FIRES

[climbingcue]

We drove over engineer pass into Lake city this morning 7/13/26. Both roads going to Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre had signs saying they were closed.

[Scott P]

We drove over engineer pass into Lake city this morning 7/13/26. Both roads going to Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre had signs saying they were closed.

How was the smoke?

[climbingcue]

We drove over engineer pass into Lake city this morning 7/13/26. Both roads going to Wetterhorn and Uncompahgre had signs saying they were closed.

How was the smoke?

Smoke was terrible in Montrose Friday night into Saturday morning. Saturday was smoky in Silverton, then Sunday was clear. Monday was clear on Engineer then got smoky when we got into Lake City.

[Wentzl]

What do the locals forecast for the smoke around DeCaLiBro tomorrow?

[rmcpherson]

It's not smoky currently and the forecast winds for tomorrow should keep it clear.

[ReginaThomas]

Hi all, i have read a ton of conflicting information as to whether or not Uncompahgre is climbable right now. The Gold Creek Fire page doesn't list Nellie Creek as one of the TH closures but I just wanted to be sure since everything else is saying it is closed. I live in Gunnison so it wouldn't be trek to come back to town but I have 4 days planned already this week.

EDIT: Updated closure map just came out. I am going to go ahead and say the trail closed for sure.

https://inciweb-prod-media-bucket.s3.us ... zKIf4jeil3

To add to the confusion, that location for the summit is rather hilariously wrong. Not the highest quality map, but on the amended 7/2 closure order (latest on the GUMG website) the summit is right on the closure boundary (the closure line follows the Ouray/Gunnison Ranger District boundaries, which bisects the summit), but per the letter of the law the summit trail does jussstt cross into the closure on the ridge. I'd also consider with the new Elk Fire, air quality is going to be highly suspect with a wind direction out of the N, NE, or NW between the two fires.

I watched the briefing meeting for the Elk fire near Lake City last night. They’re working on a closure order for all of Nellie Creek as well as the Crystal Peak drainage so it may not be in effect fully yet but they want everyone to stay away from that area.

[d_baker]

I watched this and thought it was interesting.
In the video, there's one shot (seen in thumbnail below) of the E Fork which I was in back in May. I don't think the fire has been too damaging in that area, but it made me appreciate my time in there this spring.
I'm curious about what the access will be like, post-fire, for the W Cim and Middle Fork.

[Boggy B]

Thanks, that was interesting, especially the part about aspen not having volatile oils in the leaves. I know they were preparing to hold the line around Silver Jack, which would have been helped by the abundant aspen and the reservoir itself. Still that could have gone different ways with the weather, so it's fortunate for all those cabins/homes the monsoon showed up. Less fortunate for the home(s) outside Ouray trashed by the resultant mud flows. https://www.facebook.com/OurayWildOutdo ... 1vQ8ZXGNWl

Not upset Cow Creek burned all the way up to Difficulty, we'll hopefully be checking that out this winter. Not sure what the policy is on reopening these areas, I figure once snow flies they call it good. As I recall we hiked through a recently opened burn in RMNP one late fall and saw smoking ashes and embers still glowing under the snow. Probably best to keep a chainsaw in the vehicle.

[cottonmountaineering]

I watched this and thought it was interesting.
In the video, there's one shot (seen in thumbnail below) of the E Fork which I was in back in May. I don't think the fire has been too damaging in that area, but it made me appreciate my time in there this spring.
I'm curious about what the access will be like, post-fire, for the W Cim and Middle Fork.

interesting watch and footage, thanks for posting

[sunny1]

Re: Hinsdale County/Lake City
Just fyi - Lake City/Hinsdale county has issued an emergency disaster declaration today due to the rapid growth of the Elk Fire. There are evacuations and pre-evacuations.
Visitors should be aware.
Hope rain comes as currently predicted early next week!