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Hope Remains

Red Lake Creek Cabin, CA-88, Hope Valley (10/2/21) John Poimiroo

The Hope Valley is Patchy, but remains “untouched” by the Caldor fire.

  • Caldor Fire, Sierra Crest (10/2/21) John Poimiroo
  • Near the T, CA/88-89, Hope Valley (10/2/21) John Poimiroo
  • Carson Spur Point, CA-88 (10/2/21) John Poimiroo

The obvious signs of the fire along 89 and 88, until you reach Carson Pass, are Firefighter “Thank You” signs erected by homeowners and a few CalFire staging area and motorist warning signs. At the Carson Spur Vista Point, a CalFire/USFS information station overlooks the canyon where the Caldor fire raged. Smoke from a spot fire indicates the wildfire’s dying gasp.

From Myers, across Luther Pass (CA-89), only Patchy color is seen, and not much of it.

  • The Wylder Resort, Hope Valley (10/2/21) John Poimiroo
  • Trail at right of Wylder Resort, Hope Valley (10/2/21) John Poimiroo
  • Stands across CA-88/89 from Wylder Resort, Hope Valley (10/2/21) John Poimiroo
  • Aspen to west of Wylder Resort, Hope Valley (10/2/21) John Poimiroo

Aspen within the Wylder Resort (formerly Sorensen’s), south of the “T” where CA-89 and CA-88 meet, are mostly green with spots of yellow. A dirt road that leads up, to the right of the resort is lined with Near Peak aspen and groves to the west of Wylder’s and across the highway are bright yellow and orange. From Wylder’s east to Woodfords along CA-89/88, the trees vary from Patchy to Just Starting.

Smoke-blackened aspen, Wylder Resort, Hope Valley (10/2/21) John Poimiroo

Brandon at Wylder’s attributes blackened leaves on several of the aspen to the toxic gasses that suffocated the area during the wildfire. There seems to be no other explanation, as there is not much black spot on the leaves. Fortunately, the damage is limited and the show in and around Wylder’s will be good for the next two weeks.

  • Grove west of T, Hope Valley (10/2/21) John Poimiroo
  • Blue Lakes Rd Pasture, Hope Valley (10/2/21) John Poimiroo

Traveling west from the “T”, the first grove seen against the hills to the south is Patchy, but those beyond the pasture, just short of Blue Lakes Rd. are Near Peak.

Where Red Lake Creek crosses CA-88, I met a rancher who was stringing yellow tape along gate entrances to warn people not to trespass upon his property. He owns 40 acres on each side of the highway including the Red Lake Creek grove and cabin. The property owner has become exasperated by the large number of people who cross his fence lines to get a better picture and wants all mention of Red Lake Creek Cabin removed from Google, here or anywhere else.

  • Red Lake Creek Grove, CA-88, Hope Valley (10/2/21) John Poimiroo
  • Grove on private land, photo taken on public land, Hope Valley (10/2/21) John Poimiroo
A wide turnout at Red Lake Creek provides public space to photograph the groves, CA-88, Hope Valley (10/2/21) John Poimiroo

Considering that the cabin and grove can be seen from a public highway, that’s not going to happen. However, why would anyone risk being arrested for taking a selfie near Red Lake Creek Cabin or surrounding groves? Caltrans has placed a large turnout on the highway and there’s plenty of shoulder room to take a picture of the cabin and trees on the hillside behind it without breaking the law and upsetting the rancher?

Besides, there are several other areas in the Hope Valley that are on public land whose legal accessibility allows closeup photographs of the aspen. So please, if you see someone attempting to cross a fence line, nicely inform them that they’re about to trespass on private property and direct them to public trails, as I did with two hikers who were looking for a trail through the aspen. They appreciated the guidance.

Vermilion Grove, Northeast Shore, Caples Lake (10/2/21) John Poimiroo

Beyond the groves at Red Lake Creek, there’s little to be seen, heading west, until Caples Lake where the Vermilion Grove (northeast corner of Caples Lake, seen best from the dam) is at peak.

  • Eldorado NF Grove, CA-88 (10/2/21) John Poimiroo
  • Eldorado NF Grove, CA-88 (10/2/21) John Poimiroo

I met Dave, a color spotter who’d stopped at a favorite grove near the highway along a dirt road that enters the Eldorado National Forest (presently closed). It was unburned though a hundred feet beyond it the forest was incinerated. We were thankful a favorite stand had survived.

Further west, Eldorado National Forest remains closed as fire crews mop up. Mormon Emigrant Trail, which crosses from CA-88 to Sly Park is closed and coursed by heavy fire equipment doing cleanup. In places, the fire crossed highway 88, but didn’t go far. The fire crews did a great job containing it from advancing south of Carson Pass and Kirkwood is untouched.

And so, Hope remains as illustrated in Erno Gyetvai’s beautiful portrayal of Red Lake Creek Cabin.

Red Lake Creek Cabin, CA-88, Hope Valley (10/1/21) Erno Gyetvai
  • Woodfords Canyon (7,000′) – Just Starting (0 – 10%)
  • Wylder Resort (7,000′) – Patchy (10 – 50%) – Some groves in the area are Near Peak, GO NOW!
  • The T, CA-88 and 89 – Patchy to Near Peak (10 – 75%) GO NOW!
  • Hope Valley – Patchy (10 – 50%)
  • Blue Lakes Rd. Pasture (7,550′) – Near Peak (50 – 75%) GO NOW!
  • Red Lake Creek Grove and Cabin – Near Peak (50 – 75%) GO NOW!
  • Vermilion Grove, Caples Lake (7,800′) – Peak (75 – 100%) GO NOW!
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