Sadly, the Rocky fire trampled through here in the last couple weeks, leaving 69,000 charred acres. I drove through the area when the highway reopened, coming back from a short vacation. I thought I'd be ok, fire is such a fact of life here.
But pulling into the camp area, fire crews still looking for hot spots, brought tears. I know those trails. I've ridden to that camp, that vet check, over that hill.
Grasses and wildflowers will recover quickly, the forest will take longer. I will hope that the fire went through so fast that it did less tree damage, but only time will tell. There may be pristine pockets saved by firefighters and the whim of the wind that day.
I'm looking at my trails a little more carefully right now. Taking more mental pictures, remembering. Just in case.
Oh wow, that hurt in the eyes. We don't have this in Germany, but I started to wonder after the 6 weeks of local hot spot, what could happen. The skyline of the forest is brown, leaves are falling and it seems that autumn started. How is the air in this area, does it smell burned?
ReplyDeleteThe air smelled burned, but usually clears after a few days. The first rains (if it ever rains here!) will bring up new grass, but only if they aren't really hard rain which washes away the topsoil. The Western United States has thousands of acres burning right now. I'm so glad you don't have this in Germany! It is sad and humbling.
DeleteAnd California's supposed to have hard rain this winter. Burns are so sad. It's good to have the memories.
ReplyDelete- The Equestrian Vagabond
Isn't that just wild. Fire season is exhausting
ReplyDelete