Fire, Fire, the West on Fire
Howard Shapiro
In Washington state an unusual for August light rain fell overnight. A year ago we were choking on thick smoke from fires in British Columbia. The dryness combined with ample fuel combined for an epic fire season. The epic fire years keep outdoing one another year after year. This year there are still fires in BC but the wind gods have taken mercy on us in western Washington (for the most part) and spared us the wrath of terrible air and thick smoke (at least for now).
To the south in Oregon and California it has not been the same. All along the PCT from south Lake Tahoe north(Caldor fire) the fires are raging. These are fires that are relentless and may burn for months to come. All this is making we humans focus on the impacts of climate change combined with decades of flawed forest practices. Sometimes it feels that the challenges are bigger than all of us.
Several years ago I navigated a fire re-route in southern California near Lake Lorena. Re-routes have become more and more common to anyone hiking the length of the PCT. In the current time, fire is preventing many thru hikers from getting from Campo to the northern terminus. The result is a hop scotch of sorts for people who are attempting a thru hike in 2021. These people will go north or south in the hopes of connecting the dots as best they can before the snow flies.
So what are the three elements that give these fires life? Oxygen, heat, and fuel. All are in abundance throughout the west. These elements are what firefighters call the fire triangle. If any one of the three is taken away then the fire dies. If firefighters do what is called lay fire, using drip torches to purposefully burn areas to create a barrier in an effort to stop the fires growth that can sometimes slow a fire by taking away fuel. Using water and airdropped retardant (mud) takes the heat away from the fire. Beyond these two methods there is no way to cut off the supply of oxygen.
Two out of three helps but is at times, just not enough. Fire behavior is powerful and not always predictable. the most recent examples are Oregon’s Bootleg fire and the Caldor fire to the south. As the west continues to suffer from drought conditions fire remains a constant threat to a way of life for ranchers, farmers, townspeople, and hikers. The impact fire has on the landscape is unquestionably profound.
Walking through these burned out forests is a reminder of just how small we are. When the burned out landscape stretches for as far as your eyes will take you, the effect of fire cannot be denied or even fully comprehended. The fact remains that we cannot take anything for granted because nature will have the final word despite our missteps and renewed efforts to try to do ‘better’. That means fire will be a part of our lives and hiking experiences for years to come. This fact may force all of us to approach a thru hike differently or not at all.
There will still be many who start at Campo and have every intention to reach Canada. Timing and determination, as always, will be key ingredients in how successful any individual will be. Even before the trend of big fires every summer timing and determination were important factors. As the 2020′s unfold how fire influences our decisions around when, where, and how we hike will continue to take a prominent role.
These most recent fires will burn themselves out either with the help of humans or time. From this vantage point we can hope for plenty of snow in the high country and rains in the low country this fall and winter. When spring rolls around in 2022 some mild temperatures and a bit of rain would be welcome too. Fire season is like anticipating a house guest you know is coming but you just can’t be sure how long they will linger.
