Several Olympic National Park Trails Re-Open, Fire Ban to be Lifted
Incident: Heatwave Complex Wildfire
Released: 9/1/2009
Olympic National Park officials this weekend re-opened about thirty miles of trails on the east side of the park that had been closed because of hazards from nearby wildfires. The following trails have been re-opened for public use due to low potential for fires in the upper Dose Drainage.
· the Constance Pass Trail from the Dosewallips Trail to the park boundary,
· the Main Fork Dosewallips Trail from the junction of Gray Wolf Pass to the Dose Forks and
· the West Fork Dosewallips Trail from Honeymoon Meadows to Dose Forks.
Two trails are still closed due to fire related hazards and are likely to remain closed for several weeks or longer.
· The Duckabush Trail is closed from LaCrosse Pass junction to the park boundary because of its proximity to the 750 acre Ten Mile Fire.
· Hiker use of the Dosewallips Road is closed from the Olympic National Forest's Elkhorn Campground to the Dosewallips Trail at Dose Forks, one mile west of the Dosewallips Ranger Station. The 440 acre Constance Fire is burning nearby in steep terrain; burning logs and debris are rolling downslope onto the road/trail.
Additionally, the backcountry campfire ban put in place on August 3 will be lifted on Wednesday, September 2 at 11:00 p.m.; fire danger conditions have abated thanks to recent rains and the forecast calls for cooler, moist conditions. Campfires in the park's established front country campgrounds are allowed as usual in established fire grates; where campfires are allowed on the coast, they must be located below the high tide line. Campers still need to ensure that their campfires are out before leaving the campsite.The Heatwave Complex is comprised of twelve lighting-ignited fires discovered in Olympic National Park since June, five of which remain active, creating a mosaic of burned and unburned vegetation across the landscape. Naturally caused wildfires have occurred in the Olympic Peninsula for thousands of years, and are an integral part of the area's ecosystem. Evidence of past wildland fire is found throughout the park in fire scars on trees and the mosaic of forest patterns. For more information about wilderness use permits in Olympic National Park people may contact the park's Wilderness Information Center (360-565-3100); for general trip planning information, people should consult the park's website at www.nps.gov/olym or call 360-565-3130. For additional Heatwave Complex fire information, maps, and photos please visit http://www.inciweb.org/
