Temporary Trail Closure in CT/NY due to Wildfire (near Kent)

[Lauriep]

A 7.5-mile section of the A.T. including Schaghticoke Campsite was closed on May 17 between Bulls Bridge (mile 1459.5 north of the Trail's southern terminus) and Mt. Algo Shelter (1467.0 miles north) due to a wildfire. The Mt. Algo Shelter remains open.

Signs are posted north and south of the closed portion (which crosses into New York for a few miles) redirecting hikers onto a local road to bypass that section. Hikers are asked to observe all posted signs that will direct them where to go. Long-distance hikers may ​skip the closed section and will still be eligible for 2,000-miler status without having to return to this section to make it up.

Official updates will be posted on the Appalachian Trail Conservancy Trail Updates page at www.appalachiantrail.org/updates as we receive them.

Laurie Potteiger
Appalachian Trail Conservancy

[Lauriep]

Just a quick post to give this a little visibility in case someone missed this yesterday. There were no updates overnight.

[Old Grouse]

Kent got a major rainstorm last night, which may have done some good. The local paper reported that the fire crew had to hike two hours (really?) to get to the burn area, which was on very steep terrain.

[Slo-go'en]

I did that section of trail once. Each time I've passed through there since I do the road walk. It's about 2 hours quicker then going up and over that stupid ridge. Everyone who does the official route is swearing by the time they get back down to the road.

[Old Grouse]

From today’s Danbury News Times:

KENT — The Schaghticoke Mountain fire that injured
four firefighters and has subjected several to harsh terrain and rattlesnake
territory continued to grow into Friday afternoon — last mapped at having
enveloped 100 acres.

The fire has more than doubled in size since midday Thursday and the area is rife with rattlesnakes.

Firefighters were back out trying to contain the growing blaze Friday, said Dennis
Schain, spokesman for the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, which is managing the fight. Schain said he didn’t how many firefighters were on the mountain Friday, but added
that they had changed their containment strategy.

Firefighters will try to contain the blaze on its south and southeast fire perimeter, Schain
said. The land’s topography makes it too difficult to contain the growing fire on the north and northeast front.

Some 20 firefighters and state officials returned to Schaghticoke on Thursday morning to battle a steadily growing fire replete with displaced, sometimes singed and angry, rattlesnakes.

[Old Grouse]

The fire is out, just a few smoldering spots to clean up. The cause has not yet been determined.

[BuckeyeBill]

Glad to hear that. Thanks for the update.

[u.w.]

Definitely great news that it's out. I hope any injured firefighters recover well and quickly, and a huge thanks to them!

u.w.

[Malto]

Fighting fires and battling angry singed rattle snakes. What a combo.

[Just Tom]

One of my favorite sections in CT, and IMO the most rugged here. Hoping it wasn't started up at the campsite by some careless hiker, there is a fire ban in all of the CT AT.

[Traveler]

One of my favorite sections in CT, and IMO the most rugged here. Hoping it wasn't started up at the campsite by some careless hiker, there is a fire ban in all of the CT AT.

Except for the entitled who believe rules are for everyone else.

[Lauriep]

We just got word from the Appalachian Mountain Club - Connecticut Chapter (the official maintaining organization of the A.T. in Connecticut) that the A.T. across Schaghticoke Mountain has re-opened today, and the detour is no longer signed.

[BillyGr]

Definitely a good sized area that was burned, and right along the trail. When first entering, it was only on the left hand side of the trail (Northbound) but as it progressed, there was some burn on both sides of the trail. Mostly the ground cover and downed branches, with a few trees here & there showing blackening on the bottom foot or so of trunk.

It wasn't too close to the campsite (basically it stopped northbound at a small crossing, then you hike a bit to a larger stream where the campsite is), so it doesn't look to be connected to anyone/anything at the campsite.

Thank you for keeping everyone updated and a special big thank you to everyone involved in putting it out, as it had to be difficult (given the amount of area covered and relative lack of access aside from walking in via trail), and at no point does the trailway itself look burned, even when there is burn area on both sides.