David Womack - Mountain Bike! Orange County. A Wide-Grin Ride Guide

Last week, just before this book went to press, a fire raged across eastern Orange County. An arsonist started the fire near Santiago Canyon Road. Blustery Santa Ana winds fueled the blaze as it raced across the regions rain-deprived canyons and hillsides. As of this writing, the fire has burned roughly 25,000 acres. This burn area includes nearly all of Whiting Ranch and the Irvine Ranch Land Reserves Limestone Canyon. In the Cleveland National Forest the fire cut a swath across the Santa Ana Mountains from the Modjeska Grade to Live Oak Canyon Road and nearly all the way up to Main Divide Road. Parts of Silverado Canyon and Modjeska Canyon were also affected. Therefore, Santiago Truck Trail, The Luge, Harding Truck Trail, and Maple Springs Road all have been impacted by the fire. According to fire maps, the regions surrounding then Joplin Trail and The Silverado Motorway were not burned. However, the park is still closed and I have not witnessed any damage firsthand.

The good news is that fires play an essential role in Southern Californias ecology. Trees will survive, plants will recover, and animals will find new homes. Some local plant species depend on fires to germinate their seeds. Springtime should beckon a miraculous recovery for the ash-covered hillsides. This does not justify careless behavior in the backcountry though. I have witnessed firsthand the devastation of Southern California wildfires. They are vicious, costly, and sometimes deadly. There is no excuse for starting any kind of fire in our local wilderness areas; always be careful and vigilant.

There will definitely be some trail closures in the fire-impacted areas. No official announcements have been made, so I can only estimate the length and breadth of these closures. Whiting Ranch suffered major damage and may be closed until trails can be repaired and, perhaps, until after the major rains of January and February. The Irvine Ranch Land Reserve, which manages Limestone Canyon, may hold off conducting docent-led rides in the region until spring of 2008. The Cleveland National Forest should be the first fire-affected area to open. The major dirt roads in the National Forest are vital thoroughfares, used daily by utility companies and geologists. The roads might be open to the public as soon as the fire is completely extinguished and the area is determined to be safe. However, if the park service deems that the fire risk is still too high, they could close the region to the public until we get some rain. If there isnt significant rainfall in the coming winter, the Cleveland National Forest could be subject to closures next summer and fall. Its too early too tell, so hopefully not. Check all of the park Web sites for current trail information and please respect all trail closures in the burn areas. Let nature take its course.

David Womack

October 30, 2007