point just south of Mooney. Great views from that area of Devil's Cyn., Twin Peaks' famous west ridge (right, AW?  ) and Waterman.
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| EnFuego |
Here's a brief update as of 9-3-09:
Interestingly, the ENPLAN Wildfire map still shows no fire having gone to the top of Vetter, but since the news of the lookout's burning is posted on the ANFFLA web site, it is probably true. As a whole, the lines around the southwest, west, and north seem to be holding, but our dear San Gabriels still faces severe threats in the northeast and even more so in the southeast. In the northeast, fires are continuing to work around the northern side of Bare Mountain. Hopefully, fire crews will be able to prevent the fire from crossing Bare Mountain Canyon to the east, which would then threaten the Winston Ridge-Pleasant View Ridge backcountry. A much worse scenario is taking place on the southeast boundary of the fire, where the entire length of the north-south running portion of Devil's Canyon has been engulfed. Several new lobes now appear moving up the eastern tributaries toward the heart of the San Gabriel Wilderness Area, much of which is a vast ocean of thick brush. On the ENPLAN map, the fire has topped the far western end of the long ridge that extends west from Twin Peaks into Devil's Canyon. The northernmost portion of the Devil's Canyon conflagration has reached the 'elbow' where the canyon makes a 90 degree turn to the east before heading up to the Waterman-Twin Peaks saddle, about two miles distant. The Big Santa Anita Canyon drainage, containing historic Sturtevant's Camp and the picturesque cabins from the 1900-1920s era, is coming under greater threat as the fire has now advanced close to Newcomb Pass and the ridge that runs westward from there up to the summit of Mount Wilson. |
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| whatmeworry |
Re: Station "The Beast" Fire 9/3/2009
Thanks for all of your hard work in the early a.m. getting out some updated maps. It is very useful. |
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| Zé |
lol, yeah AW looks like the west ridge just opened up for us 
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| Hikin_Jim |
Still no official word on the presumed forest closure. http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles/orders/ |
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| AW |
[quote="Zé"]
Theres going to be a lot of good hikes in that area .....just hope theres access to them...could be a rare opportunity...hehehe, you only get credit for the hike with an * though  ..... Sad for the wildlife in the area ..its one of the few areas they could sort of chill out, now hopefully they remember how to get out of there.
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| HikeUp |
I wonder what all the Big Horn Sheep in the high country think of all the displaced mtn. lions showing up in their neighborhood. |
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| scott johnson |
Here is the morning update from the Angeles Crest Christian Camp Website.
As of Thursday, September 3, at 10:00 a.m., Angeles Crest Christian Camp is safe and clear! There are many who are also asking about Newcomb's Restaurant which is a mile down the road on Highway 2. The latest word is that Newcomb's is still safe at this time. L.A. County still has a full crew of firefighters up on the mountain at Angeles Crest. They worked all day yesterday and also during the night to prepare for the advancing fire. We have word this morning that all firefighters are out working on the lines to create firebreaks down in Chilao campgrounds and on Highway 2 near the entrance to the camp (Sulphur Springs Road). The fire has spread up Devil's Canyon south of the camp and south of Newcomb's restaurant. It is moving in the direction of the camp and restaurant. So far, everything is still safe up at the camp and the firefighters are optimistic about their chance to head off the fire and contain it. Regarding the wildife, the cliffs on Williamson may be getting crowded, but in the long run the habitat for bighorn in the SGW will benefit from this fire. In the late 1980's, we saw a Mountain Lion chasing a Bighorn near the lower falls in Devil Canyon. BTW, have anyone been to that natural depression on the west ridge of Twin Peaks ?? You have to hike up the upper reaches of Devils Canyon then head south up the ridge. Scott Johnson |
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| cougarmagic |
Thanks for that update Scott! I'm very glad to hear they're working up there. I was getting the impression nothing was happening. (whether from bad conditions, bad management, bad luck, whatever - I didn't know).
I have heard the sheep really love recent burn areas. The new plant growth is softer and more nutritious, and the wide open spaces put the lions at a disadvantage (they like to stalk). Well, I'm not sure which side I'm on here...  but if some animal is going to benefit, that's good enough for me right now. Better habitat means more sheep, which means more lion food, so it's all good. And fat sheep can't run as fast...
Still worried about Waterman though. That gorgeous open pine forest, never been logged, never burned, just pure goodness. And I never got to Twin Peaks, not even "near" Twin Peaks! |
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| scott johnson |
Found this interview on KPCC with Darrell Martinelli who runs Newcomb's Ranch.
http://www.scpr.org/news/2009/09/03/station-fire-close-newcombs-ranch/ Scott Johnson |
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| edenooch |
They think hopefully they alll burned! |
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| scott johnson |
Hey Cave,
I have some of those fat sheep at work  , Want to help in thinning out the herd ??
Scott Johnson |
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| mattmaxon |
I've found another source for much more detailed information on the MODIS data
I'm working on a map but this has more divisions in the data anyway the "most" active area in the south claw of the beast is in the Devils Cyn The last pass of the satellite didn't have any new detections for the head of santa anita canyon. Since I've never followed the data this way I don't know if this is a good sign or not But I'll take anything I can get! There are 2 satellites Aqua & Terra so there should be 4 daily sets of data, There are times in the data but I'm not sure what they are GMT or ? |
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| MtnMan |
It's actually Darren.. they said it right in the interview, but misspelled it on the page. thanks for the link! Darren is a great guy and glad to hear he's safe. |
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| scott johnson |
LA Times is reporting that Stony Ridge Observatory on Mt. Mooney and Camp Colby in Upper Big T. have survive the fire. New brusher just broke out in Rolling Hills/Palos Verde near the Torrance Border. | ||||||
| mattmaxon |
Any word on Loomis Ranch area? I did some hiking down there with the Son of the owner a year or two back looking for wreckage from the F86? Midair collision in 1959? The loomis cabin and all that is a chunk of history to be sure |
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| scott johnson |
It is official, via the 5:00 PM Presser, that the "Beast" is a creation of an Arsonist.
Matt regarding Loomis Ranch, I was in youch with someone who had created a historical webpage on the site. Will attempt to get updated info. Scott |
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| mattmaxon |
Latest MODISThere seems to be some further gains in the Twin Peaks, Waterman Mtn area, though there "appears" to be a spot fire at Three Points
The fire is holding outside of Santa Anita Cyn still and it seems to be confined to the West Fork on the SE Claw Seems to be little activity on Pacifico Mtn area, Mt Gleason, Big-T or the Urban Interface The other active area is Pacomia Cyn / Dillion Divide with The Beast making a run on Mendenhall Peak As usual the KML is here http://mattmaxon.homeip.net/data/.../Map%2010%201730%20Hrs%200903.kml |
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| mattmaxon |
Yeah unfortunately he's not one of the current owners of the property I was hoping someone you know might have had a chance look down in there The data I've seen shown it was spared but... who knows |
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| Layne Cantrell |
Re: Latest MODIS
YEAH! That's what I'm talkin' 'bout. Save Waterman, save Buckhorn! |
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| Hikin_Jim |
Re: Latest MODIS
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| scott johnson |
Matt,
I just got off the phone with Steve Thomas in the Bay Area. He was the one who help set up your visit with a "Mr. Buser". Mr. Buser told him that one of his fellow Loomis Ranch neighbors had stated to him that the Ranch was still standing as of last night. Scott |
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| Layne Cantrell |
Re: Latest MODIS
I assumed he meant gains by firefighters since the next part of the sentence was about a gain made by the fire. Hopefully I didn't just cheer a gain by the fire. Bad Karma. |
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| scott johnson |
Matt,
was talking to someone yesterday about Three Points being a natural spot that would act as a focal point for flames heading uphill. With that in mind, dozer crews were cutting line near there yesterday. Our fire road on the west end of the Valcrest property heads down canyon just east of the parking area. BTW, Steve passes along his regards
Scott |
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| Layne Cantrell |
Re: Latest MODIS
So wait, am I retarded or did you mean the firefighters made gains? |
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| mattmaxon |
Re: Latest MODIS
Yeah Aircraft have been dropping water/phos-check over there all day With cooler weather tomorrow and each day into the future things are looking promising |
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| scott johnson |
Things are getting dicey at Three Points.
Evening update from Christian Camp Website. As of Thursday, September 3, at 6:00 p.m. Angeles Crest Christian Camp is safe. However, the fire is near the camp and firefighters are trying to hold it back! This afternoon and evening will be the critical time for the camp. The fire is near camp and the 500 or so firefighters are doing there best to hold back the fire from crossing highway 2. It has jumped the road twice and but the fire crews have put our the hot spots. If the fire jumps the road then the camp will be in danger. Thanks so much for the courageous effort by Pat Titus, Batallion Chief for L.A. County Fire Department and his staff and all the firefighters! They are working overtime to insure the safety of the camp and other structures such as Newcomb's Restaurant. The topography from Newcombs to Three Points is one that favors a fire that wants to move uphill with three points being ground zero. Scott Johnson |
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