First off, I want to say that I am back from a month and a half sabbatical from my blogging. I have been busy with packing, moving, fixing and painting a newly acquired home. Unpacking, finding things that I swear were packed in a certain box, but can’t be found. Painting (did I already say painting), installing a couple new doors, fixing a leaky toilet, learning how to maintain and care for a pool, the list goes on.

A few days ago I began subscribing to newspapers from around the country on my Kindle. I have found it interesting to follow some of the local news around the country. I did come across this article in the Anchorage Newspaper and wanted to pass it along.

The West is really dry and fires of course are bad in my home of Southern California. I have even heard of outbreaks up and down the Pacific Crest Trail. Now I am learning that even Alaska is having a real bad time.

So, be careful out there. Make sure you follow safe and proper fire regulations!

See you on the Trail, Peter

Anchorage Daily News
Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Alaska wildfire activity called unprecedented The Turquoise Lake fire burning along the South Fork of the Kuskokwim River has already consumed 57,000 acres and several structures, including the Farewell Lake Lodge.
By JAMES HALPIN and BLAIRE MALONEY Anchorage Daily News

Faced with 95 active wildfires and lightning bolts by the hundreds, Alaska wildfire officials Tuesday called fire activity for the month of May "unprecedented" and warned that the risk of more wildfires is high and that their resistance to control is nearing extreme. Thirteen of the fires were staffed with 1,467, firefighters, including some 900 people from the Lower 48, while others were burning unchecked in what has to date been an uncommonly hot and dry Alaska spring. The fire activity Tuesday prompted the National Interagency Coordination Center to elevate Alaska to Preparedness Level IV, topping every other region in the country. "We are now the national priority, which is good because that helps us in terms of getting resources, both people and equipment," said Pete Buist, a spokesman for the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center. The National Weather Service was predicting some respite in much of the state — cooler temperatures and some precipitation — but at the expense of accompanying thunderstorms. More than 2,000 lightning bolts snapped down on Alaska on Monday, with more lightning expected through the week, according to the interagency fire center. Near Anchorage, a wildfire burning about two miles south of Eklutna Lake, fueled by whipping winds Monday, exploded from 300 acres 1,300, fire officials said Tuesday. Cooler temperatures and more cloud cover helped firefighters hold a critical defensive line constructed during the night. But firefighters were bracing for strong afternoon winds that would put them to the test. There were 110 firefighters on the blaze, but they were hampered by steep canyon walls and thick smoke. The fire was considered uncontained Tuesday morning. The East Fork Trail has been closed until further notice, but the Eklutna campground remains open. Thick smoke prompted fire officials to advise people sensitive to smoke to stay indoors and avoid strenuous physical activity. Near McGrath, the Turquoise Lake fire was burning uncontrolled on 56,000 acres in a remote area. Last week it destroyed four cabins, the Farewell Lake Lodge and several outbuildings, and on Tuesday the fire was continuing to threaten 12 cabins in the vicinity, said Gary Lehnhausen, a spokesman for the state Division of Forestry. "I know they went out there to do structure protection and the fire was some of the most extreme conditions that people around here had ever seen," Lehnhausen said. "They basically had enough time to pick up the caretaker and leave before the fire overran the whole place." Crews on Monday attempted to drop a load of retardant on the holdover fire, but smoke was so dense they couldn’t see to drop it, he said. Crews Tuesday concentrated on several high-profile fires that have consumed vast quantities of forest acreage. The largest among them was the Eagle Trail fire, burning 13,200 acres about a half mile south of Tanacross, which is staffed with more than 500 firefighters. Crews say it is 15 percent contained. The Gilles Creek fire, burning about 20 miles north of Delta Junction, had consumed 16,400 acres of wildland growth and was staffed by more than 252 firefighters. The Toklat fire, about 25 miles southwest of Nenana, had burned 127,176 acres and was staffed by nearly 200 firefighters. The small McClain Lake fire continued to burn in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge on the east side of Swanson River, according to fire information officer Brian Ballou. The fire covered 40 acres. "No immediate structures seemed to be threatened" Ballou said. So far this year, 276 wildfires have burned through an estimated 353,000 acres statewide. Find James Halpin online at adn.com/contact/jhalpin or call him at 257-4589.

In California we are experiencing a real deficit crunch. The State is broke and everything is being affected. One of those is the California State Parks. I received an email a few days ago about a new initiative for raising revenue to “save the parks” I have strong feeling about the states and countries current state of affairs, but I will not get into that here.

Two weeks prior I got an email asking me to donate my time to help the Parks, which I replied with a yes. I have yet to hear back about how I can donate my time. Below are the details about the current plan. To cut to the chase, we will charged a fee of $18 annually to save the parks. I will do this, I love our State Parks, I know our government. I hope the money gets to the parks….

Here are the detail from the California State Parks Website:

A Bold New Plan to Save Our State Parks

On November 3rd, CSPF took the first of a series of formal steps toward a long-term, sustainable funding mechanism to keep state parks open and accessible for Californians.  Along with our partners in a campaign committee, we filed a proposed statewide ballot measure to try to put the State Park Access Pass on the ballot in November 2010. The measure is called the "California State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010" and calls on Californians to support their state park system and wildlife conservation areas by paying $18 annually for a State Park Access Pass surcharge on vehicle license fees.  

You know that for the last year and half, we’ve tried to work with the Legislature and Governor to Save Our State Parks. Although we staved off the closure of 80% of the system (proposed by the Governor), and elimination of all core state funding for state parks (also proposed by the Gov), it’s clear that the powers that be in Sacramento aren’t riding to the rescue for state parks. Well, we’re done trying to convince them and we’re taking our case to the people. CSPF is actively working to put the State Park Access Pass on the ballot in November 2010 and will be spending this Fall and Winter gathering public support.

In the coming months, there will be many ways to support this effort. This is an exciting step forward for all state park advocates, and there are many additional steps ahead as we explore the feasibility of getting in front of voters next November. Right now, we’re organizing volunteers to gather signatures to help qualify the initiative for the ballot. Not only are park supporters the most passionate voices on this issue, but using volunteers will be a great cost-savings for the campaign. If you’re willing to commit to helping put the State Park Access Pass on the ballot, please click here to join our team. Thank you for your support!

This is a little different from my usual post but I wanted to get the word out.

OnTheTrail.org Blog is now available via your Kindle! I would like to welcome any new readers that are getting OTT via Kindle. I would like to invite you to also visit our website at www.onthetrail.org. You will find lots of trail information for trails like the Pacific Crest Trail, the John Muir Trail, the Sierra High Route and more.

In my daily readings at Kindle Nation Daily I came across some helpful information on using your Kindle and wanted to pass it along. If you are experiencing any trouble with your subscriptions downloading or syncing, follow these instructions before you contact support:

Step-by-Step: Kindle System Restart

   1. Make sure your Kindle is on.*
   2. Disconnect the Kindle from the USB or Power Adapter cable.
   3. Press the Home button on the right edge of the Kindle.
   4. From the Home screen, press the Menu button on the right edge of the Kindle.
   5. Select "Settings" from the Home Menu.
   6. From the Settings page, press the Menu button again.
   7. Select "Restart" from the Setting Menu.
   8. Wait a couple of minutes for your Kindle to Restart, then give your Kindle another few minutes to update files, blog posts, etc.

*If your Kindle does not come on, or seems frozen, connect it via its Power Adapter to a wall outlet and give it an hour to re-energize itself.

See you on the trail, Peter

You may or may not have heard of a tpo file. This is a file that is used to store waypoints and route definitions for the National Geographic Topo! Map series. This is the mapping software that OnTheTrail.org has been using since 2004. As long as you have the NG Topo! software you can share your trail information via a *.tpo file. We found NG Topo! to be one of the best mapping software programs out there and at swiftmaps.com you will find the best prices for Topo!

National Geographic also had a website area where people could share their tpo files with others. I was called the MapExchange. It was a great resource for the outdoor community! But about a year ago, NG changed their position and removed the MapExchange. I have searched the internet and can not find any resource for these files.

OnTheTrail.org has decided to fill this void. You can find plenty of maps for download on our website and has created the OTT MapExchange! Currently you can find  .tpo’s that I have created at OTT MapExchange . OTT will be creating more and adding them as time permits. If you have any files that you would like to share, please email them to peter@onthetrail.org and we will get them posted to share with the world!

See you on the trail, Peter

Today I received a card in the mail explaining the changes in the backcountry permitting at the Grand Canyon. Effective February 1, 2010, backcountry requests made in person during the fourth month prior to the requested trip start date will no longer receive immediate, priority consideration. Instead, all of these permit requests will be placed together with the requests received by fax and mail and considered based on the date received…

Great, I wish I would have know about this in the past, now it doesn’t even matter. I was always standing at the fax machine, checking the fax machine, kicking the fax machine, etc. trying to get my permit request to go through. All this time I just could have driving there and got my request submitted and added to the top of the pile!

Well now we are all in the same boat, you too can get your second or third choice of campsite/trip itinerary just like me! But it is well worth it, you can not just drive up to the edge of this big hole and not experience it on a multiday trip. I, like many others, have done single day trips down into the canyon, doing a rim-2-rim, or a rim-2-rim-2-rim day, not much time to enjoy the canyon to the fullest.

So if you want all the details go to the NPS Grand Canyon Website at: www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/permit_change.htm .

It’s been an interesting year for OTT. We are happy that we have been able to bring some new content on our main website (onthetrail.org) but saddened that some of the projects have had to be pushed back due to other commitments. But it is a New Year and we are looking forward to exciting changes and new content!

With the new web site design and move to our own servers we are ready to bring you lots of new content and outdoor information that will help you with planning and getting outside more!

Please keep sending us your requests and questions, it is really great to hear from our readers.

Join us over the new year for all the new adventures and trail beta that will be released. Here are just some of the trips that we will be covering in 2010: Mt Whitney – the Mountaineers route, preparing, planning and climbing Mt Rainer and of course information of the wild places in the West!

Happy New Year – Peter