SUMMER 2011 - ONE WE WON'T FORGET
The Wallow Fire Set The Scene For Summer 2011
Memorial Day Weekend is the beginning of our Summer Season. We await the arrival of tourists from everywhere who come to see our beautiful little part of the White Mountains of Arizona.
Sunday afternoon we were waiting for the return of our houseguest who had ridden her motorcycle down the Coronado Trail when I opened the front door and smelled the smoke. It was enough of a smell to get into the truck and drive around to find the fire. There was a little in the air down in the southern part of the mountains and we figured some camper had really blown it. The winds were around 50 mph
By the time our visitor returned there was thick smoke in the air. She said she had passed through some down on the highway and thought the fire was near Hannagan Meadow Lodge. By morning, June 1st, it was obvious a monster had been born.
Summertime Events Brought Hope To The Weary
4th of July Parades Were Filled With Gratitude
After a month of fire, smoke and evacuations the White Mountain communities of Alpine, Nutrioso, Eagar and Springerville, pulled themselves up and celebrated being alive.
Most of us had homes to come back to and wanted to show our thanks to the many firefighters and support staff who had made it possible.
This was also a way to let folks know that "The Mountain Is Ready For Business!" As our summer season was quickly slipping away with few visitors. Locals tried to keep a good face on it all, but it really hurt to see friends and neighbors struggling with lack of business.
The Rebuilding Began In Earnest
Helicopters of every shape and size have become our friendly neighbors since the rehabilitation of the forest has begun. Line of semi trucks carrying loads of straw make their way up our mountain roads and unload in the meadows. They are bandaging the worst of the burnt areas with a padding of straw followed by a seeding of wheat and barley to quickly give a root system to the parched earth.
Suffering from hydrophobicity the ground in the burn area is like the shell on a Dairy Queen dipped cone. Hard and not letting any water in. With time and the walking of animals and growing of plants the crust will diminish. Until then water rolls off like it is poured onto a greasy duck.
The Wallow Fire
Summer Events
After The Fire