We're driving up from DFW on Saturday and I'm beginning to look at some alternative routes, if needed around the wildfires.

Typically, we take 287 to the Amarillo loop. North to Dumas. West on 87 onto Raton and 25 north to Denver.

I'm looking at taking 86 west at Estelline and 385 north through Hereford and Channing and hitching back up with 87 in Hartley.

Is this necessary from anyone's recent travels? I'm also somewhat worried about smoke inhalation but that can vary depending on how the wind is blowing.

This map shows the large fires up there to all be east of 287, so you should be fine unless there is a north or east wind blowing when you drive through that could bring a lot of smoke across your route. I don't think an alternate route would make much difference in that case.

InciWeb the Incident Information System (wildfire.gov)

I responded on the OB thread, but this is a good place to answer as well.

Currently, the major fires are north and east of the travel route most people use for Spring Break, the 287/87 route through Wichita Falls, Amarillo, Dumas, Dalhart.

Winds this weekend are forecast to be from the southwest, which should force the smoke even further from that route.

The current fires exploded from a few acres to hundreds of thousands in hours, so you need to be alert and watching road condition and news sites. Be aware of anything in the western or southwestern Panhandle.

On the road, KGNC AM 710 is the Amarillo station that will be your main news/info station, and has a 50,000 watt signal that you should pick up 100 miles from Amarillo

An alternate route we sometimes take to the west is FM 1061 from Amarillo to Tascosa/385.

Ag CPA said:

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An alternate route we sometimes take to the west is FM 1061 from Amarillo to Tascosa/385.

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I really discourage that route.

For one thing, that takes you right by the Magenta fire, though it is mostly contained.

Second, the winding roads and limited passing lanes are frustrating and slow traffic.

Finally, Amarillo is building up that direction. So the traffic that direction is much worse than it's been in the past

Assuming you're going to drive straight through? If you're starting on Saturday and planning arriving on Sunday, I would plan on leaving earlier and arriving Saturday. The entire high country will likely be shut down Saturday night - all day Sunday for a sizeable storm passing through.

Leaving Summit County tomorrow AM and driving straight to DFW. Will be happy to check in with any issues on the 287 route.

JustPanda said:

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Assuming you're going to drive straight through? If you're starting on Saturday and planning arriving on Sunday, I would plan on leaving earlier and arriving Saturday. The entire high country will likely be shut down Saturday night - all day Sunday for a sizeable storm passing through.

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Driving all the way through. We usually leave around 3am to try and arrive around 5pm.

Hopefully the kiddo doesn't hate skiing after this. 2 days of ski school starting Sunday and Monday.

10andBOUNCE said:

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Leaving Summit County tomorrow AM and driving straight to DFW. Will be happy to check in with any issues on the 287 route.

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Thanks! That info would be helpful. I heard this morning it's supposed to pick back up this weekend with gusty wind and lower humidity.

We come from San Antonio and take the 1061/385 route and it's no problem. We are usually on that portion in the morning around 8am. We typically stay in Amarillo on the way up on the NW side of town. It's a beautiful drive through the Canadian River area just south of Channing with some incredibly rugged topography. It's really neat and the coolest part of the drive until you get to the mountains. It's also the same amount of time if not slightly faster than Dumas to Hartley. We'll monitor the fires and weather but we don't leave until the following Saturday 3/9.

No issues through Amarillo. Not even a road sign mentioning fires. Did our usual 287/40/335 route through Channing/Dalhart/Raton.

got it - we usually go 287/87 through Dumas.

Crews are getting a handle on the fires. Today was pretty day, relatively calm winds.

However -

Winds tomorrow and the day after (Saturday and Sunday, March 2 and 3) are forecast to be higher, humidity lower. So fire danger is ramping back up.

Winds sustained 20mph, gusts higher. So no where near as awful as the day the fires erupted, but still a concern.

CanyonAg77 said:

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Ag CPA said:

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An alternate route we sometimes take to the west is FM 1061 from Amarillo to Tascosa/385.

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I really discourage that route.

For one thing, that takes you right by the Magenta fire, though it is mostly contained.

Second, the winding roads and limited passing lanes are frustrating and slow traffic.

Finally, Amarillo is building up that direction. So the traffic that direction is much worse than it's been in the past

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I'm fine with 1061 because there are enough passing lanes to keep things moving; it's a winding/hilly road but that's part of what makes the drive interesting.

The beating is 385 between Tascosa and Hartley, can't remember which direction it is but one way has plenty of long passing lanes while the other has NONE the entire way. Add on top of that a lot of farm equipment using the road and it can try your patience if you are going the wrong direction.

Some wild fire rekindling today

Saw 0 remnants of anything on 287/87 route through dumas to Hartley.

Just drove through the worst blizzard I've ever been in here. 38 years and I think this one tops the list. Holy Moses was that epic.

I've been following some of the updates on social media. Very few times it's a good idea to be on I70 but real glad I missed the weather by a couple of days myself.

JustPanda said:

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Just drove through the worst blizzard I've ever been in here. 38 years and I think this one tops the list. Holy Moses was that epic.

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We got into Winter Park around 4pm Saturday. Nothing really started here until about 8pm… it didn't stop until sometime early this morning.

16" the news said. I think it did more than that.

Glad you made it. I was thinking about you. I think the low totals came from the amount of drift from the winds. The winds at our place were sideways. Vail reported 6 and I can tell you it snowed 6 inches on my drive home. At least 12-15 fell on the hill. Just gotta find those little wind stashes.

Wind was nuts.

Snow stake on the cam when I woke up around 4am was 10"… it had to have snowed another 10" from then forward, at least.

I predict it was probably around 20" total, maybe more.

2 days… still snowing.

Supposed to stay cloudy w a chance of snow each day through Friday.

The 4yr old did not enjoy ski school yesterday. Took today off. Hopefully tomorrow is a bit better.

Edit: she didn't enjoy the skiing part. Coloring and playing in the snow and Mac n cheese. Yes.

Powder is tough for kids and adults when they're learning. They don't really make beginner kids powder skis unfortunately.

I wouldn't say there was much skiing going on.

She's 4. And Texan. Out of breath, cold, and windy conditions are not ideal for warm blooded debutants.

We skied last Tuesday and my son who is 9 thinks he can shred anywhere all day. Went down an ungroomed black around lunchtime after about 5 inches accumulated from that storm and he was DONE after that. Thankfully next two days were mid 30s and sunny. I prefer the free refill days over the bluebird days, but kids generally need the sun shining and a little warmer. Hope your conditions get better and kids enjoy themselves!

Ultra proud dad moment today


Yes that's granddaddy skiing backwards in front.