Angeles National Forest News!

[rmekemson]

Makes sense.

[RobertW]

[RobertW]

Blue Ridge Road has now been opened for the season.  Blue Ridge and Guffy Campgrounds are now accessible to the public.

[Goody2shz]

GREAT!!!!  Thank you.

[Joe Schmoe]

It's also worth mentioning that highway 2 is open as well....although I prefer people not knowing it

[jadensdad]

Any word on when or if the road to Lupine will be opened?

[The Boys Dad]

The gate at Guffy was open yesterday.  We drove out Blue Ridge to the top of Swarthout Cyn and did some hiking.  There are some large boulders that have been pushed just barely out of the way and there has definitely been some traffic that went down.

[Toolman]

Not until the FS road engineers evaluate the conditions from past storms. It may stay closed again this year too. It will be posted when one of us gets updated information.

[RobertW]

The gate at Guffy was open yesterday.  We drove out Blue Ridge to the top of Swarthout Cyn and did some hiking.  There are some large boulders that have been pushed just barely out of the way and there has definitely been some traffic that went down.

You may find the gate open from time to time as Forest Vehicles go in to inspect the conditions and don't want to lock people behind the gate, but technically the road is closed.  While the road may be passible to Jeeps and other 4x4 vehicles, the road is shown on Forest maps as being passible by an average car or sedan.  If that isn't the case, as are current conditions because of storm damage a couple of years ago, the Forest Service must keep the road closed so that a car doesn't get itself stuck down there.  As you know it is a long way from civilization and there is NO Cell Service.  Only HAM radio operators or those with Forest Service radios are able to radio out for help.

The road was never cleared last year because of the many fires that prevenedt heavy equipment to get around to clearing it.  I've been told by the Assistant Recreation Officer for our District that he hopes to meet with Forest Service Road Engineers soon to develop a plan to get the road open.  An idea has also been tossed around of "decommissioning" the road and making Lupine a "trail camp" to be accessible by 4x4 vehicles only.

[Joe Schmoe]

So many spots around the ANF sit "decommissioned".  That would be a shame.

[RobertW]

California Campfire Permits are now available online:

http://www.preventwildfireca.org/Campfire-Permit/

[RobertW]

Typically the Department of Fish and Game usually starts stocking Jackson Lake with Trout in May.  In checking their website there are no future "plants" planned or listed.  I suspect this is because of the low condition of the Lake, or should we now say "pond".  While I see people fishing, I suspect the only fish in Jackson Lake are the Goldfish.

[Elk]

I have heard that CA DFW will not stock any trout until the conditions of Jackson Lake are improved. The problems are the non-native koi/carp/goldfish and the non-native aquatic plants/grass that is growing in the lake. If you go look at the lake right now, you will see the overgrowth of the aquatic grass. It is quite bad this year.

[SkierBob]

I would think trout habitat will continue to decline until (IF) we some decent snow next winter.  Which means probably no trout stocking this spring/summer/fall.

[RobertW]

The Lake did rise two feet with the 7" of rain we got from the two storms back in March, but that wasn't enough to really help.  I think it is interesting that the beach is growing bushes which are quite large.  I suppose the Fenner Crew will have to go in an clear them before the lake rises this next fall and winter or they could become a hazard to swimmers. (You notice I'm still putting my hope in a strong El Nino this year which will bring the lake back up to where it should be)..

Well at least the Goldfish seem to be doing very well in the lake.

[RobertW]

I've been told that the CDFG has actually contacted the USFS Biologist to see whether they should start restocking Jackson Lake.  They were given the OK to do so.  So, it looks like Jackson Lake will be put back on the "plant" schedule.  Good news for fisherman.  Nothing like catching fish out of a barrel.   

[Elk]

I've been told that the CDFG has actually contacted the USFS Biologist to see whether they should start restocking Jackson Lake.  They were given the OK to do so.  So, it looks like Jackson Lake will be put back on the "plant" schedule.  Good news for fisherman.  Nothing like catching fish out of a barrel.   

That is great news! If it actually happens. The children who attend the various summer camps in the area will be excited to catch a "real" fish!

Thank you for the update.

[Joe Schmoe]

[Wrightwood]

[Wrightwood]

District Ranger Bob Blount wants the public to know that road 3N39 to Lupine Camp Ground will be reopened on Friday Oct 24, 2014.

The road, past Lupine to Cabin Flat, has been decommissioned for years.  People are driving ATVs on it and we request that they honor the fact that it has been decommissioned.  The few can jeopardize the road opening for all.

Bob Blount
District Ranger
Santa Clara Mojave Rivers Ranger District
Angeles National Forest
33708 Crown Valley Road
Acton, CA  93510
661-269-2808 Ext: 225