Scarred dignity: I couldn't quite bring myself to say scarred beauty. I took a hike today on a lovely trail that requires a drive up the once beautiful and heavily forested Signal...

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

I couldn't quite bring myself to say scarred beauty. I took a hike today on a lovely trail that requires a drive up the once beautiful and heavily forested Signal Peak, half of which was denuded by a wildfire caused by humans in May of 2014: Mother's Day picnickers, seemingly unaware that unseasonably warm temperatures combined with single-digit humidity and high winds made campfires a stupid plan, had a campfire. And there went the tremendously popular Signal Peak.

The seven-mile road to the top was closed for over a year, and when it did open the heartbreaking devastation was softened somewhat by the profusion of summer grasses and wildflowers that always take advantage of recent burn scars. Pesky New Mexico locusts, which are basically thorns with leaves, sprang up to make impenetrable thickets and also to shield the eyes from the skeletal former forest. But with the flowers and grasses and leaves gone for winter, the drive to the top of Signal Peak is once again a morose affair.

The trail along which I hiked does cut through an extensive burned area, but as it moves away from Signal Peak it passes through intact forest again. The mountainside drops off steeply below it, offering sweeping views through the Ponderosas and Douglas firs. But when you turn around for the drive back, the sickening sight of an incinerated forest stretches for miles. That didn't stop me from getting out of my car several times for photos of the patterns and textures leading up to more expansive views of the landscape to the north. There is still a kind of beauty in death.

These are the photos I took, pretty much in the order I took them. Thank you for looking.

(Download)

NMGal Loc: NE NM

My heart hurts looking at the destruction caused by man. Your photos are excellent and hauntingly beautiful.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

NMGal wrote:

My heart hurts looking at the destruction caused by man. Your photos are excellent and hauntingly beautiful.

You know that destruction all too well. Thank you for looking and commenting. For all those who carry on about "nature's way" and how quickly things rebound and regrow--well, not really.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

We all know that naturally occurring forest fires are Nature’s way of bringing about forest regeneration, but fires caused by man’s stupidity or carelessness are a needless destruction and waste of forest. Thanks for posting a reminder to be careful to help preserve Nature’s beauty. “Remember, only you can prevent forest fires.” Remember that one? Thanks for sharing.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

Wingpilot wrote:

We all know that naturally occurring forest fires are Nature’s way of bringing about forest regeneration, but fires caused by man’s stupidity or carelessness are a needless destruction and waste of forest. Thanks for posting a reminder to be careful to help preserve Nature’s beauty. “Remember, only you can prevent forest fires.” Remember that one? Thanks for sharing.

And thank you for the reminder, since the majority of wildfires are indeed human-caused.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

NMGal wrote:

My heart hurts looking at the destruction caused by man. Your photos are excellent and hauntingly beautiful.

Just what part of "Fire Danger Today" don't they understand...
More important to have a campfire I suppose.

Wingpilot Loc: Wasilla. Ak

Some people don’t care and some are just ignorant and don’t take time to think before starting a campfire. Then there are those who don’t know how to properly manage a campfire. Up here in Alaska, a few are human caused, but the majority of the dozens of wildfires annually are the result of lightning strikes. Some of the biggest ones, though, have been human caused, sadly.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Thanks for sharing your excellent shots of your revealing hike.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

Very eloquent, Feral. The final shot in particular.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

Longshadow wrote:

Just what part of "Fire Danger Today" don't they understand...
More important to have a campfire I suppose.

I've seen a poster that says "Think you can't camp without a fire? Try camping without a forest." Also around New Mexico are signs with two pictures, one of a healthy forest and the other of a wildfire, with the locally common question (referring to chiles), "Green or red?"

Thank you for looking. I haven't been on a wildfire rant in a long time!

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

Wingpilot wrote:

Some people don’t care and some are just ignorant and don’t take time to think before starting a campfire. Then there are those who don’t know how to properly manage a campfire. Up here in Alaska, a few are human caused, but the majority of the dozens of wildfires annually are the result of lightning strikes. Some of the biggest ones, though, have been human caused, sadly.

It is an all-too-common phenomenon.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

UTMike wrote:

Thanks for sharing your excellent shots of your revealing hike.

Thank you! I try not to be negative in my posts but yesterday I found myself pissed off all over again. And this was a tiny wildfire by comparison to so many others.

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

Cany143 wrote:

Very eloquent, Feral. The final shot in particular.

Thank you; I value your comment.

luvmypets Loc: Born & raised Texan living in Fayetteville NC

Great photos!! I love #4, #6 and #8!!

It is truly heartbreaking to see what man's carelessness has done. If only Mother Nature could repair it as quickly as it was destroyed!

Dodie

SWFeral Loc: SWNM

luvmypets wrote:

Great photos!! I love #4, #6 and #8!!

It is truly heartbreaking to see what man's carelessness has done. If only Mother Nature could repair it as quickly as it was destroyed!

Dodie

Thanks for looking and commenting, and wouldn't a quick fix be great? Better yet, a quick fix for human thoughtlessness.