Old Yellowstone Forrest Fire

[Dixie]

Khaos' post of A Storm is a Brewin' inspired me to post this one.

An old forest fire took place back in the late 1990's, and left behind this burnt out forest area which I photographed in August, 2003. I had just left Mammouth Hot Springs up in the northwest corner of Yellowstone when this thunderhead moved in from the southeast. The stark, bare trees just stood out from the almost black sky. It was actually quite surreal since I was standing in bright sunlight.

After I took the photo I continued on my 50 mile trip on around to East Gate. Once I arrived at Lake Yellowstone I found out that the East Gate was closed due to a fire started by the same thunder storm which I had photographed just a few hours earlier. I ended up having to spend the night in my auto, and East Gate ended up being closed for several weeks until they brought the fire under control.

http://dixie.smugmug.com/photos/18318208-L-1.jpg

[bfjr]

A ravaged landscape and an approaching storm. Apart not so good, but together in your image

Just Beautiful :thumb
thanks for showin :clap:clap

[marlof]

I always like what you're doing with colors and contrast in your pictures. The light in this picture almost seems custom made for you. Very nice.

[Dixie]

Thank you both for your comments.

That East Gate fire dominated just about everything I did for the next five days. You can see it in this previous post that I made:

Boat and Fire (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=7511)
It even caused smoky haze all the way into the Grand Teton NP which I was on my way to when I stopped and took the photo of the boat in the earlier post.

You can even see it in the backgound of this shot of Twin Cone Geyser on the south side of Yellowstone Lake. It seemed as if that fire was everywhere I turned. :cry

http://dixie.smugmug.com/photos/5315874-L.jpg

[sash]

cool shot, dixie! i love lighting conditions such as this :clap
i live around 80 miles east of the park and remember the fire too. last year there was the big mudslide between the east entrance and the lake... i hope to see neither of that stuff this season.
sash

[Dixie]

cool shot, dixie! i love lighting conditions such as this :clap
i live around 80 miles east of the park and remember the fire too. last year there was the big mudslide between the east entrance and the lake... i hope to see neither of that stuff this season.
sash
sash, you have my best wishes for no fires or mudslides this year. The question is, "Without the East Gate fire, would there have been any mudslides?"

From my understanding, Yellowstone is basically one big volcano and there has been a lot of activity in the last few years. I have also heard that the dome, which comprises most of Yellowstone, has actually risen and beginning to bulge. I ran into some geologists from one of the universities from either Colorado, Utah, Arizona or New Mexico (for the life of me I can't remember which) who were in Yellowstone putting out ultra-sensitive GPS instruments all over Yellowstone. These GPS's are used to see just how much the "dome" is rising and where it is rising. Brings to mind some very scary thoughts.

[wxwax]

Yeah, although I don't believe they think any kind of eruptive activity is imminent. It's just that folks don't think of Yellowstone as a volcano. One of the most active bulges, or caldera, is near Mammoth Springs, Ca - it's called the Long Valley caldera. There, CO2 is being emitted and if there's no wind, it can gather in pockets in depressions in the ground. Not a good place to take a breather in the snow season - death. It's easy to spot the danger areas, they have massive trees kills due to the gas emissions..


Love that first shot, Dixie, it's really striking. Surreal is right. :thumb

[USAIR]

Nice:clap
Was in yellowstone in 1980 almost stayed there (I was very young)
I left three friends there two are still out there working
One drills oil rigs the other is a biologist

These photos really make me think....did I make the right decision or should I have stayed :dunno
Hmmmm.......I think I made the right decision :D

Isn't it funny how photos effect people differently :scratch

Thank You
Fred

[JubbaKing]

MMMMMMM....dark clouds with beautiful warm light on trees. :)

[ian408]

Dixie, great shot. Are you talking of the fire in the late 80's? Burned all summer
and was finally extinguished in late October with the first snow? I spent a few
days in the park back then. It was both spectacular and scary. Many of the
roads had burning debris. We left and went into Jackson which was smoke
free. From the top of the tram, you could see the park fires.

Ian

One of the most active bulges, or caldera, is near Mammoth Springs, Ca - it's called the Long Valley caldera. There, CO2 is being emitted and if there's no wind, it can gather in pockets in depressions in the ground. Not a good place to take a breather in the snow season - death. It's easy to spot the danger areas, they have massive trees kills due to the gas emissions..
The sign states the obvious in large letters. The fine print says no sitting
down on the beach. This lake is in the Long Valley Caldera.

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/9064617-M.jpg

These trees are behind the lake.

http://ian408.smugmug.com/photos/9064618-M.jpg


Ian

[Skippy]

That is a beautiful shot :D
I can't wait to go to Yellow Stone in August, I've never been there, always wanted to go, and finally I get to go whooohoooooooo!!!!!!!!

Not sure exactly where we are going, I'm going with friends who live in Montana, two different families actually, one lot live in Billings, and the other live in Bozeman, I'll be staying with both families for a combined time of 3 weeks.

After that I go to Ohio for 3 weeks to stay with more friends :D
I am in for quite a visual surprise visiting Montana, where I live is quite flat, we have no Mountains where I am either, and snow is unheard of.

Thanks for sharing your beautiful images........ I am sooo looking forward to this trip ........ Skippy (Australia)


Khaos' post of A Storm is a Brewin' inspired me to post this one.

An old forest fire took place back in the late 1990's, and left behind this burnt out forest area which I photographed in August, 2003. I had just left Mammouth Hot Springs up in the northwest corner of Yellowstone when this thunderhead moved in from the southeast. The stark, bare trees just stood out from the almost black sky. It was actually quite surreal since I was standing in bright sunlight.

After I took the photo I continued on my 50 mile trip on around to East Gate. Once I arrived at Lake Yellowstone I found out that the East Gate was closed due to a fire started by the same thunder storm which I had photographed just a few hours earlier. I ended up having to spend the night in my auto, and East Gate ended up being closed for several weeks until they brought the fire under control.

[Dixie]

Dixie, great shot. Are you talking of the fire in the late 80's? Burned all summer
and was finally extinguished in late October with the first snow? I spent a few
days in the park back then. It was both spectacular and scary. Many of the
roads had burning debris. We left and went into Jackson which was smoke
free. From the top of the tram, you could see the park fires.

Ian
Ian, from what the rangers told me and the fact that there still isn't a lot of new growth I am pretty sure this was from the fire which I believe was in 1998 or so.

[Dixie]

A belated thanks to everyone for their posts and comments.

Skippy, how did your August trip go?

[GraphyFotoz]

Saddens me to see all the Forest fires.
But it's something that's been going on for millions of years.
Natures way of re-newing things. Amazing how fast and lush the greenery comes back!

[Dixie]

GraphyFotoz, thanks for the comments. That's the way I look at it as well on the renewal.

BTW, where do you live in upstate NY? I lived near Bear Mountain for 4½ years and another two just north of Ithaca between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes.