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Fire in Sinks

Original Post
Tom Rangitsch · · Lander, Wy · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 1,699

Not too much information as of yet, but it appears a large fire is burning in Sinks Canyon. Apparently it started at the dirt road that leads to Fairfield Hill. It has burned a significant portion of the south facing side of the canyon, including most of the main wall, down to the left side of the Killer Cave. Some friends of mine were up there today and thought that it may have been accidentally started by a truck driving up the Fairfield road, although this is all second hand. I will post later when there is more information.

Monomaniac · · Morrison, CO · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 17,295

I was there, we were at Addiction when we first noticed it. Not much to add. It definitely started at the Moss Cave parking lot (as Tom described). I saw a motorized dirt bike tear up the Fairfield Hill road a few minutes before we saw the fire. My gut tells me it was started by a spark from the motorbike, but that's just a guess.

It was amazing how quickly the fire got out of hand. If you ever find yourself in the wild and you see flames, get the fuck out of there as fast as possible.

Here are a couple of pics I took when I should have been hauling ass back to the road:

The start of the fire.

Flames. It got much worse.

braden herbst · · wyoming · Joined Oct 2010 · Points: 80

I gave a group a ride to their vehicles from up canyon and someone from the group left their stick clip in my truck. Get ahold of me if you would like to meet up. Braden 307 680 2736

Monomaniac · · Morrison, CO · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 17,295

Braden, do you have a white truck? If so I think that might be Ellen Bechtel's stick clip. Its black and red with black foam around it.
Thanks for the lift,
Mark

SteveBechtel · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 0

Just back from the canyon. The entire hillside between the Moss Cave and Killer Cave burned all the way to the wall, but there was basically no damage to the cliff. Better yet, the well-loved shade tree near Addiction is in good shape. Some of the dolomite boulders on the hillside below the cliff suffered some spalling, but I think we lucked out in general.

Monomaniac · · Morrison, CO · Joined Oct 2006 · Points: 17,295

Well, I guess thats good news considering. So is the fire out? Did the big trees around the Killer Cave survive?

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

General Climbing
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