Valle Grande Cross
A descanso leans against a fence overlooking part of Valle Grande. The haze in the distance is smoke from the Las Conchas wildfire — the same fire that burned this portion of Valle Grande.
In the Jemez
One of my all-time favorite views, in the Jemez.
Fire Truck at East Fork
It was with great relief that I realized this meadow — and the beautiful area just north of it — escaped the Las Conchas wildfire, still burning after three weeks. It was clearly a close call.
In the Wake of the Las Conchas Wildfire
Some of the wreckage of the Las Conchas wildfire.
Valle Grande, from Coyote Call
Looking out over Valle Grande from the Coyote Call trail (both in Valles Caldera) during a much wetter summer than this one. I’m guessing both areas have been burned in the Las Conchas wildfire.
UPDATE, JULY 17: I was wrong. Most of this part of Valle Grande remained unscathed. As for the Coyote Call trail, it is still closed. From what I could see from the road, large parts of it burned — but many parts did not. In particular, it looks as if many of the aspens along the trail survived.
