Spring Creek Fire

[painless4u2]

Spring Creek fire is raging out of control around La Veta Pass and may affect your ability to access the Sangres in the area. Visibility may also be reduced. There is now a pre-evacuation order for Cuchara Valley.

IMG_4505.jpeg

[dwoodward13]

The SLV Emergency Management Page has a decent map showing the fire location as well as evac and pre-evac zones. It seems they are only updating once a day, however that may change as the fire intensifies. Overnight the fire jumped US 160, and is now closed over La Veta Pass and I would imagine would remain that way for quite some time. The 2nd link shows a more updated fire map based on satellite estimated hot spots.

http://www.slvemergency.org/

https://mappingsupport.com/p/gmap4.php? ... fire_3.txt

[tomcat32]

I think it may be hazy throughout the Sangres and smell Smokey. I live at the north end of the range in Howard. Last night and this morning it smelled very smokey.

[oldschoolczar]

I think it may be hazy throughout the Sangres and smell Smokey. I live at the north end of the range in Howard. Last night and this morning it smelled very smokey.

Bummer. I was going to be doing some backpacking up one of the drainages over from South Colony Lakes. I had hope it wouldn't be too smoky since it's about 50 miles north-northwest of the fire. Are you sure you aren't getting smoke from the 416 fire? It would seem odd that the Spring fire smoke would be blowing north-northwest.

Odd that the Spring fire isn't showing up on Inciweb yet!

These f***ing fires are really, really cramping my style this year. Had to cancel my trip to Chicago Basin next week already because of the 416 fire. I was thinking about wrapping up the 14ers this summer, but it's going to be a challenge planning around these fires...

PS - I was just told no drop-offs at Needleton stop until at least 7/15.

[ultrarunningkid]

I was just told no drop-offs at Needleton stop until at least 7/15.

That really is disappointing but makes my grand slam hike feel even cooler knowing there will likely not be anyone else in the valley.

[oldschoolczar]

I was just told no drop-offs at Needleton stop until at least 7/15.

That really is disappointing but makes my grand slam hike feel even cooler knowing there will likely not be anyone else in the valley.

Nice! Are you hiking in from Purgatory Flats?

Good luck man... I gave that a thought but decided I didn't want to be breathing smoke for 3 days.

[ultrarunningkid]

Nice! Are you hiking in from Purgatory Flats?

That was the plan. To leave Purgatory late afternoon and hike all night. Hopefully get to the the base of the four around sunrise. The goal is to attempt all four in one day. Then either do a quick trail side nap or start the return trip back. Definitely not staying over 48 hours.

[Jelf]

Thanks to dwoodward13 for posting the map link from MappingSupport. I am the guy that produced that map.

The satellite hotspot data updates 4-6 times per 24hrs. After a satellite passes overhead there is a ~3hr delay for NASA processing before the data appears on the map.

Starting early tomorrow the map should show the latest fire perimeter as determined by fire staff who analyze infrared data from a nighttime overflight.

[oldschoolczar]

You're a brave one!

Don't forget your respirator! You'll likely be directly downwind and only 10 miles from the fire. Rough on the old lung sacs....

Hoping for a wind change for you...

[jfm3]

I think it may be hazy throughout the Sangres and smell Smokey. I live at the north end of the range in Howard. Last night and this morning it smelled very smokey.

Bummer. I was going to be doing some backpacking up one of the drainages over from South Colony Lakes. I had hope it wouldn't be too smoky since it's about 50 miles north-northwest of the fire. Are you sure you aren't getting smoke from the 416 fire? It would seem odd that the Spring fire smoke would be blowing north-northwest.

Odd that the Spring fire isn't showing up on Inciweb yet!

These f***ing fires are really, really cramping my style this year. Had to cancel my trip to Chicago Basin next week already because of the 416 fire. I was thinking about wrapping up the 14ers this summer, but it's going to be a challenge planning around these fires...

PS - I was just told no drop-offs at Needleton stop until at least 7/15.

The wind might well be blowing north. Last night in Boulder the air smelled faintly of smoke and this morning there is enough haze in the air that the Indian Peaks are barely visible from down in town.

[justiner]

Is that from the Granby fire?

[oldschoolczar]

I think it may be hazy throughout the Sangres and smell Smokey. I live at the north end of the range in Howard. Last night and this morning it smelled very smokey.

Bummer. I was going to be doing some backpacking up one of the drainages over from South Colony Lakes. I had hope it wouldn't be too smoky since it's about 50 miles north-northwest of the fire. Are you sure you aren't getting smoke from the 416 fire? It would seem odd that the Spring fire smoke would be blowing north-northwest.

Odd that the Spring fire isn't showing up on Inciweb yet!

These f***ing fires are really, really cramping my style this year. Had to cancel my trip to Chicago Basin next week already because of the 416 fire. I was thinking about wrapping up the 14ers this summer, but it's going to be a challenge planning around these fires...

PS - I was just told no drop-offs at Needleton stop until at least 7/15.

The wind might well be blowing north. Last night in Boulder the air smelled faintly of smoke and this morning there is enough haze in the air that the Indian Peaks are barely visible from down in town.

Yeah, I heard similar from buddy commuting up 36. Wondering if that's the Spring fire though. These fires are popping up everywhere. Looks like wind direction at my destination is out of west-southwest throughout weekend, so hopefully be good. Although might get some smoke from 416 fire and others to the west.