[sunny]

This is a ride report that really needs few words. It was so beautiful, I cried. So without further ado, here is my ride. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.


It's been about five months since the San Diego fires. I went out to Sweetwater Reservoir to climb Mama Miguel and see what effect the winter rains and spring sunshine had on the mountain. I was stunned. The regenerative powers of nature never cease to amaze me...

Mt Miguel in the distance, from the top of Mama Miguel, March 2008.

I'd never seen the aftermath of a forest fire...

For comparison, I'm posting my photos from October alongside recent ones taken at about the same spot.

Oct 2007 - residence at the edge of the flames. Any lands that are still golden were not burned in the fires.

Mar 2008

Oct 2007 - bird overcome by smoke

Mar 2008 - birds hear me coming and take to flight

Oct 2007 - hard-fought battle by the powerplant

Mar 2008

Oct 2007

Mar 2008

Oct 2007

Mar 2008

Oct 2007

Mar 2008

Oct 2007

Mar 2008

Oct 2007

Mar 2008

Oct 2007

Mar 2008

Oct 2007

Mar 2008

Oct 2007

Mar 2008

Oct 2007

Mar 2008

Oct 2007

Mar 2008

This report is dedicated to the firefighters and others who fought for the Reservior, our homes, and all we hold dear. Thank you.
-sunny

 

[Heidi]

Mission Cyclery jerseys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Arkayne]

Excellent! + for you! God I <3 San Diego

 

[I Are Baboon]

Excellent! + for you! God I <3 San Diego

That picture is great. +rep. I'm glad I don't have to spread.

Awesome pics, Sunny. I remember your 2007 thread. Nice to see vegetation working its way back into the landscape.

 

[Quo Fan]

The ability of Mother Nature to heal herself is nothing short of amazing. Thanks for the views.

Damn, must spread rep...

 

[Trainwreck]

Excellent, thank you for posting! I have always threatened to throw the bike in the back of the truck and head over that way for a weekend ride.

 

[sunny]

Excellent, thank you for posting! I have always threatened to throw the bike in the back of the truck and head over that way for a weekend ride.

How about a Wednesday or Thursday?
(the manager at the shop where I work puts an electronic ankle monitor on me on weekends to keep me in the shop... my weekend begins Tuesday night.)

 

[DRB]

excellent.... excellent

 

[McGRP01]

Wow! Thanks for that Sunny! Truly amazing!!

 

[splat]

That is soo Cool! and how you even got the same angles , really mad for some great veiwing !!!

 

[-BB-]

I'm just pissed that you can actually get back onto the trails that burned!! They are saying that it is going to be November before we can get back onto the burn areas in Orange County!!

Although they did hold a race in March up there and everyone I talked to said that it looked great.

 

[alteregopo]

so those two guys in the second to the last photo were lost also?

haha

 

[hooples3]

it really is amazing how nature recovers.. beautiful pics and thanks for taking the time to post before and after shots..

 

[chicodude]

nature recovers really fast when there are no trees to be grown... Cool stuff

 

[blue]

nature recovers really fast when there are no trees to be grown... Cool stuff

Yeah. Here when there are forest fires, you can tell the effects 10+ years after it happened, especially in areas that hadn't burned in a long time. It's quite surreal and much like the surface of the moon or Mars...

 

[Skookum]

Very interesting, nicely done.

 

[caputo1989]

I beleve the fire retardent they dump from the air has seeds in it.
Also it is sweet that it has regrown so much.