It's been an extremely busy few weeks, so please pardon my lack of participation recently in the forum. I've been taking photos of the High Park Fire from several angles in addition to working on two magazines and my book/print business. The publisher of the magazine company I work for and his family were evacuated from their cabin in Estes Park during the Woodland Heights fire yesterday. Thankfully they are safe and their property was not affected though owners of 21 other homes weren't as lucky.
Almost 250 homes in the High Park burn area have also been lost at last count. The fire has affected some of the spots I've visited since I was a child growing up in Northern Colorado such as Lory State Park, Picnic Rock, Greyrock and others. My best wishes go out to those impacted by these fires as well as the Waldo Canyon fire west of Colorado Springs and fires near Leadville, Mancos, Pagosa Springs and the rest of the state and region. With more days of record heat and red flag conditions ahead it seems we won't be out of danger for a while.
Here are a few images starting with a heavy slurry bomber at work west of Horsetooth Reservoir on the evening of June 11.
Horsetooth Mountain, barely visible through smoke. Taken from a location which usually provides a clear shot of these foothills, south of Fort Collins and west of Loveland on the morning of June 13.
Taken at sunset last night, June 23, from Wellington, Colorado. The is the last one for this post but I'll be uploading more of my photos from the first couple of weeks of the fire here on RMNP in the next few days.
A lot of these remind me of what we went through when Yellowstone blew up in 1988. We had to use our headlights during the daytime because the smoke was so thick and we live 90 miles north of the Yellowstone. Lets hope for a turn in the weather. We have fires starting up here in Montana too. Hang in there. Thanks for the images Joshua.
Thanks for the comments everyone. I agree, this experience has provided us with opportunities for images with a certain, tragic kind of beauty. I've occasionally visited the Hayman burn area and watched how the forest has begun to recover (slowly but surely). It will be interesting to see that process happen now in the backyard of my home region over the next several years.
Discussion
9 repliesAlmost 250 homes in the High Park burn area have also been lost at last count. The fire has affected some of the spots I've visited since I was a child growing up in Northern Colorado such as Lory State Park, Picnic Rock, Greyrock and others. My best wishes go out to those impacted by these fires as well as the Waldo Canyon fire west of Colorado Springs and fires near Leadville, Mancos, Pagosa Springs and the rest of the state and region. With more days of record heat and red flag conditions ahead it seems we won't be out of danger for a while.
Here are a few images starting with a heavy slurry bomber at work west of Horsetooth Reservoir on the evening of June 11.
Its sad to see so much devastation this year, not at all a surprise though, i would have bet big money on it...