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"There's a momentary lull."
Long Lake & Glimpse Lake trails are open as of today, as well as
the trail along Half Moon Lake. It is strongly recommended that visitors
not enter burned areas on foot or horseback. Some fire related hazards
exist, including burned snags and hot spots. Travelers should be alert
to firefighters and equipment working in recent fire areas.
Visitors are being cautioned that the fire danger is still Extreme,
and the Forest Service strongly suggests avoiding camping in heavily treed
areas, especially where vegetation goes all the way to the ground. "It's
really critical people be very careful where they choose to camp."
said Cindy Stein of the Pinedale District. "They should look for places
that are safe to camp. Watch for smoke. Think about what they'd do if their
route out is blocked and how they would get back safely." The Forest
Service is still finding people who are having campfires who apparently
don't realize or understand the extreme fire danger right now. Last week
alone they've had to put out 6 smoldering campfires that people have left.
Absolutely no open fires are allowed anywhere on the Forst. Cigarettes
are allowed only in vehicles and buildings, in developed recreation areas,
or while stopped in a 3 foot in diameter area that is cleared of grass
and brush. Cigarettes are believed to be the cause of at least 3 of the
fires we had here this month.
In addition to being alert to the extreme fire danager, Forest Service
personnel remind people that with all the fires and dry conditions, they
should be very "Bear Aware" since normal food sources are not exceptional
this year. Campers should be extra careful to store food properly away
from their camping areas. Bearproof tubes can be rented from the District
office. Fish heads and parts should be buried 200 feet from water and 100
yards from a camp. Bear activity has been reported in the Seneca &
Hobbs lakes area.
If you do see any bears, the District would appreciate your notifying
them. They would like to know:
1. Type of bear and where you saw it (black or grizzly).
2. Time of day (day or night). Daytime sightings are more unusual &
should be noted.
3. Was the bear attempting to get human food?
4. Any unusual behavior or aggressive tendencies by the bear.
Bears are very intelligent and learn quickly. Once they associate humans
and their camps with food, they can come up with ingenious ways to get
to that food. Visitors are asked to help by doing their part to keep a
clean camp so the bears don't get habituated to associate people with food.
Weather today is cooler and overcast with periodic showers. Night before
last temperatures dipped below freezing in town and by morning we had to
scrape frost of the car windshields. Trees in town are beginning to change
to yellow colors. Geese are beginning to migrate in flocks up and down
the valley. Signs of fall are definitely beginning to show.
Visitors: Please check in with the Pinedale Ranger District before
heading into the back country to get the latest updates on conditions,
closures & restrictions. Currently fire danger remains EXTREMELY HIGH
and there is a ban on all open fires on the entire Bridger-Teton National  Forest.
NO campfires are allowed at any time. (Bring warm clothing to layer and
a below freezing rated sleeping bag. Night-time temperatures are dipping
below freezing.) Campstoves using liquid fuel only are allowed.
For more fire information, please check the www.tetonfires.com
web site (now the same as www.bridgertetonnationalforest.com), which is
updated daily with fire information for the Bridger-Teton National Forest,
Grand Teton National Park, & Yellowstone National Park. This site also
has links to the Targhee and Shoshone National Forests for their fire information,
as well as many links to other useful information pertaining to the fires.
The forest-wide ban on all open fires remains
in effect.
FIRE DANGER REMAINS EXTREMELY HIGH
No Open Fires!
For more fire information go to:
www.tetonfires.com
Earlier fire updates:
Saturday,
August 26, 2000
Thursday,
August 24, 2000
Monday,
August 21, 2000
Sunday,
August 20, 2000
Saturday,
August 19, 2000
Friday,
August 18, 2000
Thursday,
August 17, 2000
Wednesday,
August 16, 2000
Tuesday,
August 15, 2000
Monday,
August 14, 2000
Sunday,
August 13, 2000
Saturday,
August 12, 2000
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