Misplaced Pages

#229770

18-539: The Sourdough Fire was first reported on July 29, 2023, three days after a thunderstorm in the area with lightning strikes that caused nearby fires. It is named for Sourdough Mountain in North Cascades National Park . The fire grew to over 1,440 acres (580 ha) by August 4 and prompted the immediate closure of the North Cascades Highway ( State Route 20 ) between Newhalem and Rainy Pass . It

36-775: A day later and was reopened on August 30 for travel with pilot vehicles to direct traffic. The North Cascades Institute cancelled all of their programs for 2023 as a result of the fire, which forced their on-site employees to evacuate from dormitories. Management of the Sourdough Fire was transferred from the Northwest Incident Management Team 8 to the National Park Service on August 29 following successful containment measures. The fire's spread slowed after rainfall in early September as containment reached 25 percent; several campsites and recreation areas in

54-550: Is his poem "August on Sourdough, A Visit from Dick Brewer." Snyder's time at Sourdough Mountain Lookout is said to have provided the "seed experience for the poetry he is best known for: language full of the raw, playful wit that reflects the granite ridges where he worked and watched and wrote." Two years later Snyder was blacklisted by the Forest Service from working another season at Sourdough Mountain so Whalen took his place as

72-468: Is no longer used on a regular basis but is visited with some frequency by hikers and it is a 5 mi (8.0 km) hike to the cabin from the trailhead. During the summer of 1953, poet Gary Snyder worked at the location as a fire lookout while his friend and fellow poet Philip Whalen worked at Sauk Mountain Lookout. Snyder's poem "Mid-August at Sourdough Mountain Lookout" is based on his time there as

90-581: Is usually cloudy, but, due to high pressure systems over the Pacific Ocean that intensify during summer months, there is often little or no cloud cover during the summer. Because of maritime influence , snow tends to be wet and heavy, resulting in high avalanche danger. The North Cascades features some of the most rugged topography in the Cascade Range with craggy peaks, ridges, and deep glacial valleys . Geological events occurring many years ago created

108-552: The oceanic and continental lithosphere called terranes created the North Cascades about 50 million years ago. During the Pleistocene period dating back over two million years ago, glaciation advancing and retreating repeatedly scoured the landscape leaving deposits of rock debris. The U-shaped cross section of the river valleys is a result of recent glaciation. Uplift and faulting in combination with glaciation have been

126-512: The three hydroelectric dams in the area and suspended its tours of Diablo Lake. During evacuations of staff on August 2, the Diablo and Ross dams went offline while Gorge Dam continued with reduced output of about 50 percent; and several transmission lines were also shut down to prevent shorting. Power generation at the Diablo and Ross dams resumed on August 9. The fire was directed west towards Newhalem by firefighters using "burnout techniques";

144-569: The North Cascades National Park Complex were reopened on September 11 due to improved conditions. Sourdough Mountain (Whatcom County, Washington) Sourdough Mountain (6,111 feet (1,863 m)) is in North Cascades National Park in the U.S. state of Washington . The Sourdough Mountain Lookout , is a fire lookout that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933 near the summit. The lookout

162-628: The Sourdough Fire and other fires in Washington and British Columbia returned to the Puget Sound region the following week and caused the air quality index in Seattle to reach 190 on August 20, the worst among major cities globally. The North Cascades Highway reopened on August 23 for through travelers, with stops prohibited and recreation areas remaining closed due to the Sourdough and Blue Lake fires. It closed

180-467: The Sourdough Fire to continue southeast towards Diablo Lake and Gorge Lake and potentially west where "more continuous fuels exist". The fire, described as "long-duration", is not expected to be contained until October due to warm temperatures and low humidity. The community of Diablo is expected to remain under evacuation orders, along with the Diablo Dam . Seattle City Light plans to continue operating

198-504: The area near Newhalem includes burn scars from a 2015 wildfire that would slow progress. The strategy was paused after a red flag warning was issued by the National Weather Service for the Diablo area with a high temperature of 104 °F (40 °C) recorded on August 13. Smoke from the fire moved southwest into the Puget Sound region, including Seattle , on August 13 and caused worsened air quality readings. The smoke from

SECTION 10

#1733085381230

216-711: The diverse topography and drastic elevation changes over the Cascade Range leading to the various climate differences. These climate differences lead to vegetation variety defining the ecoregions in this area. The history of the formation of the Cascade Mountains dates back millions of years ago to the late Eocene Epoch. With the North American Plate overriding the Pacific Plate , episodes of volcanic igneous activity persisted. In addition, small fragments of

234-660: The dominant processes which have created the tall peaks and deep valleys of the North Cascades area. Sourdough Mountain Lookout The Sourdough Mountain Lookout is a fire lookout that was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933. Constructed atop Sourdough Mountain in North Cascades National Park , in the U.S. state of Washington , the lookout was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. An earlier lookout

252-501: The fire burned approximately 1,809 acres (732 ha) and was 5 percent contained with 411 firefighters, 6 helicopters, and several aircraft dispatched to the area. The Sourdough Mountain Lookout , a historic fire lookout tower atop the mountain, was wrapped in fireproof material to protect it from damage. The fire generated a large pyrocumulus cloud on August 4 that was visible from the Puget Sound region . Fire officials expect

270-529: The form of rain or snowfall onto the Cascades. As a result, the west side of the North Cascades experiences high precipitation, especially during the winter months in the form of snowfall. Due to its temperate climate and proximity to the Pacific Ocean, areas west of the Cascade Crest very rarely experience temperatures below 0 °F (−18 °C) or above 80 °F (27 °C). During winter months, weather

288-425: Was erected at the site in 1917 but was torn down when the current lookout was constructed. The current structure was built atop a rock foundation and is 14.25 ft (4.34 m) by 14.25 ft (4.34 m) square. The walls are composed of shiplap siding and the structure is covered with a wood-shingled hip roof. Diagonally-braced plywood shutters could be swung open for observation in each direction. The structure

306-399: Was initially reported on August 5 to be nearly 3,000 acres (1,200 ha) but the estimate was revised down with the use of more accurate mapping. The North Cascades Highway reopened on August 9, but closed again two days later due to increased fire activity near the road. Evacuations were ordered at several campsites and recreational facilities in the park around Diablo Lake . By August 11,

324-528: Was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. Sourdough Mountain is located in the marine west coast climate zone of western North America . Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean , and travel northeast toward the Cascade Mountains . As fronts approach the North Cascades , they are forced upward by the peaks of the Cascade Range, causing them to drop their moisture in

#229770