Dollar Lake Fire

[Water]

looks like a $300 fine and probably escort you out if you're not already to lolo pass.
depends on your definition of close:

"The western fire perimeter remains two miles east of Lolo Pass, three miles southeast of Bull Run and 9 miles east of the nearest structures in the Lolo Pass corridor. "

the thru hiker that called me can go from timberline to lolo pass in 4-6hrs. bald mnt and lolo pass are the only places that get close to the actual fire perimeter, after that one would be moving away from it. it is not threatening bull run watershed anymore than it is lolo pass or bald mnt. that is a hyper-reaction to the fact that it could go over that way.

i'm going to stand up for thru-hikers, and while I know we/they can get obstinate and think they are heros on a semi-permanent endorphin rush who can do anything when they are 75% done with a hike, they manage just-a-fine to make it thousands of miles every year from west coast to east coast, dealing with fires, floods, heat, washouts, etc. Plenty of accounts from years passed where hikers have contended with burns and burn zones and made it fine. darwin award would be most of the people swimming during heat wave weekends in local rivers with no life jackets.

[adamschneider]

Latest fire perimeter: http://tinyurl.com/dlfire-9-8

[Waffle Stomper]

just had a PCT thru hiker friend call and ask for info about the reroute (which is ludicrously stupid in length and direction!) In the past a shuttle has been provided for re-routes such as last year south of Hood.

Anyways, since NONE of the PCT is burnt at all, my friend is looking to get through, possibly on the PCT. I realize it is 'closed' but what is the status--do they have rangers posted at Tline stopping people going to paradise park or what? Or some enforcement officers at ramona falls or lolo pass 24/7? I can't imagine that..

Personally I think they should be able to go from paradise park down to ramona falls and maybe pass through lolo pass at night.

Of course I warned them there could be penalties, and that moreover if an east wind blew the fireline west they could be in serious doo-doo up on bald mnt. I couldn't emphasize enough the danger if caught in a burn. That said, they're thru hikers and I can absolutely relate to the head-strong nature they develop after 2000 miles of hiking through all sorts of obstacles, short of a fire on the trail, rabid bears, or hurricanes, they keep going. My friends on the long trail this year took 1 day off for Irene and then kept on trucking!

So, any help with how they can get to Cascade Locks?

Everybody has to make their own assessment of risk. Just as those who continue to drown because they choose not to wear a PFD or fall into a waterfall after ignoring a sign and shouted warnings.

I don't think it is right to ask members of a public forum suggest ways to bypass a closure such as this and by doing so endorsing the violation and the risk involved, however much it might be, especially since there are inexperienced hikers and would be adventure seekers who also read this forum and may not be able properly assess the risk.

Just my opinion.

[Grannyhiker]

I agree with Waffle Stomper--we should not be encouraging anyone to violate the closure. Anyone who does this could be responsible for deaths if the fire suddenly blows up and jumps the fire lines.

i know that some are coming back to do this stretch after they reach Canada.

Every year some parts of the PCT are closed due to fires or other emergency. The thru-hikers just have to cope with it.

[Guy]

looks like a $300 fine and probably escort you out if you're not already to lolo pass.
depends on your definition of close

Speaking only for myself here..

If I was a through hiker I would consider it an acceptable risk to hike through, based on the fire map it hasn't moved any closer than Cathedral Ridge in several days. The distance between the Sandy River Crossing & Lolo Pass can be covered in just a few hours & once on the other side of Lolo Pass you have the natural fire break of the power lines between you & you are moving further away with every minute.

Personally I would have closed the trail to day hikers but allowed through hikers to go through at their own risk, perhaps with a sign in & out book at each end.

[Water]

righton guy. I think some of the others do not have good sense of what thru hiker mind-set is. Read plenty of TJ through the years of people going through fire closures in cali, or, wa and never ever have read of a death. my line of thought exactly. like I said last year I did trail magic for some friends from the AT who were doing the PCT and they left tline at 3pm and were at lolo pass by 9pm. The map precisely shows that the main danger area is from muddy fork sandy river to lolo pass, something that can be done in probably 1.5hrs for a thru hiker.
additionally rule could be in place for no camping in that section, easy enough way to ensure the window hikers go through is prompt.

I definitely advocated to my friend that I cannot recommend or endorse going into the closure, suggesting it on par with going around on a glacier--lots of risk but plausibly fine if things are static. Grannyhiker please do not make straw man arguments nobody here advocated nor endorsed they go through, perhaps check your reading comprehension where I said I warned them and could not emphasize enough the danger if winds flared the fire west. To clarify standing up for them, I only mean their mindset of wanting to go through as opposed to thinking they are knuckleheads like some joe blow from kansas try to climb hood in september. I relayed the information about where the latest fire-lines are and have been over the previous few days--something a thru-hiker does not have easy access to. I also asked about penalties and status of how a closure is managed. Giving information or picking peoples opinions are just that. Please do not suggest I am moving people's feet for them or omitting information. If I tell you it was possible to scramble beneath a glacier serac, and you do it and ice drops and kills you, am I responsible for your decision? knock it off with the false equivalencies. Hey I made a ton of money on the stock market, you should too! oh wait you lost your money, its my fault? please!

[pdxgene]

I'm not sure where the $300 figure comes from but the Inciweb link to the latest orders has the violation at "not more than $5,000". So whoever is thinking about doing this might want to be aware of that.
I think it's a simple reason they won't grant thru-hikers access while denying the rest of the public. That puts them on the line for liability should anything happen and it also puts them on the hook to risk lives and spend money to mount a rescue at a time they need to be fighting a fire.

[Water]

no surprise the forest service is putting out conflicting information then:
I don't see $5k. I see $300 fine on the closure notice see below.

Pursuant to 36 CFR, 261.50(A) and (B), and effective immediately the area depicted in Attachment A on the Mt. Hood National Forest and labeled as the Dollar Lake Fire Closure is closed to entry.

Forest Roads 13, 16, and 18, and all Forest Roads within the area closure as shown in Exhibit A. In addition, Forest Roads 2840, 3511, 3512, are closed. The following campgrounds are closed: Lost Lake, Wahtum Lake, McNeil, Riley Horse Camp, Lost Creek, Kinnikinnick, TillyJane, and Cloud Cap.

The following major trails are closed:

Pacific Crest Trail from the Rushing Water Creek crossing, north to Wahtum Lake;

Trail #600 from Gnarl Ridge Trail #652 northwest to its terminus at Ramona Falls Trail #797;

Burnt Lake Trail #772 from the Burnt Lake north trailhead, south to the wilderness boundary;

Cast Lake Trail #773 and Horseshoe Trail #774 from the trailhead in Riley campground south to the wilderness boundary;

Sandy River Trail #770 and Ramona Falls Trail #797;

Yokum Ridge #771

Mazamas Trail #625

Vista Ridge Trail #626, Elk Cove Trail #631 and Pinnacle Ridge Trail #630; and all minor trails depicted within the closure area Exhibit A.

This Forest Order is in effect until 10/15/2011 or until rescinded.

Being in or upon a closed area 36 CFR 261.52(e)

Being on a road 36 CFR 261.54(e)

Being on a trail 36 CFR 261.55 (a)

Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50 (E) the following persons are exempt from these prohibitions.

Persons with a permit specifically authorizing the prohibited act or omission.

Any Federal, State or local officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting force in the performance of an official duty.

Done at Sandy, Oregon this 3rdnd day of September, 2011.

Chris Worth

Forest Supervisor

Mt. Hood National Forest

Violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $300.

See closure map

The whole worry about what we discuss here influencing a noob to go hike in a fire is ludicrous. if they did that, well, sounds more like the darwin award than a thru hiker making an informed choice. same as worrying about suggesting the option for someone to climb or go to an area without the proper permit. if you don't want to talk about something share your piece about why you wouldn't do an activity or recommend it based on some facts of the case but no need to muddy discussion with with liability hemming and hawing.--if you're not advocating something, you're not on the hook for someone doing it. And besides that the site has a disclaimer to protect itself. there is no reason to squelch information or discourse. what part of the below disclaimer on every page of this site do people not understand or accept?

Disclaimer: Information found on PortlandHikers.org and PortlandHikersFieldGuide.org is provided by website visitors and volunteers and should be considered anecdotal. All trails and directions and subject to current conditions. Trails and roads can be rerouted due to natural events and the website is not able to provide current information for every hike. Please verify against two other sources before planning a trip. Outdoor activities present inherent risks. Portlandhikers.org, nor any of its members, accept liability for injuries relating to information found on this website.

for the record the group of thrus have decided on the detour.

big PCT trail magic going down this sunday somewhere between north end of indian heaven and potato hill rd north of adams.

[pdxgene]

Go to the Mt Hood page and click on the Inciweb link. Take a peek at the latest order for the High Cascades Fire that was right on top of the list a little while ago. The penalities are listed there and also include up to 6 months in jail and/or the fine. They are almost certainly going to be the same for Lolo Pass.
In addition they sent a team out to sweep the trail.
I just want people to be aware...

[geographics]

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