Affected Trails in MT Hopper Area Will Remain Closed Through Labor Day
Incident: Hopper Wildfire
Released: 9/2/2010
The Hopper fire, burning in the eastern part of Olympic National Park 11 miles north of the Staircase area, continues to creep slowly down avalanche chutes. The fire has now burned approximately 386 acres since it was ignited by lightning August 5.
Fire officials said overflights will be conducted on Monday and Wednesday of next week, and the park will consider re-opening affected area trails at that time. Through the coming Labor Day weekend and into next week, the following trails remain closed: the Skokomish River trail from Nine Stream to the Duckabush/Home-Sweet-Home junction, the Scout Lake way trail to St. Peter's Gate at Mount Stone, the Hagen Lake way trail and the Mount Hopper way trail.
Hikers should be aware they may encounter smoke in the Mount Hopper area. As conditions change over the next few days, hikers interested in exploring the eastern parts of Olympic National Park are encouraged to contact the park's Wilderness Information Center at (360) 565-3100 or check the park's web site at www.nps.gov/olym for current trail and alternative route information.
The Hopper fire is located at the headwaters of the Crazy Creek Drainage and Skokomish River in the Olympic Wilderness. Because the fire presents no immediate risk to life, safety or property and is surrounded by natural barriers, park officials continue to monitor the fire from the air and are allowing the fire to play a natural role in the environment.
"As a natural ecosystem process, fires play an important and essential role by increasing the diversity of forest habitat and vegetation communities," said Deputy Superintendent Todd Suess. "Allowing naturally-caused fires like Hopper to burn can actually prevent larger, more destructive fires from occurring in the future through the stimulation of younger, greener forest growth."
The White Fire, burning two miles north of the Enchanted Valley Chalet in the Quinault Valley, is no longer putting up smoke. The White fire has burned approximately 1/8 of an acre since it was discovered August 17. An additional fire was discovered August 30 near Ludden Peak, east of the Bailey Range in the central part of the park. The Ludden fire is burning about two acres near the Crisler Route, in a rocky area with some scattered trees.
Fire officials are investigating the cause of the Ludden fire and monitoring its activity. Its remote location and the surrounding terrain mean that it poses no immediate threat to facilities or people.
Interested members of the public may call (360) 565-2975 for recorded information about the Hopper fire. Updates, maps and photos of the Hopper Fire are available online at InciWeb at http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2065/.
