U.S. Forest Service guides escorted 20 Durangoans two miles along the Upper Hermosa Trail on a recent bright autumn morning. We had stood in horror as flames licked the ridges this summer. Now, we were treated to evidence of the San Juan National Forest’s resilience.
Old growth ponderosa pine stood firmly along the hillsides, their rounded crowns and wide girths proclaiming their more than 200 years on Earth. Even the pointy-topped younger ponderosa carried enough green needles to survive.
Gambel oaks, their leaves withered from the heat of the fire, spawned new leaflets – sometimes two to three bright green. Aspen groves, tiny but thick, now clamored greedily for sunlight.
No one knows what the rest of the trail looks like, and no one can predict what erosion might occur in late fall downpours or spring snow runoff. But most likely, our forest will continue to rejuvenate and welcome us back when she’s ready.
Mary Nowotny
Durango
