Losing the Backdrop

For the setting in Incident at Beaver Creek I chose the mountains west of Santa Fe, NM and in 2010 spent some time there on the ground photographing and getting a feel for the terrain. I only loosely describe the area, bending the descriptions to the needs of the story. I decided early 2011 to return in July for another visit, but when my son left for his summer job at the Philmont Scout Ranch near Cimmeron, NM in June his car died. I flew to Las Vegas that day, rented a car and drove to our home in St. George, UT and picked him up in Page, AZ. I had encouraged him to take an extra day and visit Mesa Verde NP out of Cortez, CO as he had never been there. Instead of a day and a half, he got a whirlwind, 3-hr. tour. The next day he and I went to the mountains for more ground observations and photos. Then, it was off to drop him at Philmont and drive home. I mention this, because a week or so later an Aspen tree was blown into electrical lines and 130K acres were destroyed. It was still burning strong when Jayne and I delivered Eph a replacement car July 5-6. Had I waited, there wouldn't have been much to record as the area was closed. However, having experience in such things, it isn't as dismal as one might expect. Yes, vast areas are blackened, and there will be problems with mudslides and flash flooding until vegetation restores itself next year, but it will recover. Take a look at what has happened at Yellowstone and Mt. St. Helens.

NM Mtns west of Santa Fed

 

Extremely hot aftermath

A glimmer of hope. Note surivors in background

Burned area. Note caldera area upper left corner. 

It is 15 miles in diameter.

A fire any time destroying this kind of natural beauty is a shame, but that's just nature. Much of the state was under red flag warnings when I was there in June and this was bound to happen whether wind blowing over a tree, lightning, or man. Certainly, there have been a number of lightning fires in the state other than this. It is bound to happen. I just wish it hadn't happened to my backdrop. Now I am going to need revise my second installment and burn up my make believe forest, too.