Oh, it’s bad, folks.
- September 8th, 2009
- Posted in Uncategorized
- By Edie
- Write comment
The Big Meadow Fire is 100% contained, with some spot fires burning within the containment perimeter. Big Oak Flat road between 140 and 120 is now open, and I’ve just returned from Crane Flat with some images to share. The fire truly devastated the hills surrounding Big Meadow.
As you drive up Big Oak Flat road, once you pass the third tunnel and make the right turn at the Foresta road turnoff, it’s obvious how bad it was; the devastation is heartbreaking.
Park at the trailhead for the Old Big Oak Flat trailhead, and look down–it will bring new meaning to “scorched earth policy”. Now that brush has been cleared, you’ll be able to see huge boulders dropped by glaciers 15,000 years ago. Smoke collects and creeps like fog, and spot fires twinkle in the gathering gloom.
I’ve lived in Yosemite for 4 years, and have been watching the return of vegetation return to the hill above Foresta each spring. It’s all gone now. It should be a remarkable spring, at least.
However, what you describe here is much different – and much more troubling – that what I saw along Tioga Pass Road. It seems like this destroyed the new growth that was finally starting the process of reforesting this area. That would be truly tragic and a huge setback for the environment of this spot.
Dan