Pics of the Fire on the Shoulder of Noonmark/Avalanche in the Pass

[Skyclimber]

I was digging through old photos of the Mountains and I ran across these. I thought that others would enjoy as well. The devastation scene of the Fire on the Shoulder of Noonmark and also the Avalanche off of Colden. I believe both incidents occured in 1999.
Thanks to Neil for his help.

Well let's see if this works.

http://neil.webcentre.ca/outdoor%20pursuits/index.html

[lumberzac]

Amazing how much has grown back after the fire. I think in another year or two, trees will block most of the views off the shoulder.

http://community.webshots.com/photo/150320934/150322019aRQZsa

[Skyclimber]

Amazing how much has grown back after the fire. I think in another year or two, trees will block most of the views off the shoulder.
]

Thanks for showing those photos! Yes the mountain sure has grown up. It looks so beautiful. It would be nice to have side by side photos to compare the difference. Sure is alot greener and prettier.

[KevynJJ]

Too bad people are terribly afraid of forest fires when in this area they are needed for forest regeneration. (Darn Smokey the Bear)

-Kev

[lumberzac]

Yes, forest fires are good for the forest when they start naturally. The problem is most are caused by careless people. This offsets the natural cycle of the forest.

[Skyclimber]

Yes, forest fires are good for the forest when they start naturally. The problem is most are caused by careless people. This offsets the natural cycle of the forest.

If I remember correctly this fire was caused needlessly by a careless hiker with a campfire.
The positive side of this, is, the mountain is much more beautiful now than it ever was. The views are so ever spectacular along that short ridgeline now.

[lumberzac]

If I remember correctly this fire was caused needlessly by a careless hiker with a campfire.
The positive side of this, is, the mountain is much more beautiful now than it ever was. The views are so ever spectacular along that short ridgeline now.

I believe you are correct. There is a sign (or at least there was one last year) on the Leach Trail just before you enter the burn site that explains this.

[Kevin]

The positive side of this, is, the mountain is much more beautiful now than it ever was. The views are so ever spectacular along that short ridgeline now.

I agree. And we can thank Colvin for some of the views from a few of the high peaks that he cleared with fire to do his surveying.

[Bonnie]

I'm new at this and don't even know if it's OK to ask a question here. But, does anyone know what the current conditions are on Sawteeth and mountains in that area?

[Pete_Hickey]

If I remember correctly this fire was caused needlessly by a careless hiker with a campfire.
The positive side of this, is, the mountain is much more beautiful now than it ever was. The views are so ever spectacular along that short ridgeline now.

Careless may be a bit strong. They were careless in the sense that they should not have had a fire at all.

It was an extremely dry season. The hikers had built a fire. They were rather careful about it, however the ground caught fire. Remember, that the earth there, is (was) duff. Rotting vegetation. When dry, it is flammable. They tried to put out the fire, but it was burning underground.

I saw a picture (I think it was Tony Goodwin who had it) which showed a section right after the fire.. ... no, probably during the fire, or when it was almost out. The picture showed bare rock, but there was a narrow line of earth snaking across it. That line was the trail. In other areas, the duff was loose. Vegetation and air. It burned completely away On the trail, however, it was packed down, and did not burn.

I remember Tony saying that if they had built their fire in the middle of the trail, there would not have been a fire.

The reason that I assume the picture I saw was before the fire was out (but it was under control), is that it was Floyd that finally extinguished it completely. The dry duff, is also why there were so many slides and blowdown when Floyd hit. When the ground is very dry, it tends to lift off the rocks, somewhat. If heavy rain comes fast, it does not have time to re-establish itself, and is vulnerable to winds and gravity.

Also, there were dozens of fires that summer. This one was the most "popular" for various reasons.

[Skyclimber]

There was smolding fire for months after. Even with Hurricane Floyd's help. When we went in a couple months later to see the devastation we came out all soot and smokey.