M9 Road Heading to Doe Peak - Circa 2017
Mendocino National Forest
*All of these pictures are near or in the August Complex Fire burn footprint
AUGUST COMPLEX FIRE HAMMERS MENDO BACKCOUNTRY
The one-two punch of COVID-19 and the 2020 wildfire
season continues to devastate families, private homes, and public lands in the
Golden State. One wildfire of keen
interest to many backcountry trail enthusiasts is the August Complex Fire that
is advancing across the northern part of the Mendocino National Forest.
M3 Road North of SheetIron Mountain - Circa 2014
Mendocino National Forest
Historically, this region of the Forest provides access
to a lot of mid to high-elevation “deep woods” type dispersed/remote backcountry
recreation for both motorized and non-motorized outdoor enthusiasts vs. the
southern end of the Forest that is home to more developed OHV use, boating, camping,
and fishing.
OHV Route at Doe Peak Area - Circa 2017
Mendocino National Forest
The August Complex’s destructive path continues north from
where the 2018 Ranch Fire was stopped near SheetIron Mountain. Much of this area is a heavily wooded
conifer forest that has not seen a significant fire event in some time. This area is (or was) also prime habitat for
the Northern Spotted Owl.
M9 Ridgeline Route - Circa 2017
Most of the OHV recreation on this part of the Forest occurs
on designated roads with some trail networks in the Doe Peak area that are
enjoyed by dirt-bikes, ATVs, SxSs, and 4WDs.
However, the vast majority of motorized recreation opportunity is for
street legal dual-sport/ADV motorcycles and 4WDs.
4WD Route in Hull Fire Footprint - Circa 2016
Mendocino National Forest
According to a Forest Service update today on the August
Complex – comprised of the Hull, Doe, Tatham, and Glade fires- it sits at
221,284 acres and has 18 percent containment.
LINK TO AUGUST 30 AUGUST FIRE UPDATE
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/photos/CAMNF/2020-08-16-1732-Doe-Fire/picts/2020_08_30-08.23.30.739-CDT.pdf
Based on what I know of the fire and the area, the fire
appears to have impacted a lot of the heavily wooded areas north of SheetIron
Mountain along the M3 corridor, the Doe Peak trail system on the north side of
FH7, and many dispersed camping and backcountry touring opportunities along the
M2/M4/M9 route network.
Sugar Springs Campground along M4 - Circa 2017
Mendocino National Forest
Let’s hope that as other fires are contained that
firefighting resources can be redeployed from those battles to help with the August
Complex.
Stay tuned for future updates.
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