The Canyon remains closed to all non-fire and emergency crews from Gateway Park to Rustic. That line will most likely move west due to pre-evac notification (see below).
Poudre Canyon from Ted’s Place to Gateway Park remains closed to non- residents…only residents up to Gateway Park are allowed into their homes. The active fire in the lower canyon, at least up to the Mish, has been mostly suppressed. There are still a lot of smoldering spots that pick up every time the wind picks up.
There are other significant hazards as a result of this fire- mainly rolling rocks and boulders and falling trees. The ground that once held these hazards firmly (or somewhat firmly) in place has been significantly weakened!! The flare-ups and these hazards seem to be the primary reason the lower stretches of the canyon have remained closed.
They are doing a major firing operation up around Pingree Park Rd now and have issued a pre-evacuation from Pingree Park Rd to MM 90, which is just west of Glen Echo. Please keep the firefighters, residents and critters in that area in your prayers.
We have been under RED FLAG conditions for the last three days, today inclusive! Not good.
The fire ripped through Young Gulch, but Ansel Watros has been spared- not a single burnt tree in the Campground. Many parts of the Riv have black all the way down to the waters edge. It was weird watching the ground at Pine View ablaze during that first 48 hours. The Mish still stands!
They warn that the first significant rain we will get the Riv will turn BLACK. I am not sure yet what, if any, safety hazards will be involved with that. I will try to get intel on that and share with you all, for when the re-open our Riv.
Take care, hang in there, and go play on another waterway for now. I will let you all know as soon as I find out when the Riv is open.
FYI- Pine View was 2.4 at 0700 this morning! Hotter than Hell, smokey and breezy. Be safe!