IPW area status

[waynebp]

RE: Cold Springs fire. Has anyone been to the IPW area recently? Is the entirety of 119 and 72 off-limits or are closures isolated? I am assuming significant smoke? I was considering Arapahoe Peaks and/or Mt. Audubon later this week. But I suspect that plan may have to change. Many thanks.

[bergsteigen]

This is the incident command maps of closed roads in the area: http://boulder.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Pub ... 6bbe5418f0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I personally would avoid the area, not only for the smoke, but to keep out of the firefighters and other first responders way.

[ajkagy]

most of the smoke should be heading east, so you're probably in good shape in the IPW for what it's worth. The front range cities are going to have bad air quality though.

https://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action ... &cityid=39

https://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action ... _wildfires

http://instaar.colorado.edu/tundracam/view.php

[12ersRule]

Thank you Alabama Gapers!

[Matt]

We hiked Mt. Neva yesterday from the Fourth of July TH.
There was no smoke to smell, and little to see until a plume came up around 1pm.
While we came through Boulder on the way up around 7am, Boulder Canyon was closed in the afternoon.
We were allowed to take CO 72 back to Golden, and I recommend that route to Ned if coming from Denver, etc.
In addition to Otina's link, the Denver Post is keeping a good eye on the situation:
http://www.denverpost.com/2016/07/11/fi ... re-growth/
These Alabama gapers sound worse than the ones Helmut ran into in the Gores a few years back...

[Tory Wells]

I personally would avoid the area, not only for the smoke, but to keep out of the firefighters and other first responders way.

+1. Fighting a forest fire is a major operation and they're using every road available to get in and out. Then there are the people who live up there and might be losing their homes....I would feel bad recreating with that going on so close. You should find somewhere else to hike, for the time being.

[bergsteigen]

I personally would avoid the area, not only for the smoke, but to keep out of the firefighters and other first responders way.

+1. Fighting a forest fire is a major operation and they're using every road available to get in and out. Then there are the people who live up there and might be losing their homes....I would feel bad recreating with that going on so close. You should find somewhere else to hike, for the time being.

Peak to Peak from Coal Creek Canyon is an option, but since it's also the only way in and out for people who live there, I would avoid it. I have a couple coworkers evacuated right now. One at least got 45 minutes to get the pets and important items out. If the fire gets more contained by the weekend, then hiking may be a possibility.

[ajkagy]

Thank you Alabama Gapers!

For your viewing pleasure. http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-coun ... i_30113199

damn people

[HannahBearCO]

[lordhelmut]

This is a textbook case of the ripple effect inbreeding can have. Those guys are straight out of Deliverance.

edit : As far as hiking in the area goes, as Matt mentioned, I'd recommend taking Coal Creek Canyon to south of Ned and then maybe think about focusing on stuff in the Fourth of July region, as anything around that area is less effected by the fires. But if you have other peak options in other areas, I'd generally recommend pursueing those instead till this calms down.

[wondering_hough]

We hiked Mt. Neva yesterday from the Fourth of July TH.
There was no smoke to smell, and little to see until a plume came up around 1pm.
While we came through Boulder on the way up around 7am, Boulder Canyon was closed in the afternoon.
We were allowed to take CO 72 back to Golden, and I recommend that route to Ned if coming from Denver, etc.
In addition to Otina's link, the Denver Post is keeping a good eye on the situation:
http://www.denverpost.com/2016/07/11/fi ... re-growth/
These Alabama gapers sound worse than the ones Helmut ran into in the Gores a few years back...

I was at the same TH yesterday and passed through Hwy 119 at 330am (eerie with how much smoke was in the canyon) and 11am. They must have closed it a few hours later. Thoughts are with the families affected by this avoidable fire

[bouncebarkrun]

I live in Lyons so I come into IPW from the north end (Allenspark, Beaver Reservoir, Brainard Lake) - things are pretty clear up there and you don't really have to come close to any of the road closures and whatnot. I've got a couple big trips up there later this month that I still plan to do as long as the fire doesn't work its way too much further north.