For RVing in the Western US, June is smoke free

[The_Barbarian1]

For those like me that camp in the summer months, June is THE month to avoid forest fires and the smoke from the forest fires. The western United States is still damp from winter snows and spring rains in June. Right now I have a sister outside of Glacier National Park and they are closing the roads and lodges due to the smoke. A cousin is driving through Ashland, Oregon and awoke to a smoke filled horizon. I am down here in Bako with the cleanest air. (And for those of you who know Bakersfield, that is saying a lot.) I had a friend and his son drawn to Western Montana a few years ago to go backpacking and take photos -- smoke filled many shots.

[Thom02099]

Perhaps a better definition of "Western US" would be in order. June being smoke free is not necessarily so in Colorado. Three of the biggest and most damaging fires in recent history in Colorado were in...June.

The High Park Fire started in early June and was not contained until the end of the month. Burned over 87000 acres, the 2nd largest fire in Colorado history.

The Waldo Canyon fire started in late June and wasn't contained until nearly mid-July. Burned over 18000 acres and forced 32000 people to evacuate their homes. Between those 2 fires, over 600 homes were destroyed.

But perhaps the most destructive was the Black Forest Fire...again in early June. While not the biggest at 14000 acres, this fire alone destroyed over 500 homes.

To say June is smoke free in Colorado would not be accurate every year.

[Towin_Toys]

Yes, but depending on the winter many campsites are not yet open due to snow or wet conditions, so check ahead.

[D_E_Bishop]

donn0128 wrote:
Up here fire season really does not kick off until early August. And then only some years.

I guess the news was wrong again, they said Brooklngs is threatened by a fire and last week we ran into the smoke from that fire in Santa Rosa CA.

[Tom_Barb]

This is why we make our trips early in the year. Clear sky empty, campgrounds, no fires.

[2oldman]

It's been a hot and smoky summer here in E WA. June was clear. The smoke started in August.

[Lwiddis]

There are those days, Paw Paw. 😞

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

We had one clear day at Glacier a little over a week ago, after some rain showers.

On the drive to Missoula we could not see any of the Mission Mountains.

In Yellowstone Friday, we could not see anything of the mountains above Swan Lake.

Today crossing the Big Horn NF, we could not see more than 1/4 mile at Sand Curve on the downhill run toward Dayton on US-14.

Hope we get a decent view of Devils Tower tomorrow.

Not complaining, we are having a wonderful trip. Just wish the visibility was better.

[donn0128]

Up here fire season really does not kick off until early August. And then only some years.

[Lwiddis]

Parts, yes, but not often on the eastern side of the Santa Lucias in California around Paseo Robles, Camp Roberts and Hunter Liggett. Too many mortars, flares etc.