A Fire Scarred Canyon

Maggy with her friend Emilie June 17th, 2012

I went up to the garden on Saturday and Sunday to plant bush beans and check on the peas I planted last week. So far the garden survives, but does not thrive, due to the cool nights, which keep dipping down into the high thirty's, hovering right above frost temperatures. I definitely set out my tomatoes and pepper plants too early. They are all frost nipped and sad looking. We are also experiencing one of the wettest June's in my memory. But, all the garden needs is some sunshine and warmer nights for the plants to really take hold and grow. So, here is hoping summer is on it's way.

I took this photo standing in our yard on August 2011 of the West Riverside Fire in Bonner

Until then there really isn't much to do in the garden, we just need to wait for mother nature to change course. While the girls were enjoying the see-saw I took a photo of the north side of the canyon where a wildfire burned across the mountain last summer. It sure is hard for me to look at the scars left by the fire. I know the mountain won't heal in my lifetime and far, far beyond. Nevertheless, I decided to publish the photo of the fire scarred canyon as the background photo in the title space for this blog, as it does reflect the reality of life in Montana; how harsh this climate can be, how destructive wildfire's are and the ruggedness of Hellgate Canyon. 

Montana is a state of extremes and our weather and geography are no exception. I remember well the afternoon when the fire started. It was so peaceful and quiet with a hot, dry wind. I was taking clothes down off the line when I heard fireworks in the distance. Mere minutes later the kids came running to tell me that the mountain was on fire. I knew right then the whole north side of the canyon would  burn; that the hot, dry August wind would push the flames east all the way to the Blackfoot River, which is exactly what happened. Below is a terrible yet amazing photo from the night of the fire, August 22nd, 2011. And as we approach the summer fire season remember the wise words of Smokey the Bear: Only YOU can prevents forest fires.

photo from the Missoulian