[pct-l] Angeles Nat'l Forest Closure & Sobo report

[dsaufley at sprynet.com (dsaufley@xxxxxxxxxxx)]

Greetings to all from Agua Dulce.  Thanks to those who forwarded Yogi's message onto me.  Earthlink has a very aggressive spam blocker feature (aside from misidentifying the occasional friend as a possible spammer, I no longer have disgusting garbage in my inbox -- what a relief!).  

Got word yesterday (Monday) that the Angeles Nat'l Forest has closed.  This follows the closure of the San Bernardino Forest, so now Sections C & D are closed.  Bad news for southbounder William Schooler, who arrived at Hiker Heaven on Saturday 10/25.  He's bailed off the trail temporarily and plans to return to finish when the forests reopen (mid-November????).  Ryan from British Columbia passed through Agua Dulce on October 6; his family was meeting him at Gorgonio Pass on 10/16.  I suspect he is probably somewhere between Jacinto and Campo -- hopefully south of Idyllwild where fires threaten.  

Word is that there are some more sobos on their way into Agua Dulce, any day now. They called us from Lake Elsinore a week ago, so they had already skirted the Summit fire.  These hikers had gone north from Lone Pine, and came back to their starting point to travel south.  

Thanks to those who've e-mailed to check on us.  We're watchful, but no threats to the Agua Dulce general area at this time. Our thoughts and prayers to all whose lives are affected by the raging fires.  

-=Donna Saufley=-