Beats me how we can go from a very long winter summer of wind and rain, more wind and rain, to suddenly heat so high and for weeks at a time. It was very good for harvest—still is. But the plateau is suffering
Its hunting season—all those early seasons like black powder with the first big rifle deer season starting in October.
The plateau has lots of stands of pine beetle killed trees and many patches of aspen killed by sudden aspen die off.
Sure is a scary time.
If you go hunting, or camping, or just hiking….and start a fire for your food, PLEASE take the time to put it out properly.
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 
Gosh Linda…. I’m so sorry…. I had heard that California has had record breaking heat this past week—and I was hoping that it wouldn’t get to you (or to us)…. We have absolutely perfect Fall temperatures now. I hope and pray that the hot temps don’t come back again…
It’s truly been a very crazy year weatherwise. Right now–the East Coast is getting tons and tons of rain .. And here we are —in a drought…. Duh!!!! What’s up with all of this??????
Again, I am sorry Linda… Hope the heat doesn’t last long.
Hugs,
Betsy
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That is an awful sight to see. I hope you and yours are safe! It got a little dry here, but we got enough rain yesterday to wash the driveways out.
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I actually have to go down and get the guys their hunting licenses tomorrow. I can understand about the fires. I feel for you and the people that live in California with all the fires you hear about.
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We were near a campground once where a fire just got away from the people. It spread at an incredibly fast rate. Really scary.
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Yes – well done Linda. “If you light a fire in the countryside, put the bloody thing out,
when you have finished your cooking” – the same applies to gates – “Shut the bloody gate”
after you have gone through. It was not closed to keep you out, it was closed to keep
the cattle, horses or any other livestock in.
That looks like a pretty bad fire in one of your photos.
You have my total support on your comments.
Cheers
Colin (HB)
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Where we live, we have no fire hydrants. We were in an extreme drought for two years , until the rains returned this spring. Every time anyone saw smoke or smelled smoke the question was always—“Which way is the wind blowing?”
Hopefully you’ll get that hard corn in and then the rains can come.
Question: Does the Land Bureau in CO leave acreages of dead trees, or do they clear them? Seems like leaving them standing is just asking for lightning to strike.
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It looks like there was a fire up on the plateau..fires are so nasty..it just takes some common sense to put out a campfire:)
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Yeah, what Linda says. Same in Wyoming – very wet spring/summer so now lots of DRY fuel and tinder dry. Scary….my husband actually found a small burnt spot alongside the highway through our place. Someone had tossed a cigarette and by the grace of god (literally) it did not ignite into a huge praire fire burning everything we have. Why it did not, we cannot figure out. Please be careful!! The home you save could be mine! Or Linda’s, or your neigbors!
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That first picture is both awe-inspiring and terrifying…. Stay safe!
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Wow, your season starts early. Ours starts in November for rifle season and I can barely stand it. Guns going off all day long and each time I hear them, I jump. We worry about our woods too and some careless hunter/camper. And we too are having strangely warm temperatures and no rain. Just a strange summer season all the way around.
Your pictures are gorgeous.
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Weirder than usual weather. Not complaining about finally feeling some summer warmth, but I totally understand the uneasy feeling when the woods and brush are tinder dry. Pine beetles were to blame for the miles of dead forest ready for the spark that nearly obliterated Yellowstone Park in 1988. The sky here was smokey for months. Stay safe! And watch for smoke.
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It was crazy to have it so warm last weekend in the park… or hot even…and dry. Yes it is scary. Wow!!! new carpet. Exciting. I was hoping for some hardwood to replace some old carpet… not this year anyway (o:
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Apparently the fires help eradicate the pine beetle. Look at the positives.
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Actually that isn’t true. By the time the pine beetle has killed the tree it has moved on to other trees. What is left is a very dead dry tree. The beetle moves in huge groups and moves fast. The fire probably DID NOT kill the pine beetle, it did take all the dead trees (true) and the live trees of other species and the brush, not to mention the animals and whatever else was in it’s way. Fire is not a good thing…we are a high mountain desert, not a lush tropical rainforset it takes years, and years, and years to have a tree of any size here. The pine trees in the rocky mountains are at least 100 years old, I see no postive in thier death.
Linda
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Linda
“Good response to this: “Apparently the fires help eradicate the pine beetle. Look at the positives.”
So from my ‘across the Pacific Ocean’ observations I find this comment – Out of touch with reality.
What do you do – light fires in the countyside to get rid of “pine beetles” and cause immeasurable damage.
What happens to the land?????
What happens to farms and cattle/sheep/crops etc. if the fire gets out of control?
Will the state authorities of Colorada get there in time to stop the fires? Answer – NO.
They can’t.
Have you ever seen a dead cow/horse/sheep burnt?
They “STINK”!
Not good smelling for people in high rise apartments in places like, New York, Sydney,
Brisbane, Chicago etc.
I support Linda’s response to the alsolute 100% degree.
Sorry if I have upset people. Facts are facts in rural communities and fiction in subardia,
city people.
Where does the food in Wal-Marts etc. come from???????????? Heaven? Hell? or outer space?|
Planets still undiscovered!
Cheers to all.
Linda is right – “GOOD ONYA”
Colin (HB)
Brisbane. Australia.
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