Heartbreaking reason why scenic, beautiful place named ‘friendliest city’ in US is being shunned by hikers this year

Heartbreaking reason why scenic, beautiful place named ‘friendliest city’ in US is being shunned by hikers this year



A quaint Northern California town that had become a must-see for thousands of hikers following the scenic Pacific Crest Trail has suddenly been ignored.

It looks like Etna in Siskiyou County is off the bucket list for California’s brave hikers this season.

The reason: Nearby wildfires are forcing hikers to rethink and reroute their routes.

Backpackers often stopped in Etna, which had the reputation of ‘the friendliest town on the route’.

The town was the perfect place to spend a night while hiking through the Klamath National Forest.

Etna in Siskiyou County, described as “the friendliest town on the trail,” appears to be off the list of California’s intrepid hikers this year
A lightning strike in June sparked several fires near the Klamath National Forest

Every year, around 6,000 hikers pass through the small town, which has just over 1,000 inhabitants.

But the Shelly Fire, which began in early July and has burned more than 15,460 acres so far, has left the small community in turmoil for the third year in a row. As of Friday, 18 percent of the blaze was contained.

For seasoned hikers completing the entire 4,265-kilometer trek from Mexico to California, Etna is the ideal place to catch their breath and relax before tackling the massive trail again.

Nestled beneath a pine forest in the Marble Mountain Wilderness, this city was once considered one of the best in the country and described as a “ranch town in a time machine,” Yellowstone “but without the traffic.”

While Etna’s residents are more than content with their rural seclusion, over the years the community has become increasingly dependent on seasonal visitors.

On Etna there are a number of shops and places to stay overnight. There are also several guesthouses for weary travellers.

The Shelly Fire on the Pacific Crest Trail has closed a section of the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from Etna Summit to the junction with the Shackleford Trail
Backpackers sign in for their logbook at the Southern Terminus along the U.S.-Mexico border in Campo, California
Etna is a small town in Northern California with a population of 1,000, but that number can swell to as many as 6,000 when hikers pass through.
The Shelly fire has burned 15,460 acres and is currently 18 percent contained

However, last week Etna was ordered to evacuate or prepare to leave as a forest fire approached.

This means that anyone considering hiking the PCT will now choose a different route and skip Etna altogether.

Some have decided to move on to Mount Shasta City, some 70 miles (112 kilometers) away, where there are more resources, while others simply skip the area and head to the neighboring state of Oregon.

Although few hikers visited Etna this year, the town has seen an unexpected increase in another group of customers: firefighters.

Nearly 4,000 people are working to contain the Shelly Fire. Emergency workers come from as far away as Maine. Many end up in center of Etna.

“We’re seeing a little bit of an uptick in business because of all the firefighters working so hard to save our town,” Brandy Hudson, co-owner of burger and fries shop Dotty’s, told SFGate.

“They have a fire camp set up two miles away, and even though they have a mobile kitchen and caterers, sometimes they get tired of the food,” Hudson explained. “And everyone knows Dotty’s has the best ice cream in the valley.”

Residents of Etna have put up signs to thank the fire brigade for their services
Grateful residents of Etna show their gratitude for the new visitors to the town
Even subtle signals can convey the gratitude of a city, now home to more than 4,000 residents in the region
Nearly 4,000 people are working to contain the Shelly Fire. Rescuers come from as far away as Maine, and many end up in downtown Etna.
Nearly 4,000 firefighters are working to extinguish the Shelly Fire. The emergency responders come from as far away as Maine, and many end up in the center of Etna.
Backpacker Stan Nassano heads out on the Pacific Crest Trail at the Southern Terminus (file)

Despite the presence of heroic visitors, the absence of hikers has changed the overall feel of the town, which was a regular draw for hikers along the Pacific Crest Trail.

“There is no silver lining,” said Meg Pick, owner of Etna Creek Outfitters.

“Hikers have told us Etna is the friendliest town on the trail. We miss the hikers and the cultural infusion that Etna brings,” said Craig Thompson, owner of the Bluebird Inn.

“They support the economy, but there’s that human element. We miss the friends we haven’t met yet.”

The Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA) proposed creating a smarter system that would directly inform hikers of potential closures along the trail. Now, an app has finally been developed.

Etna summit on Sawyers Bar Road in Siskiyou County, California, overlooking the Russian wilderness
Etna Summit on Sawyers Bar Road in Siskiyou County, California

This way, hikers do not avoid the area, while it is actually still open to the outside world.

“On June 25th, we built this app internally and launched it globally,” said Jack Haskel, trail information manager at PCTA. “The next day, I had to update the app with fire news after fire news.”

Still, it appears that California’s wildfire season is in full swing, with several large blazes already burning across the Golden State.

A lightning strike caused several fires in early June, after the state had had two wet winters in a row and was therefore no longer suffering from drought. However, a lot of grass did grow, which has now dried out.

The Vista fire in the San Bernardino National Forest and the White fire in the Tehachapi Mountains have also closed a number of hiking trails in Southern California.

In Northern California, the Shelly Fire is the biggest threat in the area. Two weeks after it started, it is still less than 20 percent contained.

Etna has been on high alert for most of July, despite the volcano having “become accustomed to these big fires”.

Firefighters are doing their utmost to prevent the flames from spreading eastwards towards the city centre. However, there is always an element of tension in the air, as much depends on the weather conditions, particularly wind and rain.

“That’s the strange thing about a wildfire. You have to wait a long time,” Thompson added.

“There are certain catastrophic fires that move quickly, but the fire we’re seeing now is growing slowly. There’s just an eeriness of waiting.”