Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Reckless Burning in the Valley


Someone lit a fire in the west end of Yosemite Valley mid-day today, across the canyon from Bridalveil Fall. It was a small fire very quickly contained by an NPS engine crew. How or why someone would ignite a fire in this out of the way spot, off of a seldom used trail is hard to explain. Must be August in Yosemite.
Afternoons are hot and dry in the park now though our wet, late spring still has lingering effects. People are still taking photographs of Yosemite Falls, there is spicebush, Lessingia and tarweed still blooming in the Valley, and the river is still 30% above average flow. Raspberries have gone by but elderberries are ripe now.
With a group today we found a bear scat that contained manzanita berries and the wing feathers of a Steller's Jay.
Apologies for the gap in postings; I've been in Sequoia NP backcountry.

1 comment:

  1. that is what i always disliked in august in the valley - usually hot and dusty but on our 25th anniversary in 1995 we were able to float down the river on rental rafts!!! that was a treat and sounds as though this august it is the same story. it is too bad that tourons er people are so stupid when it comes to fire safety and food storage!

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