Southern Cascade Range (California)

[fuzzymarindave]

Getting ready for a 5-day trip near the Cascade Range which will include:
- Buck Lakes Wilderness (northern end of Sierra Range)
- Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park
- McArthur Burney Falls State Park.

Lassen and Burney Falls are pretty straightforward tourist areas but I'm interested in any feedback on Bucks Lake Wilderness and Ahjumawi. We plan to day hike into Bucks Lake Wilderness from the west side where we will dry camp along forest service roads. We plan to enter Ahjumawi via our tandem kayak from the boat launch area. Any good hiking trail to try or to avoid? Thanks

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Dave, reach out to Smoke. That’s in his general area.

I would really appreciate your feedback on Ahjumawi. I’ve heard of it for years, but never known anyone who had boated it. What kayak do you have?

 

[fuzzymarindave]

What kayak do you have?

I have an Old Town Loon 138T. At 13'-8" kinda tight for two but I often use it solo when I go bowhunting.

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Dave, thanks!

 

[Casa Escarlata Robles Too]

Is Burney Falls open for camping?
Do you have a reservation?
We have stayed there a few years back site #36 close to the canyon.
Enjoy.
Frank

 

[fuzzymarindave]

Is Burney Falls open for camping?
Do you have a reservation?
We have stayed there a few years back site #36 close to the canyon.
Enjoy.
Frank

I don't know if the State Park is open for camping; however we plan to disperse camp anyway on nearby forest service lands to avoid too much close contact. Should be plenty of options I hope.

 

[Edgewood]

Ahjumawi is fun paddling. I stayed at the boat-in campground when I was there years ago. The lake is behind the county fairgrounds so they may allow vehicle camping. Big springs well up from the NW side of the lake which is fun to paddle through. Otherwise not much to do. Paddle early or late in the day. It will be hot!

 

[Smokecreek1]

Don't know when you are planning to head here but Make sure you check with both Calfire and Lassen, Plumas and Humbolt-Toiyabe and ModocNF -NF Incident Command web site because we have a couple of new fires just west of Susanville (hog flat) and in Big Valley. There are also some near by fires going in Nevada. All black to the west with lots of toxic smoke here in Susanville since last night and does not appear to be clearing up. Keep checking web sites for more data but temps here are in the high 90's, very windy /red flag weather and very dry here! Maybe it is time to charge up my Pop Campers batteries and the usual get away gear ! Kayaking up on the AHJ is neat but check with State Park first. As a side note many of us in this area just got non-renewal notices from our home insurance co's ---they just reclassified a big bunch of Susanville as in a hazard wild land fire area-great timing (2nd time for me and I live in town) and a part of western living!

Smoke

 

[craig333]

What is your favorite source for fire news? Yubanet has really gone downhill this year.

 

[Smokecreek1]

We use USFS Incident Command Web (and related forest /BLM nets and related facebook sites, CalFire and local and Reno radio and tv stations and web/facebook sites (Susanvillestuff.com, Lassennews.com, KSUE Radio). They just closed HW 36 and 44 at Eagle Lake Road west of town (a mile or outside of town) and evacuated Eagle Lake Estates last night. Smoke real bad here and getting my emergency gear ready to put my truck(there are no alerts here to evacuate but I live on the west end of town and it is better to be safe than sorry . Fire went from 200 acres to 5000 acres Sunday and last night!

Supposed to hit between 98-100 here today with high winds going the wrong way and we have lot's of fire support coming into town at a rapid rate. Radio just said they are gearing up for a stand outside of the Estates area. If someone wants to move this fire info to another thread -please do and I'll keep you posted on what is happening here in old Susanville. Okay, Swap shop just came on the radio so all must be well now. ! Nothing else to do but listen to the radio and the tankers as they fly over to bomb the fire. Again no alerts other than stay indoors here!

Smoke

Smoke

 

[fuzzymarindave]

All,
Appreciate the good feedback. I'll probably wait until the smoke settles and will also check first with Cal Fire and other resources. For the near term trip my plan B is a coastal trip, saving the Lassen areas until late summer or fall.
-Smoke- Stay safe with the nearby Hog Fire.

 

[Smokecreek1]

Fire is about 9000 acres now and they seem to be holding it, road west closed and no new evacuations here. lot's of thunder /lightning and high winds and a few spot fires in area yesterday! Hele-attack chopper/crew landed on Honey Lake shoreline, put one right out. Boy we sure have good fire crews (90 or so eng/ 600 fire fighters-lot's of resources here that know what they are doing! Lot's of aircraft. 2nd fire on 139 near Aden about same size as the Hog fire, 139 closed. internet here cable was out but repaired and up again, local web site (Susanville and stuff had high lighted some area fire history-1921 fire and the stand made by 1000 fire fighters here!

Walked the dog up to high point near house, early this AM for the 1st time in three days, less smoke but still windy. Temps in low 90's today, still smoky but more T-storms with 60mph winds ex. today! If you need to come this way, 395 N/S open Reno-Susanville Alturas! Enough fire news! Sun is out, maybe time for another dog walk before the fun starts!

Smoke