The Aspen Loop trail starts and ends in Marshall Gulch on Mount Lemmon. Part of this trail contains recovering forest from the Aspen Wildfire, which burned parts of Mount Lemmon ten years ago.
Before the fire, much of Mount Lemmon was a thick forest.
After the fire, aspen and New Mexico locust were quick to take over the forest.
When removing a fallen pine from the trail, one creative volunteer cut a seat for resting in the shade.
As the burned forest ages, each year the tall pines succumb to nature.
Volunteers are busy removing trail obstructions, which will include trees like this one
Hiking up the Aspen Trail.
Plenty of room to shelter.
Now ten years out, the slow-growing pines are becoming more established.
The signs of recovery are all around.
Images by kenne
“In climbing a mountain,
if we persevere, we reach the summit;
we get, you might say, to the point.
Once on the mountaintop
there is nothing to do but come down again. . .
Descending the mountain
we enter by degrees into a friendlier,
more comfortable, more human environment —
forest, rushing streams, sunny meadows —
and soon hear the cowbells,
see the villages and the roads,
all that is familiar and reassuring.”
— Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire: A Season In The Wilderness
Related articles
- SCVN Friday Hike On The Oracle Ridge Trail #1(June 14, 2013) (kenneturner.com)
- Lemmon Rock Lookout As Soon From The WIlderness Rocks Trail (kenneturner.com)
- SCVN Friday Hike On The Box Camp Trail (kenneturner.com)
- Capturing The Moment – It’s All About Timing! (kenneturner.com)
- It Is Dry, Dry, Dry (kenneturner.com)
- Saving The Season By Capturing The Moment (kenneturner.com)
Some lovely photos of an outstandingly beautiful area. At least here in Norway we don’t have to worry about rattlers! 😀
Yes, we have to keep a watchful eye here.
We only have to worry about trolls! 😀