New fire in the spooky, curvy, narrow section of Hwy 96, between Hoopa and Weitchpec.
This is some of the steepest ground in the Klamath, which is saying a lot.
From Watch Duty:
At approximately 1:30 A.M., Hoopa Dispatch received reports of two separate vegetation fires in the Gorge area near Mile Post 16 on Highway 96 within the Hoopa Valley Reservation. The fires were located north of Mill Creek Road, south of Norton Creek, east of Norton Creek Road, and west of Highway 96.
Responding firefighters determined the two fires had merged into a single incident. The fire is currently estimated at approximately 50 acres.
Fire suppression efforts are being challenged by extremely steep terrain with slopes ranging from 75% to 100%, numerous rock outcroppings, and limited access. These hazardous conditions require firefighters to prioritize safety while implementing suppression strategies.
That stretch of highway is just intense. Really narrow and stapled to the edge of a cliff. Whenever I go thru it I feel like I’m entering a parallel universe, which is kind of what the Klamath is. It’s its own world, and that stretch feels like the gateway.
I mentioned this to Tom Fielden, who has spent a lot of time up there and he said ‘I think it feels weird just because so many people have died on that road, lots and lots’!
No fun towing a 30’ GIS trailer thru there!
…but yes about bigfoot country. if not mistaken, i believe that the infamous bigfoot footage running across the landing that was recorded on 8mm was maybe 5-10 road miles away in bluff creek vicinity.
I got the “opportunity” to spend months there quite a few years ago on severity. Every year our type 6 cycled crews out of hoopa all summer good OT and HP… and when ever I hear highway 96 in the bluffs I cringe. there’s still a piece of my sole on those hills.
In the early 2000’s, worked at Elk Camp station. We would eat dinner at 1630 because we would be bouncing down the hill at 1715..We were busy and the road wasnt paved then! Tool of the trade on 96, first few sticks of hose were double jacket( prevent head pressure hose failure) and the hoselay was typically started off the end of the old 16 foot 3 fly extension ladder. Good times!
I lived in Orleans for almost 20 years and that road is scary. Straight up cut blasted out of solid rock and straight down to the river. There were periods when we responded as mutual aid multiple times a day for new starts on the square. getting a blocker vehicle ahead of us was a bonus. It was also the road to our primary shopping and rec area (Arcata/Eureka). Always a heart stopping sight, coming around a bend and looking up close at the grill of a kenworth logging truck
Saiad Complex '87 lightning siege, I had a similar opportunity to hike 5 miles of dozer line with the old metal backpump and digging through burms. “Didnt know dozer could go there.” Those backpumps were great for adding ice and keeping your sodas cold.
I was curious about “spooky” as my wife sometimes didn’t like certain streches of road because she could sense something. My favorite author one wrote that it’s not the fall that kills you, but rather the sudden and intense realization that you ARE indeed THAT stupid.
Back to the fire, it sounds quite challenging. WatchDuty has some information regarding an alternate route, that requires sanitizing your vehicle afterwards. I’ve never been there before, and I don’t think I’ll change that anytime soon.
The Yurok tribe recently discovered Sudden Oak Death in the area for the first time and they’re trying to keep it as isolated as possible.
I saw a dozer transport heading out 299 this morning towards the fire…I’m not jealous of that operator.
there’s still a piece of my sole on those hills.
