Fire at Big Bend National Park causes structural damages

Fire at Big Bend National Park causes structural damages

 

A fire last night damaged structures in historic Castolon at Big Bend National Park. Pam LeBlanc photo

A 100-acre fire last night caused major damages at Big Bend National Park. This just in from Tom VandenBerg, chief of interpretation at Big Bend National Park:

 
 
“Big Bend suffered a major loss last evening, as a wildfire destroyed the La Harmonia Store/Visitor Center building, restrooms, and damaged one of the historic homes in the Castolon Historic District. The fire is estimated at 100 acres.
 
The fire began on the Mexico side of the river near Castolon. The fire was reported as having jumped across the Rio at approximately 1800 hours. Soon after it spread into the historic area. The fire continued burning to the west towards the campground but did not enter the campground. The campground was evacuated. The Castolon housing area was not affected and was not evacuated. Crews were fighting the fire until early this AM, and will continue today.
 
The most important news is that everyone is okay and accounted for.
 
Current resources deployed are:
  • Two structural crews (BIBE and Terlingua)
  • BIBE wildland crew
  • Two water tenders
  • fire engine from Alpine
  • TX state wildfire crew
Additional crews (Diablos) and engines will be arriving today. John Morlock is now the Incident Commander.
 
As of now, the Ross Maxwell Drive and Maverick Road are closed to entry. We will need to keep the access routes free and clear for emergency vehicles and equipment.
 
Jennette and I will put out an official press release later this AM, and we’re posting updates on the park’s Facebook page as things develop.
 
With the heartbreaking loss of the La Harmonia Store, a major icon of Big Bend’s history is now gone, along with a primary visitor services facility. The major focus today is to ensure the safety of firefighters, employees, and park visitors. Crews will work to continue to contain the fire, and ensure the protection of remaining structures and resources.
 
We have an amazing staff, partners, and park supporters, and we’ll get through this. We’ll keep everyone informed as things develop.”
 
 

 

 

 

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Skiing in May? I just did it

Skiing in May? I just did it

A lift takes skiers up Peak 7 at Breckenridge on May 21, 2019. Pam LeBlanc photo

It didn’t seem like it at first, but Mother Nature offered up a much appreciated gift for me yesterday.

I flew into Grand Junction, Colorado, yesterday afternoon, prepared for a week of hiking, crawling around in gold mines and standup paddle boarding on local rivers for some stories I’m working on. Then a late season snowstorm rolled in, stranding me for a few hours on the side of Interstate 70 near Vail. The pass had closed due to a pileup, and I couldn’t get through to Breckenridge, where I planned to stay the first two nights of my trip.

When I sent up a distress flair (via a phone call), officials in Breck quickly lined up a hotel for me in Vail (and two of my FaceBook friends with roots in the area offered lodging, too), but just as I was headed there, the interstate re-opened. I don’t have much experience driving in snow, so I went slow and made it just fine.

The base at Breckenridge Ski Resort today is more than 70 inches. Pam LeBlanc photo

And I’m glad I did. I woke up this morning to about 10 inches of fresh powder. My Breckenridge friend knows how much I love to ski. She delivered a bag of ski clothes and gear, and I headed to the mountain in time to get in line as the lifts opened.

Skiing, in late May? Two days ago I was cooling my heels in the San Marcos River, complaining (a little) about the heat. 

This year, Breckenridge stays open through Memorial Day weekend. It’s been a stellar season, with more than 440 inches of snow. It was due, too. Last year wasn’t nearly as good.

The slopes were not at all crowded. Pam LeBlanc photo

What a morning. I skied Breckenridge earlier this season, and spent a week in the Banff area skiing Lake Louise, Mount Norquay and Sunshine Village this year too. But today’s conditions were the best – powder midway up my calves, hardly anybody to get in my way, and miles of soft, white icing ready to track up.

It’s still snowing now, at 5 p.m. Big, fat flakes are soaring sideways through the air, piling up on my borrowed knit hat and slipping down the collar of my shirt. I couldn’t be happier.

It wasn’t the agenda I had planned, but it worked out to be even better.

Thanks, Mother Nature, for the snowy gift.

Skiing in late May? Yes! Pam LeBlanc photo

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Flood washes inner tubes down San Marcos River

Flood washes inner tubes down San Marcos River

Inner tubes swept away in flood waters are caught in trees along the San Marcos River. Pam LeBlanc photo

It gets hot in Texas, and one way Texans cope with the heat is by floating down rivers perched on inner tubes.

Venture down the San Marcos River on a hot summer afternoon and you’ll find a flotilla of people bobbing along, enjoying the cool water.  Lately, though, my paddling partners and I have been spotting deflated tubes dangling from tree branches and wrapped around logs and rocks.

Heavy rains in the last month have apparently swept many of the tubes, rented by outfits in and around San Marcos, away. Yesterday, my three-woman canoe racing team ran a 30-mile stretch between Staples Dam and Luling. We counted 15 escaped tubes in that stretch alone. The mesh bags given to tubers to hold their empty cans are also trashing the waterway.

Sheila Reiter approaches an inner tube caught in branches along the San Marcos River on May 19. Pam LeBlanc photo

My paddle partners and I have made it a mission to pick up balls (and shoes and other smallish items) that we find floating in the river, but the tubes are too big and heavy to pick up on our runs.

It really ticks me off. Shouldn’t the tube rental companies pick up their tubes, which apparently weren’t properly secured before the floodwaters took them away?

Trail Foundation reminds users – electric scooters not allowed on Butler Trail

Trail Foundation reminds users – electric scooters not allowed on Butler Trail

Annoyed by electric scooters buzzing around the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail?

The Trail Foundation has teamed with Austin’s Beef and Pie Productions to create a social media campaign reminding people that electric scooters are banned on the trail, a 10-mile loop around Lady Bird Lake.

The Foundation is also selling limited edition “No scooters on the Trail” T-shirts for $20 via its website, www.thetrailfoundation.org.

The Trail Foundation is selling No Scooters on the Trail T-shirts.

“We’re asking our friends to become walking billboards with the message that electric scooters are not allowed on the Butler Trail,” Heidi Anderson, executive director of The Trail Foundation, said in a press release.

People who see e-scooters on the trail are asked to report them to the City of Austin by dialing 311.

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Run, sip a marg and celebrate the trail June 6 at Maudie’s Moonlight Margarita Run

Run, sip a marg and celebrate the trail June 6 at Maudie’s Moonlight Margarita Run

 

That’s me, with an unknown runner, at last year’s Maudie’s Margarita Run and Party.

Because I believe there is no better way to celebrate the Butler Hike and Bike Trail around Lady Bird Lake than by running a 5K race and downing a margarita, I present to you the Maudie’s Moonlight Margarita Run.

I love this event, scheduled this year for 8 p.m. June 6 at the Seaholm Power Plant, 800 West Cesar Chavez Street. It’s the biggest fund-raiser of the year for The Trail Foundation, the non-profit organization that protects and enhances our beloved and much-used 10-mile urban path. The trail – the one you probably train on regularly, if you’re an Austin runner – logs more than 2.6 million visits each year. I love running the loop because I always bump into people I know.

The city’s running community shows up in force for the always sweaty run, then settles down for live music and Tex-Mex under the stars.

Tickets are $50 and are available here.

 

About Pam

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