The PAC camp is closed to the public due to
fire danger until Sunday,
September 7th. Please read
on. Alternate plans are in place.
With forests aflame all over the West, Fire
Management rangers are concerned about the possibility of fire in the
Gifford-Pinchot National Forest. The terrain is extremely dry and our forest
fire crews and helicopter are on alert. The large number of PAC participants and
visitors increases fire hazards to a forest which has been at a level III-IV
fire danger for over a month now.
The
Mt. Adams Ranger Station has closed the PAC site to the public
until Sunday, September 7th. Riders may still camp in one of the 12
first-come, first-serve campsites at the Mt. Adams Horse Camp; however, no one
will be allowed to camp in the PAC field until Sunday, September 7th. Due to
this late notice, we have located a large field in Trout Lake for
all teams and/or vendors who had planned to stay in the camp prior to
the 7th. Please contact Chris Nielsen (nielsen@xxxxxxxxx; 509.395.2204), Stephanie
Irving (sirving@xxxxxxxxx; 509.395.2065)
or Zoe Woods (jelly@xxxxxxxxx;
509.395.2687) for more information on the location of the field. Non-competitors
or visitors, please contact the Mt. Adams Ranger Station (509.395.3400) for more
information on other designated camp sites (people or horse) available until
September 7th.
Fortunately, the rangers at the
Gifford-Pinchot would like to see the event happen, and they're working closely
with us to help establish a safe place for everyone. In addition to the
temporary closure of the camp, they've set out strict
requirements to which the OC and the public must adhere.
The OC is required to station a fire truck in
camp 24-7, draft and distribute a fire evacuation plan, and set up a
fold-up water tank and hose in one part of the field.
Participants and visitors must also abide by fire
management's mandates which include:
1) Absolutely no smoking or fires or outside
cooking.
2) All generators must have
appropriate spark arrestors and be located on at least 4-feet by 4-feet of
ground that is cleared to the soil. Generators that sit on 4x4 steel plates are
okay too.
3) No ATVs or chainsaws or any motorized vehicles
aside from your truck or automobile (the OC may have one at camp for
emergencies only).
4) Limited trips in and out of camp.
5) Vehicals parked in with teams or vendors should
consider themselves stationary for the duration (as much as possible). Vehicals
used to go from vet check to vet check should park in the visitor parking area.
We will have an attendant on duty to direct you to the proper parking
area.
If you have any questions about the above fire
plan, please contact any member of the Organizing Committee (listed above or on
our website www.endurance.net/2003pac and/or the
Mt. Adams Ranger Station (509.395.3400) and ask for Fire
Management.
We understand the above restrictions may cause some
inconvenience; however, the plan has been established for the safety of you,
your horse, and the forest.
Raindancing in Trout Lake,
Stephanie Irving
2003 PAC
Please help us spread the word to all PAC
participants and visitors, thanks.
