Trail closures due to fire (Lincoln: trailer, pine, horseback)

[magoomafoo]

Just wondering how many other people are having to make alternate plans because of trail closures. Our plans didn't change because of actual trail closure but because so many other trails have been closed. Our main trailhead here by Lincoln is already packed with people heading in early. There are people from all over the state when usually there is just the usual local folks and a few out of towners. We haven't made up our minds if we are packing in from here or going somewhere else.

[ElkHunter]

Are you packing in by horseback? If so, how many of those already there have horse trailers? If you are going in by animal, at least you can get some distance that the normal people on foot can't get.

[MTSilvertip]

I have the Pine Creek fire on one side and the Millie Fire on the other of my primary hunting area, but neither is threatening my exact spot thank heavens!

I don't pack into wilderness anymore because of the deadfall and how difficult it is to get off of the trails, and the fact there are no openings for the animals.

Fire in wilderness is a good thing as it cleans it up a little since we can't manage those forests and resources.

[magoomafoo]

Oh man Silvertip, I have relatives that evacuated Pine Creek fire. I couldn't believe the pictures. That is some scary stuff. I agree on the fires in the wilderness. We usually hunt in an old burn. I just cannot believe how many outfits I'm seeing pulling into town everyday. A lot of Washington hunters going into the hills.

[rangerider]

Was worried about the prospect of fires for a long Labor Day backpacking trip, wound up my friends and I went into the Beartooth Plateau for 4 days. Rain/snow/hail/ice kept the fire danger acceptably low..

But we had two nice days, too!