Originally Posted by
Drew Wiley
Much of the watershed was ruined long before simply by resort development peripheral to Shaver without proper effluent control. Suds were going down into the creeks where once there had been huge native rainbow trout and wonderfully clear swimming holes beneath a series of tall waterfalls, if one wanted to risk getting to those. I could hypothetically do a whole exhibition of large format prints from that area, probably knew its secrets better than anyone else alive. There were also incredible very ancient archaeological sites, which I won't give details on, as well as lot of old logging artifacts, some of which our family has preserved.
The burnt pines will look like a mess for awhile, but there are lots of intervening patches of bare rock and streambed which have always had wonderful Springtime wildflowers, and now will no doubt have even greater displays of the kind of flowers which typically follow fires. I feel sorry for the mountain lions; huge ones used to use the bowl-shaped terrain to get the advantage from above over deer taking paths down toward streams and meadow forage. Now they'll have less cover. I don't have any plans to visit until there's a bit of new start of vegetation, a Spring or two away.
The cold wind is just now starting to arrive here. No problem. I figured I'd have to make due with MF gear this weekend anyway due to wind. If it turns too cold, I'll just switch on the drymount press and do those kinds of chores - no need for a separate heater! Actual rain is unlikely.