Month: October 2020

FIRE IS POWERFUL & DEMANDS RESPECT.  I grew up with my Dad fighting forest fires. He still does to this day, even though he retired from full time forestry work. Growing up, my Dad taught me  a proper respect for the forest, the rules set in place to protect it, and the importance of being responsible with campfires. 

This year has been a historic year for forest fires.  A few were caused by natural means, but sadly a great majority were human caused.  Where I live in the great state of Colorado,  we have had record breaking fires and smoke.   The interesting fact in regards to this is that we had record snow last year which had wiped out our drought. However, the spring and summer brought us very little rain. It was basically non-existent. This resulted in drought coming back worse than ever. 

The goal of this blog post  is to go over a few ways we can respect the forest and do our part to keep forest fires from starting in the first place. 

1. Follow Campfire Guidelines

If you are going to have a campfire, as long as they are not banned, you need to responsible for that campfire. 

• Before you start it, rake around the campfire and rid the area of any brush, pine cones, etc that can easily catch fire from an ember and spread. 
• If a fire grate is not provided, make sure your campfire area has rocks stacked around it high as to not give the fire opportunity to jump from your campfire to the area around it. 
• Never leave the fire unattended. Keep a close eye on the fire. Once you start the campfire, you are responsible for it. 
• If embers jump out of the campfire, stomp them out. 
• Finally, drown the fire.  This is the only way to get it out.  Don’t assume putting dirt on top of the fire puts it out. That just provides a warm bed for the fire to burn underneath. Drown the fire and stir it and make sure that all the hots spots are out before leaving the campsite. 

2. Respect the Rules

The rules have been put in place for a reason. If there is a fire ban in place, it is just as much to protect you as it is to protect the forest.  If you disregard the rules, cause a fire, and they link it back to you, you will be held responsible.  Also remember your actions affect more than just you, they affect the forest, as well as people’s homes within the forest. You need to trust the experts and respect the bans. The fire bans are put in place because the forestry experts have decided that the risks of allowing campfires is too great due to drought conditions. There are levels to fire bans depending on the level of drought.  This year a huge part of it as well was due to limited resources during this global pandemic.

3. Be a part of the solution not the problem. 

As Smoky Bear Says-“ONLY YOU CAN PREVENT FOREST FIRES.”  Yes there are fires that are caused by natural means like lightening.  But most fires are man caused.  And we have a responsibility to protect the forest.  As my Dad always said, “FIRE IS POWERFUL AND DEMANDS RESPECT.” Yes we can break the rules.   But should we?  Is that S’more really worth it? NEVER! We can camp without campfires when fire bans are in place.  We can choose to follow the rules. 

If there is one thing this year has taught us is that the intensity and destruction fo forest fires is on the increase. Let’s do our part to prevent them.  As we wander into adventures, choose to be responsible as you recreate. 

I remember this road trip when I was a girl with my family and my Grandpa Red and my step Grandma. It was 6 of us all piled into a Chevy Lumina.  Back in the day, the Lumina’s had a seat that went all the way across in the front seat. That means that three people could sit up front-very CLOSLY.  I remember Grandpa drove. Did I mention my Grandpa did not believe in deodorant?  I loved my Grandpa, but sometimes the aroma was not so sweet if you know what I mean.  Thankfully he kept the windows open the whole time. A result of that was that I was  going through this phase where I hated my hair getting messed up.  This meant I would comb it out every hour. It drove my Grandpa crazy on that trip as he asked me who I was trying to impress.  As I tell you this story, picture 6 people in a family car and a 10 hour road trip with almost no stops.

Even though this road trip lasted 10 hours, and even though we were all crammed in that car,  it was one of my favorite memories from my childhood with my Grandpa.  We drove through the beautiful San Juan mountains into Lake City, over Slumgullion Pass, and down into Telluride.  I remember thinking the San Jan Mountains were the most beautiful mountains I had ever seen. On top of Slumgullion Pass we found this incredible waterfall that comes off the Rio Grande River called North Clear Creek Falls. I remember thinking it was the most beautiful place I had ever been and as a young girl I thought that some day I’ll have to bring the man I marry back here. On this road trip, I remember my Grandpa being so happy the whole time. It was seriously one memory I will forever cherish with my Grandpa.

This last summer,  my husband Kevin and I decide to do this road trip. Honestly, I had been telling him for years about this amazing drive that goes past the most incredible waterfall that you have ever seen and through the San Juan mountains. In honor of my Grandpa who has  passed, we plan to recreate this memory together.  I seriously talk this road trip up. I’m so excited leading up to it. 

As we are driving a really long ways, thankfully in a roomy SUV,  I realize that it wasn’t quite what I remembered.  First of all, Slumgullion Pass was struck by pine beetle.  On the top of the pass-all the trees are dead now. Which is so sad, because when I was younger before the pine beetle hit Colorado it was seriously incredible. After driving 6 hours, we arrive at the waterfall. The waterfall was pretty and beautiful, and did admire it,  but it has become a serious tourist trap. It was clustered with RVS and van fulls of people.  And then the drive after the waterfall and into Durango seriously took another 4 hours.  We drove through country where there is nothing, not even a McDonalds!  We start getting super bored and stir crazy.  Thank goodness for Podcasts.  Thankfully we were able to find a few gas stations. 

We finally arrive in Durango and eat at the most incredible BBQ place their called Serious Texas BBQ. Seriously though-if you find yourself in Durango, this is a place you must eat if you love BBQ!  After we feast, we have a good laugh. Kevin says, “Well that was something.”  I call my Mom and tell her about the long road trip and how it wasn’t quite like I remembered.  She said, “You know Grandpa is saying from his grave, ‘Now why did you do that!’” 

But seriously, it was a tribute to my Grandpa. I don’t regret it.  There were pretty moments, but I don’t think we will be doing that road trip again, hopefully never.  However, moments like these make the best stories and memories.  And we got a picture by the waterfall together in honor of Grandpa. Kevin never got to meet my Grandpa, but through this trip, I feel he got to meet him in a way. 

So Grandpa Red-this blog post is for you. You will forever live on in my heart. Yes you are gone but you will forever be missed, loved, and remembered.