Touring up into the 220,000 acre Caldor fire burn zone from fall of 2021. Most of the trees were killed, though the trunks were not consumed, and little patches of forest were spared.
Spotted this invasive weed at a distance, incredulous. Lactuca verosa
fire scorched picture puzzle Jeffery Pine bark
fire burnished and weathered sap wood
Not seeing much deadfall here yet, though these gusts had my attention
nearing the top of the fire extent on the bench at the top of the steep slope at 9,000′
Hemlock cone on wind sculpted pedestal.
coming unwound
This high hanging valley was spared. The south facing backside of this peaklet was about as high as the Caldor burnt, at about 9800′
Salvage operations, taking some of the standing dead for milling makes cents, but it’s not really whats best for the forest. That organic material needs to return to feed our meager soils, if these forests are to have much hope of regenerating.