Fire near Lumpy

Was climbing at Lumpy yesterday and around 4 in the afternoon a big cloud of smoke developed up-valley (due west) of Lumpy. Looked like it was coming from upstream in the Black Canyon area. Never saw the fire itself, and the smoke drifted over us and seemed to disperse by the time we left (around 7). Don't be too alarmed, but just be aware.

GO

It is the "Cow Creek" fire. S'posed to been burning since June 24. I'm assuming its not a big deal. It is directly north of Lumpy ridge.

wildfiretoday.com/2010/09/0…

I'm familiar with the Cow Creek fire, and yes, it is still having flare-ups several months after it mostly burned out. But in order for the smoke I saw to have originated from that fire, it would have had to have drifted 10 miles southwest and then changed direction to the southeast, and still have been very dense and compact. Seemed unlikely to me, which is why I didn't think it was from the Cow Creek fire.

GO

There's another fire around Carter Lake as well.

Or rather, I should say it probably *is* related to the Cow Creek Fire, but it *seems* to be much further south and west than it was previously.

GO

Scott McMahon wrote:There's another fire around Carter Lake as well.

Dude, that's waaaay east of Lumpy. The smoke I was talking about was coming from the *west*.

Okay, who's going to be the first to suggest that the smoke was coming from the Four Mile Canyon fire near Boulder?

Sheesh.

GO

I was up at Lumpy yesterday and thought it was Fourmile too. I have it on good authority (Boulder rural volunteer firefighter) that it was most likely the Reservoir Road Fire west of Loveland area.
examiner.com/weather-in-den…

fire

I'd say its the resivoir Road Fire inciweb.org/incident/2123/
Started Sept. 12th.

GabeO wrote: Dude, that's waaaay east of Lumpy. The smoke I was talking about was coming from the *west*. Okay, who's going to be the first to suggest that the smoke was coming from the Four Mile Canyon fire near Boulder? Sheesh. GO

Dude, I guess we're all morons for giving you our ideas that YOU asked for. Call the backcounty office if you want. And try not to sound like a dick.

Sheesh.

AN

Andy Novak wrote: Dude, I guess we're all morons for giving you our ideas that YOU asked for. Call the backcounty office if you want. And try not to sound like a dick. Sheesh. AN

I don't mean to come off as dismissive, but could those of you who think it's the Reservoir fire explain how dense compact smoke rising upstream (west) in Black Canyon as seen from Lumpy could be explained by a fire that's many miles to the east (the Reservoir fire)?

GO

Dude, it's your question, we gave you the answer. I not weather man, science guy. However, I am not surprised a fire in the foothills 5 to 10 miles west of Loveland created smoke that could be seen 10 to 15 miles away on Lumpy. Thats crazy. Crazy.

Well the reservoir fire is what I saw while on the Maiden Sunday. Was way too far north for the boulder fire so I thought it was a new one, and it is.

rangerdrew wrote:Dude, it's your question, we gave you the answer. I not weather man, science guy. However, I am not surprised a fire in the foothills 5 to 10 miles west of Loveland created smoke that could be seen 10 to 15 miles away on Lumpy. Thats crazy. Crazy.

Okay genius, what seems more likely, that a fire two or three miles away (Cow Creek) caused the smoke, or one 15 or 20 miles away and in the opposite direction of the prevailing winds (Reservoir)?

GO

GabeO = being kind of a douche in this thread