INTRODUCTION
The Bridge Fire started on September 8 and burned through November 24, 2024. It burned 56,030 acres in the Wrightwood (WW) area that included both Inspiration Point (IP) and Vincent Gap (VG) and Grassy Hollow and other Campground area. During the peak of the fire, WW residents were required to evacuate their homes in WW. It was that serious. USFS issued a Bridge Fire Closure Order that will keep the ANF burn area closed until December 31, 2025.
However, Hwy 2 has been cleared from WW to both IP and VG to provide access into the burn area to repair the trails and campground that was damaged in the burn area. Hwy 2 will remain closed in the burn area from Big Pines (near WW) to Islip Saddle (IS) while trails and campgrounds are being repaired and the General Public would only interfere with the on-going campground repairs.
Hwy 2 is closed between VG and IS from previous winter storm damage and that repair process has been going on for several years now.
DISCUSSION
Most of the trails leading to IP and VG that was damaged by the fire is on the PCT. PCT Thru Hikers traveling from Mexican border to the Canadian border will pass through the PCT burn area in early Spring of 2025. The PCT in the burn area will need to be repaired to allow the PCT Thru Hikers access to the trails. The PCT Trail Association will begin repairing the trails as soon as USFS gives their volunteers access to the closed burn area.
The USFS doesn’t have budget to repair and maintain trails in the ANF. Almost all of their budget is allocated to fight forest fires and not to maintain trails in the ANF. The PCT is repaired and maintained by the PCT Trail Association. And they have contacted ANF USFS to have access to the closed area, so that they can begin a major repair process for the 2025 PCT Thru Hikers.
I was up in WW several weeks ago and met with Gary Hilliard who lives in WW and helps maintain the PCT in the WW area. He has a good feel for the maintenance of trails in the WW area. We both agree that there is a good possibility that the “closed burn area” will be opened for PCT Trail Association Volunteers to begin repairing the PCT now that Hwy 2 has been cleared and they have access to trails in the burn area.
I recall the Bobcat Fire “closed burn area” which included Shortcut/Newcomb Saddle/Redbox(SC/NS/RB) was closed to the General Public in the early Spring of 2024. However, the USFS allowed AC100 Trail Maintenance Volunteers access to the “closed burn area” (which had locked gates) to perform Trail Maintenance to open both the Gabrielino Trail and Kenyon Devore Trail (between RB and Mt Wilson). While we repaired the trails in the “closed burn area”, USFS hired Contractors to make major repairs on the Rincon Redbox dirt road which was severely damaged. Once the trails and the dirt road were repaired in the “closed burn area”, the USFS opened the SC/NS/RB closed burn area to the General Public in the Summer of 2024 almost a year ahead of the projected closure date. In the Fall of 2024, we put on the 2024 AC100.
So, there is a good possibility that the USFS will allow runners to use the trails from WW to IP to VG but still keep the burn area closed to the General Public because of “extensive on-going repairs” by Contractors to the Grassy Hollow and other campgrounds which may take several years to rebuild.
We maybe allowed to put on both IP and VG Aid Station but there maybe “no crew access” at both IP and VG. Crew access may begin at IS since the gates at both IS and VG are still locked.
CONCLUSION
The 2025 AC100 may still go on. And the PCT maybe available for PCT Thru Hikers. It all depends on the decision of the District Ranger who gives me my Special Use Permit, to put on the race.
The District Ranger that gives me my Special Use Permit to put on the race is a reasonable guy. In 2024 AC100, the Acorn Trail was on the Vista Fire Closure List which was another fire near WW but several miles from Acorn Trail. But Acorn Trail was a convenient fire boundary but had nothing to do with fire. So, he said, even though Acorn Trail is listed on the Vista Fire Closure List, we can use it.
I think, something like what we did to accommodate the “Bobcat Fire closed burn area”, may happen this year at the “Bridge Fire closed burn area”. Because we are in a new era with dealing with endless forest fires, everywhere due to warmer weather caused by Climate Change.
The big thing with the USFS is that they don’t have budget to repair and maintain trails in the ANF for use of the General Public. And AC100 Trail Maintenance Volunteers maintain 100 miles of trails and dirt roads for the race and later, the General Public.
As we do our Trail Work in the ANF, we are required to maintain a written log of all the hours we work. This entire Trail Work Program is under Gary Hilliard’s leadership. Gary submits the log sheets to the USFS every year.
USFS is aware of what AC100 Trail Maintenance Volunteers contribute to the ANF. So, there is a good chance 2025 AC100 will be on schedule for this year. We have an excellent relationship with the USFS through our Trail Work Program
SIDE NOTE
Yesterday, Scott Cline and I visited Mt Wilson Observatory and discussed with Craig Woods, the possibility of installing a Electrical Receptacle for the Mt Wilson Aid Station on the Cosmic Cafe facility, so we can have electricity at the Mt Wilson Aid Station next year. The installation will be similar to what Scott installed at Chantry many years ago so we will not need a generator there. Craig liked the idea and will present it to the Directors of the Mt Wilson Observatory.
Ken Hamada RD