Gettysburg Daily

Burn Update: Pardee Field and Little Round Top

If all goes as planned, the vegetation around the Pardee Rock will be burned away this afternoon. Pardee Field is located on the western slope of Lower Culp’s Hill/Spangler’s Hill. For an overview of the fighting in this area, start with Part 7 of Licensed Battlefield Guide Charlie Fennel’s series on Culp’s Hill.This view was taken facing northeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.

This will be a noticeably smaller burn than the one that occurred at Little Round Top on Monday. The two people walking on the left of frame are on Geary Avenue. The monuments visible in the center background are located along Slocum Avenue.This view was taken facing north at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.
Like the burn on Little Round Top, this burn will also be enclosed by roads (Slocum and Geary Avenue). Approximately 14 acres in total will be subjected to a prescribed fire. 52 acres were burned at Little Round Top.This map was created on April 7, 2017 by Gettysburg National Military Park’s Resource Management Division.

Fire crew, referred to as “yellows” due to their distinctive yellow jackets, were at work in the northeast section of the burn area making preparations for today.This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.

Just like Little Round Top, this area is thick with undergrowth during the spring and summer months.This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.

Little Round Top after the prescribed fire, as seen from Crawford Avenue.This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.

Parking was open on the summit of Little Round Top, allowing more visitors to access the hill. It’s bus season in Gettysburg, so you can expect to encounter school groups. If you look below the students around the statue to Gouverneur K. Warren, you’ll notice a rope. There are “Area Closed” signs on some parts of the hill and at least one section near the summit has been roped off.This view was taken facing east at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.

Other than the blackened ground below, all was normal for a spring day at the most-visited area of the battlefield.This view was taken facing southeast at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.

Licensed Battlefield Guides were out giving tours to school groups. Licensed Battlefield Guide Britt Isenberg was asking students to consider why a commander would prefer to have their troops on this hill (Little Round Top), rather than the wooded hill to the north (Big Round Top).This view was taken facing south at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.

Gettysburg National Military Park’s Interpretive Rangers began their outdoor programs this week. According to the rangers we spoke with, it’s been pretty busy. This is Ranger Matt Atkinson wrapping up his program at the Angle.This view was taken facing northwest at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.

This panorama was taken the evening before the controlled burn of Little Round Top, from Houck’s Ridge. Remember that you can click on this image to enlarge it.This panorama was taken on Sunday, April 9, 2017.

Here is a panorama from Houck’s Ridge taken at the conclusion of the controlled burn.This panorama was taken at approximately 4:00 PM on Monday, April 10, 2017.

This panorama was taken the morning before the controlled burn of Little Round Top, from in front of the 91st Pennsylvania Infantry monument.This panorama was taken on Sunday, April 9, 2017.

Here is a panorama taken yesterday afternoon. If you look carefully in the left of frame, Licensed Battlefield Guide Britt Isenberg can be seen executing the “Guide Point.” And if you have really good eyes, you can spot Licensed Battlefield Guide Dave Hamacher with his bus group in the right of frame.This panorama was taken at approximately 4:30 PM on Wednesday, April 12, 2017.