Closures affect winter activities

The B&B Complex Fire this summer has left lasting effects to the wilderness ecosystem that will require some changes in public use to help protect the fragile environment.

According to the Paul Engstrom, Wilderness Trails and Winter Sports Manager at the Sisters Ranger District, the destructive fires consumed approximately 90,000 acres -- 65,000 acres on the east side of the Cascade Mountains, part of the Sisters Ranger District. Of those 65,000 acres, 42,000 were in the Deschutes National Forest and 23,000 were in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness area.

Access restrictions and/or closures remain in effect in both the national forest and wilderness areas. Although these closures affect the area now, Engstrom speculates that as winter blankets the region the closed areas could reopen ,allowing access for the winter sportsman.

"We took out a lot of hazards," said Engstrom, speaking of damaged, dead or dying trees. "And we're waiting for some winter storms and wind to test the area."

The Deschutes National Forest closure, which runs east of Big Lake Road and west of Forest Service Road 12, will remain in effect until there is sufficient snowpack to mitigate the hazards.

"Deeper snow is safer," said Engstrom. "It keeps the damaged trees more anchored."

However, there remains the possibility that wind or heavy snow could bring those trees down. According to Engstrom, all people traveling in the forested areas need to have a healthy respect for nature and be careful, especially off-trail or back-country users.

Engstrom expects the National Forest will reopen in early winter, once there is sufficient snow.

The Mt. Jefferson Wilderness area is a separate issue. The Mt. Jefferson Wilderness is currently closed to all access north of the Santiam Highway.

"The wilderness is a place where the forces of nature are allowed to go on undisturbed," said Engstrom. "Man is just a visitor. People entering the wilderness are expected to be challenged and take risk."

The wilderness area remains closed, with no concrete plan to reopen at this time, although the wilderness ethic will no doubt play a role in the decision to reopen or not. Decision-making meetings are scheduled for early winter. Even if the wilderness reopens, travelers will have to abide by the wilderness rules, including no mechanized machinery -- including snowmobiles, bicycles, power saws, etc.

Engstrom foresees another potential problem even after the closures are lifted.

"The fires have cleared out a lot of the thicker timber that made access to the wilderness boundary difficult," he said.

Engstrom concedes this may lead to more temptation for users to access wilderness areas by snowmobile or ATV. To prevent misuse of the public land, there is currently an increased presence of law enforcement personnel in the closed areas. As the closures are lifted, the wilderness boundaries will be more heavily patrolled, looking for violators. Engstrom requests that winter sports enthusiasts respect the closure boundaries as well as the wilderness boundaries.

The Three Creek Lake and McKenzie Pass areas will be open as usual.