It finally happened...fire in the mountains!Updated with after pics.

[mykel m]

The bad news is.. Table Mtn.is burning.The good news is my lower camp isn't,or the fire hasn't spread that far southwest yet.
Here's a few pics from better times of Diamond Head,the northern end of Table Mountain.
On Sept 8th a lightening storm blew through the Eastern Cascades & started many fires,one of which is the Table Mountain complex.
There is a great,secluded camp right below Diamond Head my brother & I call Morel Camp because of all the Morels that grow up there.(I just call it High Camp now days)
These pics were taken from High Camp the past few springs & summers.
What a view eh.I don't camp up there much anymore because it's usually too windy,but love to go up & take in the views.

Here is a good sampling of the fuel that is all over the area for the fire to feed on.

This is the track leading up to High Camp,I had to chop that log in half a couple of years ago to get up there.

And here are the heart breaking pics I took today.The finger of timber going up the hill smack dab in the middle of this pic is where High Camp is.

This is looking east & my lower camp is a few miles to the southwest of the smoke seen here.

I drove by the FS Road leading to lower camp & it is blocked,so I suspect they are battling the fire up higher.
There was no smoke in the area of lower camp so my fingers are crossed they will be able to keep the fire contained up higher.

I love these woods so much,but knew this was going to happen eventually.
Mother Nature doing her thing is all.
Here's hoping I have a place to camp next spring,I don't think I'll be hunting up there this year......

 

[TPVT]

bummer. sorry to hear it myke. hope you find a good new place. thanks for the pics. beautiful country.

 

[mqqn]

Hi Mykel -

I hope there is not too much damage.

This is natures way of rejuvenating the forest - they were doing controlled burns in Yellowstone this summer while I was there -

I hope this does not negatively impact where you like to visit - it is a long term impact when it happens.

Please keep us updated if you can.

best

mqqn

 

[jds1]

I hope that your favorite spots aren't too badly burned.

Jeff

 

[Mack]

It's hard to believe that that area can get dry enough to burn. I sure hope it isn't as bad as the fires that swept through the Okanogan area a while back.

 

[mykel m]

Well...it looks like they got this one contained,but the one just north & east(The Wenatchee Complex) is still blazing & there is another further north,up around Winthrop now too.
Also one on the Peninsula & one down south.
The Seattle area has just broken a record for the driest august/september & the rest of the state is pretty much in the same boat...dry.
https://thesunbreak.com/2012/10/05/...nny-stretch-starting-to-get-on-locals-nerves/

I chose the east side of the cascades to camp because of the arid conditions,but this is going too far Ma Nature.

Oh well,at least the fires will burn a lot of the pine beetles that have been ravaging the forests & get rid of all the dead timber.
Spring is going to be interesting with a lot of land slides & washed out roads I predict.

 

[mykel m]

I finally got to go up & check out the Table Mtn. burn while camping last week.
High Camp & the surrounding area did burn,but luckily they contained it before it got down to my favorite camp.
Here's the pics from High Camp.

The road leading up.

Strange that some trees burned & ones next to 'em didn't.
At least it's greening up again.

Storm comin' in.

Table Mt. in the background,the worst of the fire was on the back (east) side & north.
I drove over Blewit pass north of where I camp & the fire made it down to the highway up there.
Good thing it didn't jump the highway.

This is the stump my brother & I (and a lot of other folks) used to shoot into.
Notice all the lead melted down & the bullet jackets.

This sign is posted on the road up to Table Mt.
Beware!

The reason I like it up there so much...the views.

Thanks to all the firefighters that battled this & the many other fires throughout the country year end & year out & prayers for the ones that gave the ultimate sacrifice.

 

[JK Knives]

Now I`m looking forward to our Fall camping trip more than ever!

 

[KYenglish]

thanks for the pictures myke, looks good

 

[TPVT]

thanks for the update Myke. glad it wasn't worse.

 

[Mack]

Thanks Myke for sharing. I love that area. I hope it grows back better than ever.

 

[SaintlyBrees]

Glad all is back to normal for you, Myke. Lately, we've been having some fire issues here as well. Normally, this part of NM is not a fire hazard, but snowfall (the source of most of our moisture) has been light and things are much drier than normal. And of course, people are idiots.

The guy who owns the property next to mine decided to start an open fire the weekend after 7/4. I went over and nicely explained about the "no open fire moratorium" (HUGE red sign on the road just about a mile from here). He didn't care. I tried to nicely explain the issues. He didn't care. I nicely reminded him that if his fire got out of hand (he had no shovels, no water, nothing to control it with) that while he could just drive away, my house was right "over there". He didn't care.

So...I called the state forestry dept. and they called the State Police. I think he cares now.

Anyhow, glad your situation was no worse than it was. That area is beautiful.

 

[mykel m]

Glad all is back to normal for you, Myke. Lately, we've been having some fire issues here as well. Normally, this part of NM is not a fire hazard, but snowfall (the source of most of our moisture) has been light and things are much drier than normal. And of course, people are idiots.

The guy who owns the property next to mine decided to start an open fire the weekend after 7/4. I went over and nicely explained about the "no open fire moratorium" (HUGE red sign on the road just about a mile from here). He didn't care. I tried to nicely explain the issues. He didn't care. I nicely reminded him that if his fire got out of hand (he had no shovels, no water, nothing to control it with) that while he could just drive away, my house was right "over there". He didn't care.

So...I called the state forestry dept. and they called the State Police. I think he cares now.

What a tool,I sure hope he's seen the light for you & your neighbors sake.

 

[mqqn]

Cool pictures once again.

I am glad that your favorite area was not burned.

Nice truck. ;^)

best

mqqn

 

[mykel m]

Cool pictures once again.

I am glad that your favorite area was not burned.

Nice truck. ;^)

best

mqqn

Thanks Andy,I love the Colorado & am very impressed with the inline 5 cylinder engine,it's got way more power than the 4.3 V6s in my last 2 S10s & I really liked that engine.