Gratitude and Updates from the TRTA
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From: Tahoe Rim Trail Association <info@...>
Date: September 15, 2021 at 6:24:31 PM PDT
To: daniswine@...
Subject: Gratitude and Updates from the TRTA
Reply-To: Tahoe Rim Trail Association <info@...>
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Dear Friends,
I've shed more than a few tears this past month - for our community, my house, the critters of the Tahoe Basin, my friends, and my beloved trail. While the eye leaking started with smoke and sadness, it's been transformed by an overwhelming sense of gratitude.
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In the past week, as evacuation orders have lifted, many of us have returned to town to witness firsthand the magnitude of the effort put in to limit the powerful destructive forces the Caldor Fire marched to our doorstep. Convoys of heavy machinery and fire engines, emblazoned with logos of cities, counties, and agencies from around the West roll through town reminding us of the herculean efforts of more than 5,000 firefighters and other first responders who descended on the Tahoe Basin.
The Tahoe Rim Trail Association extends our sincere gratitude to these responders as well as our partners and our trails community. You all went above and beyond - from the firefighters who made a special effort to carefully fold and store the American flag that hung on one of our Crew Leader's evacuated front porches to our members who checked in on our office, volunteered to help move gear and tools, and offered up places to stay for our evacuated staff.?
Not all of us were so lucky. Our friends and neighbors have lost homes and livelihoods which is a reality far too prevalent across the west this summer. Our recreational infrastructure has taken a massive hit. While this past weekend's clear blue sky made it easier to look past what transpired in the last few weeks, the fire is still actively burning and we anticipate sections of the TRT will be closed until next year.
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Forest Closures
Region-wide forest closure orders for the State of California will end tonight at midnight. This will open a massive amount of recreational infrastructure to the public. The Tahoe Basin still has active fire burning and will not be fully open. There is a through the 19th of September and the?. Lake Tahoe Nevada State Parks are closed through the 17th. Additionally, that restrict access to the trail as well. Check out the map below for an overview of what is opening when across these various jurisdictions. We will keep our website and social media pages up to date with any changes to these closures.?Please be respectful of these closures and remain outside of the impacted areas for your safety and so that the essential firefighting and restoration work can continue.
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It will be some time before we are able to assess the full scope of the impact of this fire but we know issues like erosion, tree mortality, and invasive species will be challenges along with rebuilding trails. When these areas reopen, users need to be vigilant in evaluating their surroundings and prepare for everything from flash flooding to falling trees.?
Fire has come and gone through the Tahoe Basin for generations. As humans, our concept of time is relatively short and fire impacts on what we see as essential qualities of a trail experience can be devastating. Trails aren't just the 12- to 24-inch tread surface which we will restore. It's the trees, viewshed, plants, and landscape that make the Tahoe Rim Trail experience so special. These qualities take time and energy to restore, sometimes generations. The fire highlights that our work to champion trails doesn't stop at the trail tread or even the trail corridor but requires investment and care at the watershed level and beyond. Here at the Tahoe Rim Trail Association, we will continue to invest in this work and look forward to getting out on the trail as soon as possible to start the process of rebuilding. We'll keep you updated as this work proceeds.
With Gratitude,
Morgan Steel
Executive Director
Tahoe Rim Trail Association |
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