{"id":1814,"date":"2012-06-18T18:35:42","date_gmt":"2012-06-19T00:35:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/?p=1814"},"modified":"2012-07-18T11:39:24","modified_gmt":"2012-07-18T17:39:24","slug":"planning-sota-activation-ncolorado-read","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.schnizer.com\/SOTAblog\/others\/planning-sota-activation-ncolorado-read\/","title":{"rendered":"Planning a SOTA Activation in N-Colorado? Better read on…"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Highpark Fire: Smoke behind my QTH<\/p><\/div>\n

As you might have heard, the wild-fire situation here in the west is pretty bad. We currently have a huge fire going on in northern Colorado which started just about 10 mi from my QTH. So far (day 10) it has consumed an area of more than 58000 acres (~230 square km), destroyed >180 homes and displaced hundreds of people. There is no end in sight and several SOTA peaks are within the burning area or very close by and therefore not accessible due to road closures and smoke. In case you are planning a SOTA activation in N-Colorado, make sure to check the Incident Information System<\/em><\/a> for the latest closures, evacuations and maps. I would suggest to stay away from all summits north-west of Ft. Collins, making US34 (Thompson Canyon) the last easy access into the Rockies.<\/p>\n

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Highpark Fire as seen from W\u00d8C\/FR-\u00d819 (Sundance Mtn)<\/p><\/div>\n

I created a map with the latest published data of the fire including the impacted SOTA peaks.<\/p>\n

\"Highpark<\/a>

Highpark Fire: impacted SOTA peaks<\/p><\/div>\n

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One of the 17 helicopters tackling the fire<\/p><\/div>\n

Keep in mind that we had another fire just three weeks ago (the Hewlett Fir<\/a>e) which burned large areas just north of CO14. Several SOTA peaks are within this (still burning) area, making access to W\u00d8C\/FR-\u00d895 (Greyrock Mtn)<\/a>, W\u00d8C\/FR-\u00d894 (North Greyrock)<\/a> and W\u00d8C\/FR-209 (7501)<\/a> impossible.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bottom line, plan your activation around here very carefully.<\/p>\n

73, Matt\/K\u00d8MOS<\/p>\n

Update (June 22, 2012):<\/strong>
\nJust a quick update on the fire in N-Colorado. It now spread to over 68’000 acres (>275 square kilometers), and more SOTA peaks are withing the burn area. Lost structures are now >190 and unfortunately one fatality.<\/p>\n

As far as I can tell from the published maps, the following additional SOTA peaks are now consumed by the fire as well.<\/p>\n