Coach Report post Posted June 27, 2012 With the Sunrise shoot only days away, I'm a little confused by the "selective" closure of Pole Knoll. Tons of FS land is still open right across the road, as they site "fire danger". FWIW, I'm a big believer in keeping idiots out the woods in high winds and dry timber, but I find it a little perplexing that just now, after months of high winds and dry conditions, the FS closes down arguably the most heavily used area by visitors for the Sunrise 3D shoot. And it's been raining here - hard. Heck, maybe I need a tinfoil hat, but I can hardly see how camping in that specific area is somehow more dangerous than the hundreds of square miles just North of 260, that if anything are dryer than Pole Knoll. Why is it so dangerous in this little block of land bordered by the Greer road with winds blowing Northward toward Vernon, compared to the hundreds of square miles on the North side of 260 that are open where a mouse-fart and spark in dry conditions, would wreak havok, but are still open, did the Feds decide to shut this one area down? The wettest areas are always around Pole Knoll and Sunrise. The dryer, more "dangerous" areas are closer to Vernon, Alpine and Nutrioso. I have a theory, and it may be hair-brained one at that. I think USFS is sticking it to the tribe for covering their own backsides during the wallow fire last year, and not making their resources available during the fire. Now, they're gonna get a little petty payback by trying to reduce the attendance at the Sunrise shoot by closing off the area most frequently used for that event. I just can't see any reason they would selectively close this one area, while keeping everything around it open. Anyone feel compelled to agree, disagree, call me "captain hypberbole"? Let's chat it up. I'm on July 4th vacation, and I don't have a campfire to debate around, so this will have to do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Rabbit Report post Posted June 27, 2012 Seems this area has also been closed in previous years to protect Greer. Interesting is that the closure area does not extend all the way west to the Rez boundary, from what I see on the map. http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5374702.pdf Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kwp Report post Posted June 27, 2012 Interesting, I wonder if the FS is getting pressure from the residents of Greer? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billrquimby Report post Posted June 27, 2012 If a fire got started on Pole Knoll, God forbid, Crosby Acres, Northwoods and Greer itself would be in big trouble. The prevailing wind that helped keep the full force of the Wallow Fire from hitting these areas last year would take a fire on Pole Knoll right to us. Don't know about the Lakeside side of the mountain, but we have had only two heavy -- but brief -- rains since I got up here in early May. One was this afternoon, when it rained hard for just five minutes and quit. The other was maybe 10 days ago, when it rained for less than that. It's going to take a lot more rain before our fire danger is behind us. Incidentally, why is Pole Knoll "the most heavily used area by visitors for the Sunrise 3D shoot"? Aren't there camping sites and places to shoot arrows where the shoot is being held? Bill Quimby Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coach Report post Posted June 27, 2012 Darn, I was hoping it was raining more heavily up there. We got a real nice soaking in Lakeside yesterday. Rained really hard for 5-10 minutes, then nice and steady for another 20 or so. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
