Todays hike served two purposes. First, for me, to complete peak 5 of the 12 Peaks. 🙂 Second, to attempt to determine if the upper portion of this trail, N. Main Divide Road and the Summit, were closed due to the Holy Fire. As with any hike I do, I prepared myself by studying maps, routes, reading closure orders, and talking to rangers (both on the phone and in person).
I was hoping that sometime during this hike I would run into a few rangers so I could discuss what I knew about the closure areas and get their opinions/definitions on what areas heading up to the summit were closed and why. Unfortunately, during my 2 miles up on the N. Main Divide Road, my 25 plus minutes at the summit, and my 2 miles back down the N. Main Divide Road to the Joplin Trail I did not encounter a single ranger.
I did have a group of three hikers hike up the same trail I did to the summit. Met another solo hiker at the summit. Saw a total of 6 bikers on the N. Main Divide Road and at the summit. On the way down I ran into a couple hiking up the Joplin Trail (kinda late I though) and another solo hiker hiking up (very late).
In the absence of actually meeting with the rangers I did make the following observations:
1) At no time did I see any signs, at the trailhead or when the Joplin Trail came out to the N. Main Divide Road, stating that the trail or the road was closed (see picture);
2) As I approached the Santiago Peak entrance the two gates that are used to prevent entrance to the summit were wide open (see picture);
3) At the Santiago Peak entrance the N. Main Divide Road makes a turn north, which takes you out through the Holy Jim Trail, there was a large sign in the middle of the road stating “road closed” (see picture); and,
4) Finally, of the 10 hikers and bikers I saw near the summit and on the N. Main Divide Road, 4 of them took routes that were east of the N. Main Divide Road. Which happens to be in the Fire Closure Area.
My opinion is that if fines were being given out over the past few weeks, it is because hikers either tried to come up Holy Jim or they didn't read the Closure Order and wandered east of the N. Main Divide Road.
As far as the trail route and conditions go, this was a tough trail. I ended up with 16.5 miles and just over 5,000feet in total elevation gain. I'll post a more detailed description and pictures on the SoCal Hiker Facebook page.
Responses
Congrats! How was the drive up Trabuco Creek Road to the trailhead? Have never done this hike and thinking about doing going in a honda accord (sedan)