The Pole Creek Fire has caused numerous closures in the wilderness southwest of Sisters. Current closures include the Pacific Crest Trail between Trail No. 3531 and the trailhead at state Highway 242, and Forest roads 15 and 16 south to Forest Road 4601, according to Deschutes National Forest officials.
Hikers who are on the Pacific Crest Trail can detour around the closures by using the Scott Trail heading west to state Highway 242.
Updates and maps of current fire locations and closures are available at www.inciweb .org/incident/3244.
Because area fire danger is high, public-use restrictions are still in effect limiting certain activities in forest areas. Campfires are prohibited outside of designated campfire rings, as is smoking outside of a building or vehicle unless flammable material has been cleared from the area in a 3-foot diameter. A full list of restrictions is available on the U.S. Forest Service website at www.fs.usda .gov/alerts/central oregon.
Other area trails are looking good, with approximately 80 percent of trails cleared of blowdown for the season, though some new trees may have fallen after the trail was cleared.
South Sisters Climbers Trail and trails at Green and Moraine lakes are now also free of snow and blowdown.
— Breanna Hostbjor, The Bulletin
