Paradise lost

A few of the places i feel happy and privileged to have hiked/photographed over the past 8 years:

Waldo Canyon
Williams Canyon
Queens Canyon/Glen Eyrie
Rampart Range

Hopefully i wont have to add the Garden to this list.

Yes, what a tragedy going on down there.

is rampart range gone Stan?

well, the miles of inferno are burning right over it, so a good chunk of it is gone.

Queen's Canyon holds a special place in my heart and it will be missed.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing when I turned on the news yesterday.

It is a sad day. I too hiked all those areas very frequently and knew the trails like the back of my hand. Waiting for the smoke to shift so I can see what's left of the Garden.
And lets not forget the tremendous loss of homes..

My heart goes out to all who have lost homes and everything in them. What an enormous tragedy! The whole area is under a flash flood watch this afternoon. It may take just that to stop this inferno.

Sadly, in the 3rd year of drought it will take more than an afternoon thunderstorm to help with this fire. It might cool down for a while but the woods are still going to be tinder dry. About the only thing that will be accomplished by the rain predicted this afternoon is runoff and flash flooding in the areas that have been burned. We need about 2 weeks of steady soaking rains to get out of this situation.

@Bob..not sure how engaged your department is on this one but please take good care.

Bill, we sent crews up last night. I was on in Pueblo but came home when the mandatory evac line was within a mile of the house. I'm still in my home, and barring a repeat of yesterday's events, we'll be fine. Thanks!

I really feel for you guys and the inhabitants (both man and others) in those areas.......

A couple of useful links to monitor the fire...

Live Audio of Radio Traffic, Fire / EMS
http://www.radioreference.com/apps/audio/?action=wp&feedId=34

Evacs, Status, Maps, almost by the minute.
http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2929/