Whenever we leave Idyllwild, we pass through beautiful Garner Valley. A few of the mountains that overlook the pastures were engulfed in flames and smoke last July during the Mountain Fire. The once green mountains were replaced with a cocoa powdered ash. Ten months later, colors of purple, blue, yellow and orange are bursting through the ash.
The wilderness trails in the burned area are closed for various reasons. In some sections of the PCT, the trails were obliterated. No sign of a trail exists. Many trails are full of hazardous conditions such as hollowed out burnt trees with the potential to fall without warning at any moment. Finally, the burnt area is closed so it has a chance to regenerate new growth without the trampling of feet that could snuff out a fragile ecosystem struggling to survive.
Apple Canyon Road leads through an area where the fire raced above the valley. A small community of homes and a couple of spiritual retreats at the end of the road were spared. Last week, I drove on this road for the first time since the fire.
Having no previous experience with wildfires, I was totally amazed to see the abundance of wildflowers that have emerged from the ash.
Purple clumps of Phacelia covered the hillsides.
Some plants like the Baby Blue Eyes and Blue Dicks are commonly seen in the first year following a chaparral fire. Surprisingly, there are some plants that only emerge after a wildfire.
Red Shank or Ribbonwood is a survivor. New growth was evident under all of the burnt trunks.
Indian Paintbrush and Owl's Clover are found in a variety of places. Since they are so beautiful and colorful, it was great to see them interspersed with the others.
This Chaparral Yucca towered over my head. It's blooms just starting to open up. The base of this plant looked like a pineapple because most of the bayonet like leaves were missing presumably from the fire.
Seeing all the new growth was confirmation that new life can emerge after a devastating wildfire. The landscape will be different for a very long time but hope remains that beauty will return to these mountains over time.
