On A Hike

Thank you all so much for the kind words about the fire burning in my area.  It is currently 40% contained, but has burned up and over 14,000 acres and is headed out of the mountains into the desert.  My heart is still aching over the whole thing not just because it is burning up the mountains but for several reasons.  I got a few comments about how this is a natural thing that could help the environment and yes, as much as fire can help come animals and plants, this fire was not started naturally; it was started by an airplane crash (in which I provide my greatest sympathies to the families who lost their loved ones). 

Another reason why I was so upset is because many of these areas are not open to the public and it’s hard to believe that I might have been one of the last people to see it in it’s pristine environment for the past 100+ years.  But on top of it all, there was a fire in some of the areas where the fire was headed back in 97’ and it was such a hot fire that it incinerated everything, from homes to trailers to plants and even seeds.  It’s crazy how bad it was and even now, over 13 years later, there still are no trees growing back in that burn area!  I didn’t want that to happen to what was left of the areas that weren’t burnt!

Anyhow, enough of my pity party.  Here is a picture I got this afternoon of the fire heading down into the desert.  It is just devastating to watch.  That was where I worked all the time.

I was lucky today though to have a distraction from the fire and able to do some hiking for work in another part of the Sierra’s north of where the fire was burning.  It was hot as hades, but a good 6.6 mile hike overall.  I saw no Black Bears this time, thank goodness, but did see an array of other beautiful things!

Some squirrel or chipmunk had a great dinner/lunch/breakfast at this area. So many pine cones eaten!

This picture and the next is what I have dubbed Hummingbird Grove.  I took a video that I hope to show you soon, but most of all want to you listen.  You will be AMAZED at the number of Rufous Hummingbirds calling and chasing each other in the background.  I must have counted over 50 of the beauties in the 5 minutes that I stood there to admire the scenery!

I encountered this awful plant along the hike that left me bleeding all over the place!  I have no idea what it is, but it has the sharpest thorns ever!  The little red balls are covered in spikes too!  I need to start learning my plants!

The trail also provided me with limbo opportunities..bet you never saw that coming.  I totally did the limbo in the middle of the forest. 

This part of the trail is one of my favorites because of the oaks that fill up the canopy and just provide such a peaceful place for you to hike and think.

And last but not least one of my favorite trees: the Manzanita.  They trees are sooooooo beautiful because their bark is this blood red color that stands out like crazy.  And even cooler, it peels, like you can see in the picture!  How neat is that!

Anyhow, that was my day in the field and a fire update.  I’m hoping to have some good food to post about soon but with the heat and a 10+ hour work day like today, I only feel like having a smoothie for dinner.  Sad food life for me!