[pct-l] PCT Hikers Set Whitewater Canyon on Fire

[msaenz at mve-architects.com (Mike Saenz)]

I didn't read "open fire" anywhere...
Tough to say what exactly happened.

I can at least contribute that, I had to drive through the area Tuesday evening around 7pm.
I drove along highway 111 from Palm Springs and hooked up to the 10 westbound.

The winds that were howling down from the mountain were impressive.
It blew my little truck across the road several times. I almost pulled over to crawl along at 10 mph, if there hadn't been many other cars and trucks barreling down the road...

Whoever was involved, They've made PCT history...

M i c h a e l   S a e n z
McLarand Vasquez Emsiek & Partners, Inc.
A r c h i t e c t u r e    P l a n n i n g    I n t e r i o r s
w  w  w  .  m  v  e  -  a  r  c  h  i  t  e  c  t  s  .  c  o  m

 -----Original Message-----
From: 	Bob Bankhead [mailto:wandering_bob@comcast.net] 
Sent:	Thursday, May 13, 2004 2:56 PM
To:	pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject:	Re: [pct-l] PCT Hikers Set Whitewater Canyon on Fire

WARNING - RANT COMING:



FABULOUS!  Only the truly desperate (hypothermic) or galactically stupid
light open ground fires in windy areas surrounded by dry brush.

This is just the kind of press some government officials need in order to
support their claims that long distance hikers are as much in need of
regulation as the weekenders and don't deserve any slack because of their
often touted superior wilderness savvy and skills.

Let them do pennance: walk five waterless miles through the desert sand at
high noon in August wearing only thin nylon liner socks while carrying 50
pounds of rocks in a potato sack over their shoulders. They'll soak up
enough calories to keep them warm for life. They'll never need another
campfire again.

Wandering Bob


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Craig Milo Rogers" <rogers@isi.edu>
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 2:30 PM
Subject: [pct-l] PCT Hikers Set Whitewater Canyon on Fire


> According to the Associated Press, via the Sacramento Bee, two
> PCT hikers from Ohio lost control of their cooking fire in Whitewater
> Canyon last night.  1200 acres have burned so far, and 530+
> firefighters and 15 aircraft are trying to control the fire.
>
> http://www.sacbee.com/state_wire/story/9276520p-10201455c.html
>
> According to the Press Enterprise, Whitewater Canyon is
> closed, but the PCT remains open to hikers.  The fire is burning west
> to northwest in BLM land that was recently added to the San Gorgonio
> wilderness area.
>
>
http://www.pe.com/breakingnews/local/stories/PE_News_Local_fireweb14.e756.html
>
> This is a seperate fire from the 75-acre one in Whitewater Canyon
> last Saturday.
>
>
http://www.pe.com/localnews/desertpass/stories/PE_News_Local_dblaze08.57d0f.html
>
> I called the Riverside County Fire Dept. (apparently a unit of
> the California Department of Forestry), +1-909-940-6985.  The
> spokesman said that the fire started on the PCT, and that he thought
> that the PCT was closed in the area, although he had no definite word
> on this matter.  This fire is called the Cottonwood Fire.  The
>
> http://www.rvcfire.org:8080/firepio/process?action=viewIncident&id=10146
>
> The document cited notes that the hikers may be held
> responsible for the costs of putting out the fire.
>
> Craig Milo Rogers
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