Roads opened in wake of B&B Fire

Camp Sherman residents have been wondering when roads closed after last summer's B&B Complex Fire would reopen. Now they have an answer.

"We'll start opening some roads starting on Saturday, April 17," said Kris Martinson of the Sisters Ranger District. "This will be in stages with Priority 1 roads being opened first and then, as snow recedes, Priority 2 roads will be opened. The 'open' roads will be marked with orange dots (on road markers) to alert people which roads are legal to travel on."

There will be 16 Priority 1 roads, including the full length of Road 12 (currently open to the 1270 Road); the popular Candle Creek campground access route (Roads 1200 and 980), roads to the Jack Creek Campground and Head of Jack Creek trailhead (Roads 1232, 400, and 200); the 2066 and 700 Roads to Scout Lake; and Road 1292 to the Jefferson Lake trailhead.

"The road closure order after the fires was because of public hazards (falling trees) and potential recreation area damage," Martinson said. "We're working to remove hazard trees and there will be no off-road use of motorized vehicles except on 'orange-dot' roads. The road miles opened will grow as summer progresses."

There will be some travel restrictions during the summer in areas where culvert repair operations occur, according to Martinson. This will affect several areas along Road 12 and in the Abbot, Brush and First Creek areas.

"People using trails should be aware of downed logs, bridge repairs, and a little more treacherous nature of the terrain. Keep your eyes and ears open in the fire areas," Martinson said.

The north side trail at Suttle Lake remains closed because of burned curb logs that had separated the trail from the lake.

"We're trying to keep sediment from the trail getting into the lake," said Martinson. "Also, three little bridges along that trail are gone and there are still hazard trees in the area. We'll try to get the trail open by Memorial Day."

Also at Suttle Lake, the Link Creek Bridge has been condemned and will be removed. Because of lack of funds it will not be replaced at this time. For many years this has been a popular connection between Link Campground and the parking area at the west end of Suttle Lake.

The Round Lake roads (1210 and 600) remain closed due to hazardous conditions but may open later in the year.

"We recognize the interest in these roads and their recreational access features," said Martinson. "This was a large fire area and we have been busy trying to open as many roads as possible. We have limited resources and there have been appeals and litigation issues which also take time to process."

People violating road closures are subject to fines of up to $5,000.

Priority 2 roads, mainly at higher elevations, will be opened later this year. They include Roads 2076 and 200, the Meadow Lakes area from Corbett sno-park; Roads 1028 and 500, the Hortense Lake trailhead with access to Big Lake and Hoodoo; and the 1230 and 900 roads to Brush Creek trailhead.

A complete listing is available at the Sisters Ranger Station.