Tag Archives: Red’s Meadow

Local News

Prescribed Burn Planned

Inyo National Forest and Devils Postpile National Monument Announce Plans for Inter-Agency Prescribed Burning

Inyo National Forest (INF) and Devils Postpile National Monument (DEPO) will begin preparations for an interagency prescribed fire on 158 acres in the Reds Meadow Valley, Madera County, CA. The project is located east of the Devils Postpile Ranger Station and west of the Sotcher Lake Day Use Site.

The project goal is to reduce hazardous fuels and thus create wildfire defensible space around the DEPO ranger station, administrative facilities and campground. This defensible space will promote public and firefighter safety should a wildfire occur here in the future.

INF and DEPO will work with the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to fulfill smoke management objectives and Federal and State air quality standards. The prescribed fire project will occur when weather and fuel moisture conditions will allow for generally low to moderate intensity prescribed burning, likely in the latter half of October 2015. Existing roads and trails will be used as fire containment lines. Fire crews will use chainsaws to thin small trees on 31 acres adjacent to Reds Meadow Road and the DEPO access road. This thinning will moderate risk of fire torching into the tops of larger trees and thus minimize impacts to scenic quality in highly visible areas along the roads.

The access road to Devils Postpile National Monument will be closed along with all trails and access to the Devils Postpile formation during the prescribed burn implementation. Traffic control will be in effect on the Reds Meadow Road during the 2 to 3 days when prescribed burning occurs. Rainbow falls will still be accessible via the Rainbow falls trail during this time.

inyo national forest, devils postpile, reds meadow, rainbow falls, prescribed burning
Community News, Local News

Reds Meadow Road Opening Friday

Reds Meadow Road to Open May 22

The Reds Meadow Road is scheduled to open on Friday, May 22th, weather permitting. Although California is in its fourth year in a severe drought, late spring storms, including those forecast for this week, may affect the opening of the road. While the road is still scheuled to open, visitors should expect that the road will not open or will re-close if winter storms prevent safe travel to the Reds Meadow Valley.

The Reds Meadow area is a popular recreation destination for visitors and locals alike and provides access to the Devils Postpile National Monument, trailheads that access the John Muir Trail and destinations such as Agnew Meadow, Thousand Island Lakes, Rainbow Falls, and the Minarets. Fishing, camping, horseback riding, and the Reds Meadow Resort are also popular with visitors.

Employees with the Inyo National Forest and Devils Postpile National Monument have been working to clear snow and trees from roads, trails, and campgrounds as well as repairing potholes, and currently working on water and sewer systems.

The Devils Postpile National Monument will open with the opening of the road. Bring potable water as the water systems are not yet fully functional. Vault toilets will be available.

Camping opportunities will be available in the Reds Meadow Valley through the US Forest Service. Devils Postpile Campground is anticipated to open on June 12th  and be open until early to mid September.

The mandatory Reds Meadow Shuttle Bus, operated by the Eastern Sierra Transit Authority, will run for Memorial Day weekend, weather permitting. Only exception vehicles will be allowed to drive into the Reds Meadow Valley.

After Memorial Day weekend, the mandatory shuttle bus will not resume operation until June 13th and run through Labor Day.
The roads in the Reds Meadow Valley are narrow and visibility is limited. All vehicles should use caution on both the Reds Meadow and Devils Postpile roads. For more information about Devils Postpile National Monument, visit nps.gov/depo, or contact Devils Postpile at 760-934-2289 or at depo_visitor_information@nps.gov.

cover photo by Devils Postpile National Monument

reds meadow, us forest service, devils postpile national monument, eastern sierra news
Local News

Prescribed Burning

Prescribed Pile Burning

DATE 12/18/2014
Crews are targeting 11 acres of piles for treatment today.  Smoke may be visible from the Town of Mammoth and Mammoth Mt ski area.

DATE: 12/17/2014
Fire crews are burning piles in the Reds Meadow area today, taking advantage of the recent storms to safely achieve needed fuels reduction. Expect smoke visible from Mammoth Mountain, Mammoth Lakes, and Devils Postpile National Monument. This is part of a dedicated effort to reduce fuels after the tree blow down event of 2011.

DATE: 12/16/2014
The Inyo National Forest is conducting pile burning today east of Devils Postpile National Monument and West of Satcher Lake in the Red’s Meadow Area.  41 Acres  of piles are targeted for treatment today.   Smoke may be visible from the Mammoth Lakes area.

inyo national forest, reds meadow, devils postpile, mammoth lakes
Community News, Local News

Reds Meadow Pile Burning

Reds Meadow Pile Burning

Update, December 9th.

The pile burning at Red’s Meadow has been postponed. Crews are looking for more snow coverage in the area and will re-evaluate after the storm passes. Crews are going to shift their attention to the Sawmill Piles along Highway 203 and the Scenic Loop above Mammoth Lakes (near Wooley’s Play Area and then leading east and down the Scenic Loop Road). This project will start Wednesday, December 10th, weather and air quality conditions permitting.

Fire crews will start ignitions on the Reds Meadow piles, weather and air quality conditions permitting. Forty-one acres are planned for today (Tuesday, December 9th)  and additional units may be completed in the next few days before the forecast storm. Expect smoke visible from Mammoth Lakes, Mammoth Mountain, and Devils Postpile.  According to officials at the Inyo National Forest, this continues the ongoing and substantial work to reduce fuel loads and restore natural habitat in the wake of the Reds Meadow wind event that caused extensive tree blow down.

controlled burn, reds meadow, mammoth mt, devils postpile
Community News, KIBS/KBOV Announcements, Local News

SAR Team Aids Lost Hikers Near Red’s Meadow

Search & Rescue Team Operation: Aid to Lost Hikers Near Red’s Meadow

To:                          All Media Partners
 
From:                    Jennifer M. Hansen, Public Information Officer
 
Date:                     August 13, 2014
 
RE:                          Search and Rescue Team Operation: Aid to lost hikers near Red’s Meadow
On the evening of Tuesday, August 12th, 2014, at approximately 5:30pm, Mono County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a 911 call regarding two lost hikers out of Red’s Meadow.
Two hikers were on a day hike from Red’s Meadow to Rainbow Falls. On the return trip from Rainbow Falls to Red’s Meadow, the hikers took the wrong trail and became lost. One of the hikers was diabetic and did not bring any medication on the day hike.  The hiker was beginning to feel chilled and other negative effects of the diabetes, and since they were lost, wasn’t sure how far they could continue hiking. The other hiker had cell phone reception and was able to call 911 and give their location near Pond Lily Lake, about 5 miles south of Red’s Meadow.
The Mono County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) team was called to aid the lost hikers. Six SAR team members staged at Minaret Vista. Due to the medical circumstance, and the hikers remote location, attempts were made to get air support for the rescue. A 551 helicopter from Yosemite National Park was available to assist the SAR team. The helicopter crew was able to fly to the hikers location, land and transport them to the SAR base at Minaret Vista. The diabetic hiker was assessed by Mono County Paramedics and required no further medical treatment. The hikers were taken to their vehicle parked near Mammoth Mountain.
The Mono County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue (SAR) team reminds anyone traveling in the backcountry, even if just for a day hike, to always be prepared and carry adequate supplies, including any medications. It is important to be aware that is might take search and rescue teams time to come to your aid if you are lost, injured or ill.
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Search & Rescue Team Operation: Aid to Lost Hikers Near Red’s Meadow

https://www.kibskbov.com/aid-to-lost-hikers-near-reds-meadow/
Search and Rescue / Operation / Lost Hikers / Red’s Meadow /Aid / Mono County / Eastern Sierra / Mono County Sheriff’s Office