Fork Fire Update…
Posted: September 9, 2020 Filed under: Travel | Tags: fire Leave a commentThe Eldorado Forest just put out an update…
 U.S. Forest Service Eldorado National Forest 100 Forni Road Placerville, CA 95667 530-303-2412 www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado  News Release For Immediate Release September 9, 2020 Media Contact: Jennifer Chapman, (530) 957-9660 El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, (530) 213-3899 Fork Fire Information, (530) 303-2455 www.facebook.com/EldoradoNF Twitter:@EldoradoNF Fork Fire Update – September 9, 2020 – 10AM Fork Fire Information: (530) 303-2455 Inciweb: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7165/ Fire Size / Containment: 2,500 acres, 0%-containment – **Acreage is an estimate only; perimeter mapping is in progress** Overnight Fire behavior:There was active fire behavior on the Fork Fire last night with moderate to rapid rates of spread; the fire has spotted into the Rubicon drainage. Resources: 5 engines, 1 dozer, 2 hand crews, 2 water tenders – **Includes resources added since the IAP was published.** Critical resource needs: Type 1 / Type 2crews, dozers, and engines; also Overhead until incoming Incident Management Team takes command. Planned actions / priorities: Full suppression strategy with confine/contain tactics; minimize fire spread within Rubicon River drainage; protect communities of Volcanoville, Quintet, Stumpy Meadows and Georgetown; protect private timber sales; protect critical hydroelectric infrastructure and a critical high voltage KV line that provides power to the Sacramento region. Injuries: 0 Evacuations: El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office issued a mandatory evacuation for Volcanoeville, Quintet and Stumpy Meadows last night, affecting approximately 600 residents; an evacuation service center has been set up at the Cool Community Church at 863 Cave Valley Rd. in Cool, CA. **Please note, the community of Georgetown is NOT under the evacuation order at this time.** Power Shutoff: a power outage affecting the fire area is also causing safety concerns; infrastructure inspections and power restoration where possible will be in progress today Road Closures: check forest websites for Eldorado NF and Tahoe NF Weather:excessive heat, low RH, and changing pressure gradientDry, offshore winds with critical fire weather through Wednesday eveningRed Flag Warning in effect Wind Advisory in effect for the northeast foothillsSmoky conditions across the region due to multiple large wildfiresOther pertinent info: a Type 2 Incident Management Team is enroute; minimal resources are available for the next 48 hrs / operational period; other large fires in the geographical area are causing strain on federal, state, and local government resources. ###  The U.S.D.A Forest Service is an equal opportunity employer. The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. |
Fire Near Rubicon Trail!
Posted: September 9, 2020 Filed under: Travel | Tags: fire Leave a commentThere is a fire burning west of Loon Lake, north of Union Valley Reservoir. Way too close to the Rubicon Trail.
Evacuations have been made for the greater area to the west. El Dorado County has closed the Rubicon Trail. People on the trail are being asked to exit through Tahoe.
Here is my go to website about current fires: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/
This image is from the Rubicon Gazette Facebook page. That website is probably the best source of info right now as many people are posting.
The current size (9/9/20 @ 10:15am) is 2500 acres.
Weather: high temperatures in the high 70’s for the week. Winds from the east until Thursday night, then they swing to the west. It’s burning near the old King fire burn now, which should slow growth. When the winds swing to the west, it should (hopefully) burn back on itself.
Click on the Bunker Hill camera: http://www.alertwildfire.org/tahoe/?camera=Axis-Bunker
This was the screen shot 9/9/20 @ 10:45am
I was on the trail Labor Day weekend (the day before it started) and thankfully, traffic was very low. I’m thinking everyone is off the trail by now.
Let’s all keep our fingers crossed that this doesn’t explode.
.
Rubicon Ronin
Tahoe National Forest’s Maintenance Plan for the Rubicon Trail
Posted: August 24, 2020 Filed under: Access, Maintenance | Tags: Chavez, TNF Leave a commentHere is a link to the Power Point put out by Joe Chavez of the Tahoe National Forest describing the upcoming maintenance opportunities for the Rubicon Trail.
https://1drv.ms/p/s!AraBCZVDUEo0ahROeAtFqF3kB5w?e=PDYq7H
.
Rubicon Ronin
Highway 50 to close at Echo Summit
Posted: August 16, 2020 Filed under: Access, Travel Leave a commentThe Rubicon Gazzette Facebook page had a posting about road construction on Highway 50 that will restrict and then close the road in September.
One-way traffic control is scheduled for U.S Highway 50 to start, Sunday, Sept. 13 24/7 for bridge demolition work of the existing structure.
Full closure of U.S Highway 50 over Echo Summit is scheduled for Sept. 18 – Oct. 2.
The construction zone will extend from the Caltrans Echo Maintenance Station, east for 1.2 miles.
Here’s the link to the website with the details: https://www.way2tahoe.com/?fbclid=IwAR2_sap8HYLv-16wgCJ3E3P-r00PbDo-Yn4R7iXiJauFmfPSv8ZPq73Mjxw
Please plan accordingly.
.
Rubicon Ronin
Official Rubicon Bypass – update
Posted: August 1, 2020 Filed under: Access, Maintenance | Tags: maintenance, mud, reroute, TNF Leave a commentThe Tahoe National Forest has been back out on the trail to look at the mud hole and the legal and illegal bypasses. Here is a note from Joe Chavez about what was discussed and decided on his latest look at the issue:
On July 29 myself, Will Harris (CA Geological Survey), Vickie and Justin from El Dorado Co. and the Tahoe NF Hydrologist (also the Forest’s Water Quality Act compliance lead and Water Quality Control Board liaison) reviewed the mudhole and bypass, among other items on Cadillac Hill. The Tahoe NF Hydrologist recommended not reopening the mudhole routes and said that it would be better for the wet meadow wetland ecosystem adjacent to the mudhole area to keep the trail out of the wetter flat area containing weak soils and recommended that the mudholes be restored in a certain way to eventually restore the watertable dynamics negatively impacted by the deep trenches. El Dorado Co. mentioned that their OHV Restoration Grant could be used to restore the mudholes if that was determined to be the future course of action. The Forest Hydrologist also recommended adding some specific drainages to the bypass and to add some rock in a few spots. It was also discussed in the field that the Truckee District Ranger will be making the determination on what course of action it will take regarding which route the trail will follow in this area in the short-term, mid-term and long-term (including considering a reroute that would avoid the mudhole area altogether and avoid the potential landslide area above Miller Creek, via an El Dorado Co. OHV Planning Grant). Carol, please correct me if I misrepresented what you said.
Bolding and italics are mine
So far we do not have a timeline for any work being done in that area. The possible major bypass is years away due to studies and paperwork.
.
Rubicon Ronin
The 'Other' Rubicon 