Here we are almost in October and the forest is really dry here in Western Montana. This is a picture from my back porch of a small fire that has been burning for over a month. It is in a fairly remote area so the FS is letting it burn. Of course they feel fit to close all but 182 miles of trail in the Bitterroot National forest because of the horrible impact of these maintained and well established trails. 400+ to 182 and across the valley is the largest wilderness area in the lower 48 states(5000 sq mi+) Walt
I live in the extreme southwest corner of the USA in San Diego county. This is Fire Season down here and the riding areas get closed down almost every year just about this time of year. So far there haven't been many fires and there are still some areas open, but if a big blaze pops up, all of the national forests down here will get locked up until the first good rain (which may not happen until November or December). There's always the desert, but the desert isn't my first choice for offroading.
We normally have Snow by now above 7000'. It is deceiving in the picture but the fire is several miles on the other side of the ridge in the picture, it is a large column of smoke. My house is about 1.5 miles as a crow flies to the ridge. A couple of buddy's went riding Thursday(risking the arrow in the back) and said it was so dusty that it was marginal at best. OBTW, All the elk hunters up there should know that they have been rutting and bugling the entire last two weeks at night in the hay field behind my house. Walt
It's interesting how there have been so few fires this year out West, considering how dry it has been. Maybe because there have been few clouds, there has been little lightening?
I think that we are lucky so far, down this way. That or we've had so much area burned in the last few years that we're running out of stuff to burn.
Pretty country Walt. Looks like you could just ride out your front or back gate and get right amongst it.
Used to be incredible riding from the back yard. But most of what you see is now privately owned by the rich and famous. Still only a 5 mile ride to the nearest trail head. Of course the FS and US govt. is shutting down access to almost all of it Next year I will have to drive 20 miles to ride Then only a couple of trails and only a couple of loops. Time to move to Australia, Walt
A twenty mile drive? Tsk tsk, I have to drive at least 50 to get to a small riding area, 80 to get the desert, 105 to get to a better mountain riding area and 225 to get the best stuff in the Sierra mountains. I remember when there was a bunch of good open country to ride in here in SD county, but those days are long gone.
Dirtdame, Difference is that the forest service boundary is just below the ridge in the picture and it is 30+ miles due east to find the next private land. All of that area is crisscrossed with roads and well maintained trails and almost all of it will be off limits to any wheeled traffic next year. For all of you wilderness hikers how can you possibly get to it all. Oh that is right we have re-intraduced wolves and grizzly bears into this area and they were here first. Sorry Dirtdame but we don't even have a million people in Montana and it is almost the size of California. Now that we are preserving it for posterity no one will ever use this area. I don't choose to live with 40 other million people in Cali and make less than half what I would there as result. Not complaining but when I lose access to perfectly managed areas to the legal rangling of people that don't live within 1000 miles of here it is frustrating. Sorry for the rant, Walt
OBTW, Almost all this area that is being place off limits to wheeled traffic is also open range for cattle grazing. Anybody witnessed the destruction cattle do and not just to designated trails. Hypocrasy at its finest. Walt
Wallybean, Thats a damn shame about the closure of all the great trails and land. I get so mad and frustrated too it makes me want to choke these people. Dont worry your rant is accepted. My uncle and cousins hunt elk in the area, they are from Idaho they have told me of the situation up there. I can understand all the environmentalist lobbying in California, we dont stand a chance with our forest land with all these damn people who live here, but dont bother our neighboring wide open states, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Utah. Places where I love to visit and enjoy the riding freedoms we once had in CA. Riders, hunters and other offroad folks are really feeling the pinch, we are somewhat of a small crowd but in the same boat, I'm speaking up and getting involved, I think they need to hear as much opposition as possible. When all else fails, hello Australia. Cya Jim.
