Magruder Corridor round trip

[graybear]

There were a couple of small fires in the southern end of the FCW while you were there but they did not grow fast and I think are pretty much out now.

 

[Admin]

 

[Montecresto]

There were a couple of small fires in the southern end of the FCW while you were there but they did not grow fast and I think are pretty much out now.

Well I don’t recall seeing smoke, but I’d hate to see anymore of it burned up....

I’m going to start looking at the Lolo trail now for next July...

 

[papermaker]

Oh, one other thing, the fire situation. There was a LOT of land that burnt a few years ago, the ground is all green by now with grass, wild flowers and seedling spruce etc., but I met a retired forestry service firefighter along the trail who told me that they have a ‘let it burn’ policy now, where as it use to be the 10:00 am policy. Apparently conservationists and environmentalists have successfully lobbied that fire is natural and should be allowed to do what it will.

I’m not sure I agree with the policy. And I know there are many other natural occurrences that we humans seek to litigate, so not sure why this would be different.

This is crazy! There is so much dead that a fire would be devastating for the area. Environmentalist doesn't want it to be logged. But it is ok to let it burn uncontrolled.

 

[CumminsPusher]

This is crazy! There is so much dead that a fire would be devastating for the area. Environmentalist doesn't want it to be logged. But it is ok to let it burn uncontrolled.

Idaho actually has pretty good forest care. Wild fires seem to be fewer and less acreage then some of the surrounding states. Seems like most of the smoke I’ve seen in years past comes from central Washington Oregon California or Canada. More liberal areas.

 

[Montecresto]

This is crazy! There is so much dead that a fire would be devastating for the area. Environmentalist doesn't want it to be logged. But it is ok to let it burn uncontrolled.

It’s not really a political issue, this goes back to 1910 and the “Big Blowup” in which 3 million acres burnt up in just two days in Montana, Idaho and Washington States. Three particular men that were involved in fighting those fires all latter served as Forest Service Chiefs and were instrumental in the policy of total fire suppression which then led to overgrown forests, millions of standing dead trees from bark beetle and other causes which then served as tinder for even bigger fires which then led to new policy changes at the forestry service in the 1970’s, which allow fires to burn. Politically liberal and conservative areas in the country have nothing to do with it as this is current Forest Service policy practiced in all 50 states.

Still, there is interventions when the fires move into proximity of assets such as state lands, certain federal lands and communities.

 

[graybear]

When I was growing up in Idaho they let the lumber industry cull some of the Bark beetle killed lumber. It was a thriving industry but now they can not go in a cut down the standing dead trees even selectively in most areas. I see the areas I ride in slowly developing dead timber and I know within 20 years I will see it all go up in flames, but it will look good for folks in about 100 years.

 

[Montecresto]

When I was growing up in Idaho they let the lumber industry cull some of the Bark beetle killed lumber.

I would completely be a proponent of that, but it’s not economically feasible for the lumber industry, those trees have to be harvested before the bark falls off or it’s not suitable for lumber, it would be good for firewood still, but selective cutting is laborious, and most cutters turn the work down. In my neck of the woods, I can’t get any loggers to selective cut, I’m particular and don’t want it to look like a war zone when it’s done and there’s just not enough money in it unless they can clear cut. And that’s an ugly mess, and leaves tops and branches all over the place.

 

[graybear]

I agree that it has to be clear cut to be viable. Many areas were clear cut but all the slash piles would be burned and the clear cuts lead to many more animals. The forest recovered much faster when they did this. Now they wait for decades for the trees to fall and make a snaggy mess. I

 

[Montecresto]

I agree that it has to be clear cut to be viable. Many areas were clear cut but all the slash piles would be burned and the clear cuts lead to many more animals.

Yeah, loggers just laugh at you here when you tell them that the slash has to be piled and burnt. There’s just not enough money in it to clean up after themselves.

I don’t know what the best forest management policy is, there’s compelling arguments on both sides. But for now we’re stuck with a let it burn policy...

 

[papermaker]

This just in....
The [HASHTAG]#NPClwNF[/HASHTAG] is currently experiencing several thunderstorms that are producing lightning. Lookouts have called in several smoke reports that crews are responding to. Eight Grangeville smoke jumpers recently took off for the Magruder Fire about 5 miles from the Red River Ranger Station. Numerous other resources are also engaged with the attack on [HASHTAG]#MagruderFire[/HASHTAG] which was last reported to be approximately 10 acres.

 

[Montecresto]

This just in....
The [HASHTAG]#NPClwNF[/HASHTAG] is currently experiencing several thunderstorms that are producing lightning. Lookouts have called in several smoke reports that crews are responding to. Eight Grangeville smoke jumpers recently took off for the Magruder Fire about 5 miles from the Red River Ranger Station. Numerous other resources are also engaged with the attack on [HASHTAG]#MagruderFire[/HASHTAG] which was last reported to be approximately 10 acres.

Dang paper, is there anything left to burn...

 

[100Acre]

Wish I had been able to join you. It’s still on my bucket list. Idaho, the beautiful!

 

[100Acre]

The 10:00 am policy was that the fire had to be extinguished by 10:00 am the following morning after originally being sighted by the tower.

All towers have been abandoned save the eastern tower at Hell’s Half Acre, which is in proximity to National Forest and state lands as well as Darby and other communities.

Had a friend that was a fire watcher in Oregon up on Cinnamon Butte in Umpqua NF near Crater Lake. Last I heard, he’s still up there...

 

[100Acre]

Just remember that fires that burn this year produce more Morel mushrooms next year!

 

[Montecresto]

Eight Grangeville smoke jumpers recently took off for the Magruder Fire about 5 miles from the Red River Ranger Station.

That’s not in the wilderness then, I can see why they’d be putting that out, there’s a lot of homes and ranches in the proximity of the RRRS.

 

[Bigshow]

Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed reading and following your trip.

 

[Montecresto]

Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed reading and following your trip.

You’re welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed it...

 

[1border4manu]

Thank you for sharing your trip with us. Hope to make a trip like that someday.

 

[Montecresto]

Thank you for sharing your trip with us. Hope to make a trip like that someday.

You’re welcome, I realize it’s a long way from you, but we will be doing the Lolo motorway July 2020.

http://www.idahostateatv.org/publications/Driving_the_Lolo_Motorway.pdf

Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests - Lolo Trail Corridor

 

[Montecresto]

This is the one I’d really like to try out @CumminsPusher

But most likely just with the SXS and a tent and air mattress pack, as opposed to towing the little trailer, both to increase speed, and because the Lolo portion of the trail is much tougher than most of the MC. You could do this one right from your house lol...It could also be shortened by connecting from Grangeville to Kooskia, which is what most people doing it in UTV’s do.