Pat Smith (camp business manager), Becky Smith (photographer) and I (Chuck Smith) visited Camp Whitsett on Tuesday morning, July 30. We wanted to get our scanner to scan in some of our photographs, and to see for ourselves what the camp looked like. I went through a whole body of emotions as we drove the 32 miles up Mountain Highway 99.

     We left Kernville following close behind our Forest Service escort. We stopped to check in, then drove through the CHP checkpoint under heavy smoke (the Kern Valley is experiencing heavy smoke days because of the McNally and other fires in the area). I knew that this part of the Forest was clear but looked around expectantly. 

     At about the five mile mark we observed charred brush, trees and ground. The fire, which had started up the road, also burned south toward Kernville. We passed by a sign that said "Be Safe With Fireworks"; charred ground lay all around. As we drove on, more and more land was blackened. We observed a strange white ash lying in spots on top of the black. Trees in the distance began to show up completely burned. Whole areas look strangely empty, having been dark green a few weeks ago, heavy with brush. A cheerful feeling overtook us as we passed the newest resort at Corral Creek. It is under construction and the owner was working on his second floor seemingly oblivious to the blackened earth behind him.

     McNally's "Fairview on the Kern" was next. This motel and restaurant, widely known for its stupendous steaks, was clear. Another "happy" feeling. Then, the moment I dreaded: Road's End. This historic spot, which at one time was the end of the road, was almost entirely gone. Everything was burned to the ground. Only the chimney where the restaurant, that once served the best prime rib I have ever eaten, stood amidst the ruin. The copious trees that used to overhang the road? Gone. One lone table sat on the patio in front of where the store once stood. As in many fires, three of the cabins miraculously remained untouched. The fire started at Road's End and spread north and south. It quickly scorched up river, destroying everything in its path. We continued to drive up Mountain 99 observing this destruction.

     Our elation at having seen McNally's unscathed, dropped further and further down in an inverse relation as we rose higher and higher in elevation. One note --- So. Cal. Edison was out in force replacing power poles that had been destroyed. We saw a helicopter lift a pole from their Brush Creek storage area to the hillside for erection. As we turned the bend, into the area just south of Johnsondale, we saw the full force of what a fire can do. Only black debris, not recognizable as trees, stood in places where I remember trees and thick brush. And over all the black, lay that white ash. Around Johnsondale black stalks stood against the smoky background.

     Johnsondale was clear. The Forest Service had lit backfires to protect this town and resort (The "R" Ranch - In the Sequoias). The oppressive blackened earth surrounded Johnsondale but the fire did not make it into the town. We continued on the road to Whitsett. On the right --- scorch marks. On the left --- clear green. Sentinel Peak could be seen through the thick smoke as we continued on the Lloyd Meadow Road. Each turn brought renewed elation because we could see less and less evidence of a fire. We turned into the camp road, under the gateway. Everything looked fine --- nothing looked amiss.

     In the heart of camp one would not know that a fire had raged by a week before. The only evidence was smoky air (and that wasn't too bad in camp). Everything looked just as we had left it. Books, paperwork and sipper bottles remained on the tables Under the Big Top (even the fan to cool Bev, who was taking ice cream, rafting and service sign-ups, was standing). Some pens and troop lists were on the tables in front of the Trading Post. It looked as though we had just stepped away for a moment. Everything was OK!  Sentinel had a strange orange stain on its south east edge, but everything was OK!!!!!

     We went to the lake, it looked fine. Tents were down in Hopi campsite and things looked windblown. The down draft from the large Crane Helicopters had flattened things a bit. NOTE: These helicopters are awesome. Two, one thousand gallon tanks hang, from the slender bodies, which resemble a dragon fly. A flexible snorkel hangs from the tanks. This snorkel can suck up the two thousand gallons of water in less than a minute - I think I was told in 30 seconds! The helicopter can then hover over a hot spot and deliver as little or as much water as needed - all controlled by the helicopter pilots. The down draft from the 6 blades sprays surface water everywhere, and would certainly scare any fish away from the snorkel --- it would resemble a giant, hovering bird. Everything else looked OK. Our positive feeling were back. Everything was OK!!!!!

     Then ... the first evidence of fire in or very close to Camp Whitsett. Blackened earth could be seen across from C.O.P.E.  The charred ground went right up to the stream, or I should say started at the stream, the result of back fires lit to help stop the onrushing flames. It looked ominous but strangely peaceful. Horses were grazing under the high C.O.P.E. course adding a new element to the excitement: Horse droppings!. But, the horses looked fine, rested in fact ... After all, all they had to do was eat and play. Nobody riding on their backs. Nobody ordering them around ... just R & R for them.

     Gloom descended as we drove into the Horse area and saw Elephant Knob. The rock stood firm but all the brush was scorched. Gone ... Elephant Knob was blackened. As we rose over the Whitsett Sierra area I had immense mixed feelings. Horses were peacefully grazing on the deep green grass in the meadow, but beyond it --- blackened earth. Black tree stalks rose over black ground. Black stumps of burned bushes dotted the blackened edge of the meadow. And that eerie white ash lay in patches everywhere. Everything beyond the meadow looked ... words cannot describe the feelings I had then and have now. I was amazed and enthralled and frightened then ... the tears waited until I began typing that last sentence. And as I read and proof this page, those tears return. A week of standing firm.  Now . . .

     Whitsett stands. It is quiet throughout the camp. Small sounds can be heard, nothing above a whisper. Whitsett will rise from the ashes. Whitsett remains to be a positive force in the lives of tens of thousands more Scouts and Adults over the coming years. We'll all look back on this with amazement. And, looking at the map and the way the fire curves around Whitsett, perhaps we'll wonder, "Is the White Horse story really true?"

But for now, Whitsett is silent . . .

     And what is even more unbelievable. All this ... all this devastation in the largest fire ever to attack the Sequoia National Forest ... all this sadness and upheaval of lives during this past week and beyond ... all this turmoil ... all this because someone wanted a hot dog, built an illegal campfire in an uncleared area to cook it, then allowed that campfire to get away.

     A large fire started about 10 miles from Whitsett at about 2:15 p.m. Sunday afternoon, July 21st, caused by an out-of-control campfire, in the area known as Road's End Resort. It rapidly moved north toward Johnsondale and camp, and south toward Kernville burning Road's End Resort in the process. [The famous steak house, McNally's Fairview on the Kern Resort, one mile from Road's End, was spared the devastation of Road's End, and still stands.] We were ordered to evacuate Camp at approximately 3:00 Sunday afternoon, soon after the start of the fire (we had been watching the progress of the fire and had been in touch with the U.S. Forest Service, preparing for evacuation, just in case). The Scouts who had just begun to arrive at camp, and the majority of the 2002 Camp Staff, were transported to California Hot Springs and were put up at the Hot Springs Elementary School, the guests of District Superintendent Mr. I. J. Blevens. The Porterville Wal-Mart provided food for the 465 campers and staff who gathered at the school, at no cost to Camp. The food was transported to Hot Springs by adults of Porterville Boy Scout Troop, #132, who arranged for the food, gathered it, and transported it to camp after having been alerted by staff. [Dinner was courtesy of the Porterville Wal-Mart at no charge to Whitsett]. The Tulare-Kings chapter of the American Red Cross arrived at about 8:30 pm and provided water, ice, cots, blankets, and great support all during our "Refugee Camp" stay. The Red Cross continued its presence until Monday afternoon providing coffee (yea!), water and ice.
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     On Monday morning, Staff provided a special program camp for the campers in attendance there at WHITSETT HOT SPRINGS (as we named our Home-Away-From-Home). The program included preliminary Merit Badge work, a super obstacle course complete with a water event, and Nature activities and a Nature Hike. [The ONLY injuries during this ordeal was the scrapes and bumps acquired on the Obstacle Course] On Monday afternoon it was determined that we would not be able to return to Whitsett and troops began plans to return  home. At about 3:00 Monday afternoon, a representative of the Tulare County Sheriff requested that we leave the Hot Springs area, once again due to possible fire problems (our second evacuation in as many days). Campers went home and Staff returned to their homes or homes of other staff members to await possible re-entry to Whitsett.  Some Junior Staff and most of the Senior Staff moved to the Motel 6 “Refugee Camp” in Porterville to await word from camp.  The Camp Whitsett Staff continues their vigil, but from their homes. Staff members returned home on Thursday morning.  Now, like the expectant 2002 Scouts and leaders, like camp and staff alumni, like the employees of WLACC --- we all wait. Let's hope the wait is fruitful and that, like the Phoenix, Whitsett will rise from the Ashes.
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     The Camp Whitsett Staff held up well during this waiting period. Although the relaxation and fellowship were wonderful, the Staff was and still is itching to get back to Whitsett. We want to get back to not only see our camp, but itching to start back to work. The worst part in all of this, the destruction notwithstanding, is the disappointment to Scouts who have planned their Whitsett adventure for a year. We were hired to present a super program to Scouts, it hurts not to be able to do that. Whitsett is "one of the only green areas in the Forest. The Forest Service won't give up on Whitsett.", said our 2002 Camp Director, Hoss McNutt. “If you took a Forest map and put your thumb on Whitsett, it would cover the only green area within miles”, reported Mr. Art Gaffrey, Superintendent of Sequoia National Forest. If you wish to thank the fire fighters for their efforts, there is a special email for them:  mcnallyfire2002thankyou@yahoo.com

     A very special thanks to the U.S. Forest Service for their efforts on behalf of Camp Whitsett and the other places in the Sequoia National Forest where people's hearts are located.  Camp Whitsett was used as a fire base camp because of its facilities (normally room for over 500 - which includes a kitchen and dining area, storage, bathrooms, showers, etc.), large lake for fire-fighting water supply, open ground for air staging area, and closeness to a choice of roads out of the area. The fact that Whitsett was a very defensible Fire Camp had its advantages to us --- a better than 50-50 chance of still being here.  In a way, Whitsett had a hand in helping to protect itself and the area near us.

     Over a three day period, November 9, 10 and 11, Camp Whitsett and the surrounding Sequoia National Forest received nearly 17 inches of rain. The excessive rain caused some road washouts at Whitsett and dropped a tree which fell on the Commissary which damaged the roof. The biggest problem was the tremendous amount of water coming down the Kern River. At one time, the river was running over 26,000 cubic feet a second of water coming past the Kernville Bridge (at the beginning of the summer there was under 2,000 cubic feet per second) -- this is flood stage. Not only was there a large amount of water, but it was black with ash and mud, and filled with burnt logs. The mud and ash also inundated the Fish Hatchery, and almost destroyed all the fish. Because of the quick, diligent effort of a group of volunteers, the fish were harvested and set free in Lake Isabella (resulting in a fishing heaven for a while). The roof can be repaired --- we haven't heard any word on what erosional damage was done to the thousands of burnt acres of precious forest land. As soon as the Forest Service can ascertain the damage, or we can get an update from our Camp Ranger, we will report it here.