Given the recent fire activity and warm weather along the Front Range, the public is urged to know what restrictions apply to the areas they visit. Please remember many counties have fire restrictions in place and they apply to federal public lands as well.

The Sulphur Ranger District and Pawnee National Grassland are not currently in fire restrictions, but visitors are still encouraged to use extra caution during the higher fire danger across many parts of Colorado.

This is off the USDA Forest Service as of September 30

County
http://www.cofireban.info/

Still could find nothing in 'Black and White' that says Weld County
is not under any kind of ban.

Our NCR leaders will keep us informed as NOV. gets close. That is
the cool thing.

The key is dead grass. IF we have a North site full of dead, dry grass, adding water (rain) does little to cut down on potential fires. We certainly deserve a launch day though, hoping to hitch a ride with Xman.

You are correct. Much grass.

It has been saturated here. Ground wet four inches deep. Soggy leaves.

Hope for the same.

What we really need is a big dump of snow to knock down the grass and keep the ground moist. Or a herd of bufflao to crop it really short. As far as I have been able to determine, Fire Bans are being lifted but extra caution still dictates opportunities. I will be speaking with the USFS this week about scenarios. Stay positive and plan accordingly.

Joe, we need someone to show us the correct rain dance at the next general meeting... oh, like, el Presidente? You know, so we're all on the same page, or, 'er, um, dance.

Well, you put your left foot in, you take your left foot out..... What IF the Hokey Pokey IS what it's all about?

I thought it was...

"just a jump to the left...
and then a step to your right
Put your hands on your hips...
and then the knees in tight."

Ha, good one, Warren! I think the Hokey Pokey is the dance you use to put out a fire, only speeded up a little, not asking for rain. "You put your left foot in, you take your left foot out (quickly), etc., etc., then you shake it all about..."

I think we need a launch! You guys need somthing to do! 😉

any idea when the decision will be made? I'm having serious rocket withdrawal issues...

Most of the gains made here have been blown away with
three days of 40 to 50 mile an hour winds.

I stopped by the Atlas site the other day and it is pretty dry. I am sure the North isn't much different. The tough part is this time of year everything is dead anyways, moisture or no moisture. We had a lot of growth in the spring which means we have lots of dead fuel, just like last year.

Every launch site has it's downfall. The Salt Flats are really hard, the lakebeds are really dusty, the farm fields usually have scattered trees, powerlines or buildings and bad waivers sometimes. Although we have virtually unlimited recovery, an outstanding waiver, little dust, and reasonably soft ground we have the fire factor to cope with.

Less flying means more building, thats all 😉

I'm going to go camping up at the N site this weekend - will take a hard looksie at what the situation is like. I think Art nailed it, though - we have a lot of fuel out there.

I'll try to post again Sunday PM. I'll spend much of the weekend out there..

Taking the telescope John? Might have to find an excuse for the wife and I to drive out to the plains and do a little camping...

W