Before you head out, check Yosemite fire restrictions, planned burns in Washington and a damaged access road in Georgia. Today’s fishing update covers a federal shortraker rockfish retention action in the Gulf of Alaska.

Illustrative Yosemite Valley landscape from Tunnel View: NPS / C. Jacoby. National Park Service photo page. This is not a photograph of the current Dome Fire. No claim to original U.S. Government works.

Wildfire and Fire Restrictions

• Yosemite: Dome Fire containment reaches 86%: The October 13 morning release reports 86% containment, an unchanged perimeter for several days and minimal fire activity, with command scheduled to return to Yosemite National Park on October 15 (National Park Service). If you are planning a hike, the release lists Buena Vista Trail and trails within the active fire footprint as closed, including all southbound and eastbound trails accessed from Glacier Point Road; fire restrictions remain in effect below 8,000 feet (National Park Service). Alder Creek Trail is open north to Deer Camp Trailhead, and Chilnualna Falls Trail is open east from the trailhead to Chilnualna Fall and Crescent Lake (National Park Service).
• Washington: Upper Rendezvous prescribed burns planned: In its October 14 update, Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest lists approval to burn Upper Rendezvous Unit 1A, 97 acres, on Thursday, October 15, and Unit 1B, 113 acres, on Friday, October 16, in the Methow Valley Ranger District (U.S. Forest Service). These are planned prescribed burns, not confirmed completed operations: weather and fuel conditions determine whether they proceed, and unsuitable conditions will cancel the burns (U.S. Forest Service). If you are visiting nearby, check the forest’s current burn information before departure and allow for possible smoke (U.S. Forest Service).

Trail and Access Closures

• Georgia: Muskrat Road closes after a cave-in: An alert posted and updated October 13 says Forest Service Road 218, Muskrat Road, in Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest is temporarily closed because of a road cave-in following heavy rain (U.S. Forest Service). You can still reach the parking lot for the Windy Gap trail system; the alert does not provide a reopening date (U.S. Forest Service). Check with the Conasauga Ranger District at 706-695-6736 if your route depends on this road (U.S. Forest Service).

After confirming your route is open, review your essentials in our Hiking collection.

Fishing and Regulations

• Alaska: Shortraker rockfish retention action takes effect: NOAA’s notice issued October 13 prohibits retention of shortraker rockfish in the Central Regulatory Area of the Gulf of Alaska beginning at noon Alaska local time on October 14, with prohibited-species treatment for the remainder of 2026 subject to the notice’s exceptions (NOAA Fisheries). The action does not apply to catcher/processors checked into the Central Gulf of Alaska Rockfish Program and fishing with a rockfish cooperative quota permit (NOAA Fisheries). The notice also specifies separate provisions for catcher vessels using hook-and-line, pot or jig gear, and trawl catcher vessels participating in electronic monitoring, and says the requirements of 50 CFR 679.20(j)(4) apply while the prohibition is effective (NOAA Fisheries). If you operate an affected vessel, read the full notice for your gear and program before retaining catch; this fleet-specific action should not be read as a general recreational bag-limit announcement (NOAA Fisheries).

As you prepare your next fishing trip, browse our Fishing collection.

Featured Gear: Review the Princeton Tec Apex LED Headlamp, Black/Grey as you check your trail lighting. Confirm the product specifications suit your planned outing before choosing your gear.

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