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BC wildfires?

Original Post
Mark Straub · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 245

I was planning on driving up to Squamish tomorrow and staying until the end of July, but I've seen some news reports showing Vancouver swathed in wildfire smoke. Are there any access issues from Seattle to Squamish/ is there danger of wildfires spreading to Squamish?

Sean Stoops · · Henderson, NV · Joined Sep 2012 · Points: 75

It's pretty miserable here right now in Squamish. From downtown, you can only see a faint silhouette of The Chief. I'm here for an entire summer of climbing, but am looking at options now that the smoke has moved in. =(

Mark Straub · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 245

What are some viable options? I'm not quite sure what to do...

bearbreeder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 3,065

Canmore is always an option

As is the bc interior

If yr interested in climbing PM me ... Theres always something

;)

wanda w. · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 0

was planning to be in Squamish Jul 17-19 as well, but it's sounding borderline unsafe to be outdoors if the press isn't exaggerating too much.

Is Seattle area an option? Skykomish?

Mark Straub · · Fort Collins, CO · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 245

I'm in the Seattle area right now, and it is definitely not on fire.

Sean Stoops · · Henderson, NV · Joined Sep 2012 · Points: 75

Things here in Squamish might be getting better. Today was super hazy but it wasn't too bad to climb in. Temps are super cool right now with the smoke aloft. Forecasts seem to say the smoke should dissipate a bit tonight or tomorrow. Right now its not smelly or hard to breath or anything. I think today's air index was a 3 out of 10 here. I'm staying for now unless something gets worse.

JAtkinson · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2013 · Points: 1,411

it may be the first time this has even been said, but, its really fuckin hot in seattle at the moment and isn't set to cool down...

bearbreeder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 3,065

Its climable at the crags today though i still got a bit of a headache

But the higher you go the more the haze so multi is an adventure

Remember also that the wildfires are still raging so its really at the mercy of the winds

;)

wanda w. · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 0

appreciate the updates - will still plan on heading to Squamish unless things worsen over the next few days. had been hoping to do a few multipitch routes but it's not the end of the world if we need to stay low.

bearbreeder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 3,065

you can see the air quality here

bcairquality.ca/readings/

bc air quality

these webcams give you a good idea of the conditions of squamish and the GVRD

downtown and the bluffs ... you should be able to see the chief CLEARLY as a reference for a decently climbable day without too much smoke

squamish.ca/discover-squami…

various points on the highway around squamish

images.drivebc.ca/bchighway…

from the top of the squamish gondola facing howe sound

seatoskygondola.com/web-cam

squamish airport

metcam.navcanada.ca/dawc/lb…

downtown vancouver

katkam.ca/

facing north vancouver

jericho.ca/webcam/webcam.html

jsca.bc.ca/services/streamcam/

for squamish weather and advisories (environment canada is usually the most accurate site, they update at 5 am, 11 am and 4 pm daily)

weather.gc.ca/city/pages/bc…

;)

bearbreeder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 3,065

the smokey weather doesnt seem to be going away anytime soon ... the fires are still raging and it really depends on the prevailing winds

it looks like the dead bird climbing academy (formerly known as the squamish mountain festival) may well be in the smoke especially as many of their events are at the top of the gondola where smoke is heavier at altitude



Smoked out in Squamish

Expect wildfires to affect air quality for the summer, experts say


A fire expert warns it may be a long summer of smoky conditions in the district.

Air quality advisories spread across the Lower Mainland over the weekend and to Squamish Monday as approximately 184 active forest fires burned across B.C.

The smoke impacting Squamish is primarily from three fires north of the district: the Elaho, Cougar Creek and Boulder Creek fires, according to fire information officer Melissa Klassen.

The largest of the fires, the Elaho, which was discovered June 14, was an estimated 20,000 hectares and uncontained as of Tuesday after chaotic weekend winds undid containment established by fire crews during recent weeks.

Given it is early in the peak forest fire season, which usually begins mid-July, and that there has already been so many large wildfires in the region, smoke is expected in the district for much of the summer, Klassen said. “Given going forward these fires are going to continue to burn,” she said “There is going to continue to be smoke.”


more at link ... squamishchief.com/news/loca…

if yr camping and the smoke becomes bad, respiratory masks can be had at the local hardware stores ... just buy something ratred n95 at minimum

doh.wa.gov/Portals/1/Docume…

for those seeking a climbing experience with a bit less haze ... canmore is a good alternative ... revelstoke also works though its hot there midday (avoid the sunny walls) ... and the rogers pass has tons of alpine

;)
Mellow Yellow · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2011 · Points: 0

Dayum -thanks for the updates though!

Bill Kirby · · Keene New York · Joined Jul 2012 · Points: 480
bearbreeder wrote:smoked out in Squamish ;)
I've been there but not from wildfires! Haha.
JCM · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2008 · Points: 115

Currently in Seattle it is a bit hazy from the smoke coming from BC, but easily an order of magnitude better than what it sounds like in Squamish. Seattle area crags are good-to-go, and not excessively smoke affected. As of last weekend, the air at Washington Pass was clear and smoke-free. I can't say if any smoke has moved in since then.

bearbreeder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 3,065

The air is predicted to be good for this weekend ... However there is the possibility of rain =P

Bc air quality

Theres still a haze but the cragging has generally been fine

From yesterday

Orphan, perhaps squamish "hardest" 5.8, murrin park

This could all change either way anytime of course

;)

bearbreeder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 3,065

The smoke warning has been lifted

Squamish so clean

This could of course change any day if the winds shift

;)

wanda w. · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2013 · Points: 0

thanks so much for the info -- flying up there tomorrow from SF.

slightly off-topic, but since there seem to be locals here, would folks recommend that we hire a guide so that we can make the most of the 2 days that we've got up there?

i'm a bit route-finding challenged and have never been up there so unless it's super straightforward, I think we wouldn't mind investing in some local guidance.

will be picking up a copy of squamish select in Vancouver :)

bearbreeder · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2009 · Points: 3,065

If you have done trad into the 5.8-9 solidly then youll be fine without a guide on many moderate multis ... In fact the conga lines on the moderate multis will show you where to go =P

The route finding is pretty straight forward and the squamish select book has good descriptions

That said if you want a guide talk to colin at squamish rock guides ... Theyre the goto guys

For cragging you definately dont need a guide

Squamish is smoke free right now

;)

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Pacific Northwest
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