[pct-l] Rush Creek closure for JMT/PCT hikers

[ned at mountaineducation.org]

This closure affects parts of the Rush Creek Trail immediately east of the
JMT/PCT, therefore access to the JMT/PCT from the Waugh Lake, Webber Lake,
and Davis Lakes drainages.

This would affect PCT/JMT hikers if they wanted to avoid the Thousand Island
Lake and Island Pass route.

Junction is at PCT mile 926.


Ned Tibbits, Director
Mountain Education, Inc.
ned at mountaineducation.org 

-----Original Message-----
From: jody boyles [mailto:jodyinjc at yahoo.com] 
Sent: Friday, June 30, 2017 11:28 AM
To: ned at mountaineducation.org
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Rush Creek closure for JMT/PCT hikers

What mile marker is this, Ned ?

Sent from my iPhone

> On Jun 30, 2017, at 10:26 AM, <ned at mountaineducation.org>
<ned at mountaineducation.org> wrote:
> 
> Here's another trail closure that will affect JMT and PCT hikers this
> season:
> 
> 
> 
> "The Inyo National Forest, through a forest order, is closing segments 
> of the Rush Creek Trail for public safety from June 30, 2017 through 
> September 1, 2017.
> 
> The wet winter of 2016-2017, with more than 180% of average annual 
> precipitation and close to 200% of average runoff forecast, has 
> exacerbated safety concerns for dams within the Rush Creek 
> Hydroelectric System (RCHS) on the Inyo National Forest. The extreme 
> water year means water levels will likely exceed seismic safety 
> ratings for a period of more than 25 days in Waugh Reservoir. The RCHS 
> is currently operated by Southern California Edison under a license with
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
> 
> The forest order prohibits:
> . Being within 800 feet of Rush Creek, from its intersection with the 
> Waugh Lake Dam, then east to its intersection with Gem Lake, as shown 
> on the attached map. 36 CFR 261.53(e).
> . Being on the National Forest System trails listed below and shown on 
> the attached map.
>  -Rush Creek Trail from a point 750 feet north of its intersection with
> Clark Lakes Trail, then west to a      point 528 feet west of its
> intersection with Weber Lake Trail.
>  - Clark Lakes Trail from its intersection with Rush Creek trail, then 
> south 1600 feet.
>  - Spooky Meadows Trail from its intersection with Rush Creek Trail, 
> then south to its intersection with the Ansel Adams Wilderness 
> Boundary below Spooky Meadow.
>  -  Weber Lake Trail from its intersection with Rush Creek Trail, then 
> south 1500 feet.
> 
> This closure affects access to popular destinations such as Thousand 
> Island Lake, the John Muir Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail.
> 
> Visitors who hold a wilderness permit reservation made prior to June 
> 30th for entry at the Rush Creek Trailhead should call the Wilderness 
> Permit Office at (760) 873-2483 to cancel their reservation or reserve 
> an alternate trailhead. The exception is for hikers (both day and 
> overnight) whose destination is Gem Lake or the Alger Lake Trail.
> 
> Hikers, including PCT thru-hikers, cannot exit via the Rush Creek 
> Trail and need to make alternate plans for exit and resupply. "
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Ned Tibbits, Director
> 
> Mountain Education, Inc.
> 
> ned at mountaineducation.org <mailto:ned at mountaineducation.org>
> 
> 
> 
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