We are experiencing some of the highest temperatures on record here in Colorado and while that makes for lovely early morning /late afternoon hikes...
Even the higher elevation does not offer much, if any, relief.
Still, long evenings at the top of a favorite spot, (we spent the 21st in camping chairs with a light dinner and champagne to bring in the solstice) watching till the skies are too dark to see anything but the city lights in the distance, are soul bendingly lovely.
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| Photo courtesy of 91.5 KUNC |
Bark Beetle damage has made swathes of forest into little more than tinder. In New Mexico, a recent fire devastated over 460 square miles of forest while here in Colorado firefighters are battling a fire just 60 miles from Denver. As of this morning, over 82,000 acres have burned and at least 141 houses have gone up in flames.
We could use a little rain.
We have got lots of rain and cool temps - I wish I could send you some.
ReplyDeleteMe too!
DeleteYou already know what we've got out here on the Wet Coast! LOL. If only we could even things out a bit and all enjoy pleasant and moderate conditions. Oh well. At least the damp around here is keeping the fire season at bay for a while. Only a handful of small fires across BC right now.
ReplyDeleteYou're lucky. I think it's going to be a long hot summer here with all these fires going already.
DeleteWe suffered those bark beetles in the White Mountains of Az during 2002. If it's any consolation, the forest does come back with a vengeance after the fire.
ReplyDeleteIt's always amazing how beautifully the flowers and grass springs back... but the tall beautiful pine take a bit alas.
DeleteBeautiful country. Oregon isn't on fire yet, but we haven't had much heat yet where I'm at. We had rain and 60/50 over the weekend. Hope it finds its way down your way. Fire season isn't long off here. With the dry winter, it will be a problem.
ReplyDeleteFires are going to be a problem in lots of areas, I fear. Cheers!
DeleteI think that global climate change is definitely upon us. The bark beetle no longer dies off during harsh winters (one of the only thing that keeps it in check). So it's allowed to devastate billions of square miles of forest which then burn down. The Republicans won't fight any of this because they all believe the end of the world (according to their religion) has been written in the Book of Revelations so they won't pass any environmental law. It's their opinion that if we use up and destroy all the resources, they will just get raptured. In the meantime, this "madness" salts the earth and destroys it for everyone.
ReplyDeleteYou said what I was implying. I read an article on bark beetle a while back... not only are they not dying but they are moving higher up north where they previously have not been seen. They are seeing Bark Beetle in Canada now! It's madness that we aren't acting more aggressively RIGHT NOW to solve the climate's disastrous shift toward chaos. Cheers Michael!
DeleteI'll send you my best rain thoughts!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful country. So sad to see it destroyed.
Sad indeed! Methinks the homeowners are also a bit sad.
DeleteYup, no climate change here, move along, nothing to see.
ReplyDeleteFlorida and the Keys will be underwater and we will go up in flames in the magical state of denial.
DeleteAustralia is always having bushfire problems in summer. We can sympathise with you guys!
ReplyDeleteI hope there's some rain soon!!