Fire Near Mount Adams Closes Trails, Prompts Evacuations

Forest officials worked over the weekend to evacuate more than 50 hikers, climbers and hunters from the southern flank of Mount Adams after lightning started a fire—dubbed the Cascade Creek Fire—on Sept. 8.

Gifford Pinchot National Forest spokesperson Ken Sandusky said Monday morning that the fire has grown to well over 1,000 acres.

The fire has closed the following trails and roads.

Road Closures:

• 8031 & 8040
• 020 between 80 and 8040 – Cherry Flats

Trail Closures:

• South Climb Cold Springs-#72 and #183
• Cold Springs Trail-#72
• Morrison Shorthorn-#16
• Gotchen Creek-#40
• Snipes Mountain-#11
• Crofton Butte-#73
• Salt Creek-#75
• Stagman Ridge (joins the PCT) -#12
• Lower Buck-#38

If you have upcoming plans for a hiking or climbing trip on the south side of Mount Adams, check the trail and road conditions before you go. All recreation sites on the south side of the mountain are closed, and forest officials are urging caution when choosing an alternate destination.

"Don't get yourself stuck down a one-way road," Sandusky advised hikers headed into Indian Heaven area or other parts of the forest as an alternative to the south side of Mount Adams. He encouraged hikers to have one or two driving routes out in case one of the recent lightning strikes in the area flared into a larger fire.

Forest officials said that westerly winds were pushing the Cascade Creek Fire east and south around the southern flank of Mt. Adams. Firefighters were working on evacuations, road and trail closures. High winds, remote location and rugged terrain were limiting firefighter access.

Other than the Gotchen Creek guard station, Sandsusky said that no structures were currently in danger from the fire.